sustainable-home / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Let's be inspired, every day According to a recent survey sponsored by Google of more than 3,000 Americans by using a type of AI called natural language processing, which is where they cluster and analyze thousands of opinions by theme to identify how people felt about environmental issues.  The keyword for how we feel...

The future of residential construction is being shaped by more than just aesthetics or affordability, it's being built around sustainability. As climate concerns mount and regulatory frameworks tighten, homeowners and builders alike are shifting toward greener, more responsible choices. One of the most exciting and oft...

It is not illegal to sell an unbuildable lot, so buyers beware. Any number of roadblocks can prevent you from building the house you want, or any house at all, so before you make a purchase make sure you can proceed with your plans. Issues to consider before making an offer: Zoning: First check that you are allowed to ...

While governments have a role in shaping and improving the built environment through zoning, development bylaws and other means, developers also play a large role. They choose where to build, the types of homes or buildings that get built, and many of the details that make up a home, neighbourhood and community.  The b...

LEED® vs. Passive House vs. BREEAM: a practical guide for homeowners Whether you're building a home in the US or Canada, or embarking on a new construction project in places like the UK, Australia, or New Zealand - and want to do so to a recognized sustainable certification level - you'll be faced with a baffling choic...

Home floor tiles: a homeowner's and pro's guide When it comes to choosing the right floor tiles for a home, the decision goes far beyond aesthetics. The ideal tile balances durability, maintenance, cost, and most importantly, environmental impact. As a builder when I chose tile surfaces for my own home, I used handmade...

Sustainable excavation: a homeowner's & pro's guide Building a new sustainable home or adding space for your family with a home addition is always a very exciting prospect, and its success rests quite literally on the first step of a proper excavation. Poorly planned excavation can lead to foundation issues, water ...

Rammed earth walls for homes: a homeowner's & pro's guide Rammed earth as a building method dates back thousands of years, and in recent years, it has found its way into the world of modern design and sustainable architecture. Not only is rammed earth an efficient and natural type of wall assembly, but the final pr...

Helical piles and screw piles: a homeowner's and pro's guide For challenging building sites or sustainable construction projects, helical piles - also known as screw piles or ground screws - are a modern, resilient, and often more affordable foundation solution. When faced with a sloped lot, poor soil quality, or an ec...

Finding sustainable wood: We live in a country with over 400 million hectares of forest, so the supply is there; it's simply a case of properly managing it. That also means that when we cut one down, we should plant another. Wood is a renewable material, requires little processing and can almost always be purchased loc...

Find non-toxic adhesives and sealants: Modern homes have a lot more caulking and adhesives than older homes. Adhesives are liberally applied to many surfaces for ease and speed of job completion, as well as to prevent squeaking between flooring and joists, for example. Functionally speaking, caulking is used to prevent...