solar-heat-gain / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Bird films on windows: a homeowner's & pro's guide to protecting our feathered friends Millions of birds die annually due to window collisions, as they cannot perceive clear or reflective glass as a solid barrier. For homeowners and building professionals, applying specialized bird-safe window films is one of the m...

Material choices for window frames: Window frames can be made from a variety of materials offering different levels of performance and insulation values. Air in the cavities between panes expands as it heats up and contracts as it cools, which puts pressure on the seals and frames. When we speak of durable and sturdy w...

Homes designed for passive heating and cooling offer noticeably lower utility bills, not to mention increased comfort and security during power outages. In our humble opinion, the first thought for any home being designed or built, should be - which way is south and how do I use that knowledge to passively reduce the f...

The Net Zero Energy home. The concept of the Zero Energy home is appealing in its simplicity: a residence that generates as much renewable energy for heating and electricity as it consumes. Its annual energy balance is neutral, and its greenhouse gas emissions are 100% offset. The design model home in Canada known as t...

What is passive solar heating and cooling? Passive heating and cooling of homes is not new. The above image is of Mesa Verde National Park, the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in Colorado, occupied from 700 to 1300 AD. This early North American settlement was shaded from the summer sun, but fully exposed to the sun ...

Passive House construction on Vancouver Island Building the first certified Passive House on Vancouver Island, a duplex shared with our son Mark’s family, convinced us that the market in Victoria was ready for Passive House market condominiums. To follow through, we built the North Park Passive house, a six-unit urban ...

I apologize for missing that deletion. I have removed the heading for "Envelope-first approach" and ensure it is no longer in the code below. Integrating solar, storage, and heat pumps: a homeowner's & pro's guide Saving money on home energy consumption is a priority for everyone; I have yet to meet the person who ...

Homes heated by the sun's free heat! Passive Solar Houses are aptly named because there are no wires, panels or batteries and nothing to break down. It's just about design, and it isn't a new concept. Humans around the globe have been incorporating passive solar design features into their homes for thousands of years. ...

There are many ways to build a slab-on-grade (or frost-protected shallow foundation), the following is a step-by-step walk though of a thickened-edge slab floor we built. XPS or EPS rigid foam is typically used under concrete slab floors, in this case we used mineral fiber insulation. Note: our mineral wool was provide...

Having a backup heat source that can operate without electricity should be an important consideration for many homeowners in colder climate zones, especially those who rely on a heat pump or electricity as their primary source of heat. In this guide, we will explore the various factors that can influence the need for a...

What is the best off grid heating system? We live in a very uncertain global climate with rising fuel prices, and increasingly catastrophic weather events caused by the changing climate. This can leave families feeling vulnerable and looking for future proofing solutions. Whether you are building an off grid home and l...