Location & Mobility

Neighbourhoods, living and commuting

Guide

An Off-Grid Self-Sustaining Eco-Community Housing Development

How to Start an Eco-Community

A definitive guide to developing a resilient, sustainable, and equitable eco-community, covering everything from finding land and people to establishing governance and financing models. How to build an off-grid eco-community: Eco-community building, where groups of like-minded people come together on a plot of land…

What Are the Biggest Energy Consumers in a Home? Top Tips For How to Reduce Utility Bills

Learn which appliances use the most energy, and strategies to reduce consumption and lower energy bills without too much sacrifice and effort. Homes have a lot of appliances and electronics that even when not in use can cost you money, and there are easy ways to save and lower your bills. For most people, reducing…

A tiny home on wheels near Vancouver in BC

Tiny Homes on Wheels - Legal in BC Canada?

The B.C. government has given the green light for tiny homes on wheels, but one crucial distinction will determine if your dream home is a legal dwelling or just an RV. B.C. paves the way for Tiny Homes on Wheels - here's what you need to know: In a landmark move for the sustainable housing movement, the British…

Passive solar design meets practical sustainability in rural ontario home

A sustainable executive home near Toronto GTA built for comfort, efficiency, and future resilience

Passive heating and off-grid ready construction can offer a feeling of security in a future of uncertain climate-related weather challenges. When the current owners of this rural property in Erin, Ontario began looking for an executive-style home within reach of the Greater Toronto Area, they quickly realized there…

EVs can power your house in a power outage with V2H or V2G technology

Using an electric car as a home battery: how to power your home with your EV

Home batteries for power storage from solar PV to during outages or to power a home during the nighttime makes homes more resilient, but are very expensive. The electric car in your laneway could potentially power your house as a backup, find out how. As we transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner energy…

Sustainable Habits at Home Make a Difference

Simple and affordable ways to live more sustainably every day

Firmly convinced that we can make better choices every day (and that this would actually make a difference), here's an Ecohome checklist of easy ways to learn sustainable habits at home. 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…

How to Handle a Power Outage in Cold Weather

How to handle a power outage in cold weather

As North America accelerates the electrification of homes and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels like oil and gas for heating and cooking, this also increases the potential for power outages in cold weather to disrupt our daily lives. Why be prepared for power outages in cold weather? From celebrating holidays to…

Charging Ev's - the options for charging in public places

Charging EVs without a private parking space or on the move - the best options

Many of us live in cities where homes like apartments built from subdivided older houses don't have a private parking spaces - as EVs become the preferred option for commuters, what are the solutions for charging an EV in public places or on the move. Any of us who've owned gas powered vehicles over the years know…

Wash Clothes in cold water? Only if Washing Better! - © Robert J. Pierson

Save money by washing clothes in cold water - especially as it can wash better!

It's tempting to run your washing machine on cold water to save some dollars, but many people will tell you that it's not effective for washing clothes properly or for removing stubborn stains - and that's not quite true. So, a little background story, I always called my mom "Laurence, the guardian angel of…

How to reduce gas, electricity, and grocery bills easily this winter

How to reduce energy bills this winter to help reduce the cost of living...

Faced with the rise in the cost of living that is hitting Canada and North America, reducing energy use and bills has become a necessity. To stay positive, the Ecohome team explores ways to save money while living better and greener. The current economic situation is pushing many Canadians and North Americans to…

World carbon emissions by country global overview

COP26 and world carbon emissions by country per capita - which countries top the charts?

It's a common misconception that Canada & the US are doing ok 'ish' on carbon emissions - as looked at in terms of absolute emissions the usual suspects are there on top. However, looking at per capita CO2 emissions reveals a different story. With the recent COP26 Global Climate Change Conference in Glasgow…

News

A lush, vegetated green roof on an urban grocery store Image © The Green Line: G

Green Roofs: A Surprising Weapon in the Fight Against Microplastic Pollution

Discover how green roofs serve as an innovative and effective nature-based solution for capturing microplastic pollution from the air and rainwater, making them a key component of sustainable urban design. Green roofs: a homeowner's & pro's guide Green roofs are gaining popularity as a key sustainable solution for…

New Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Fast-Tracking UK Development

UK government unveils planning and infrastructure bill to fast-track development and boost economic growth

New legislation aims to cut red tape, accelerate housing projects, and enhance sustainable infrastructure across the UK. The UK Government has introduced the much-anticipated Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a groundbreaking legislative initiative designed to transform the country’s planning system. Announced by…

Quebec Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Heating by 2040 © Mike Reynolds

Quebec to end fossil fuel heating in homes by 2040

Quebec plans to phase out fossil-fuel-based natural gas heating in homes by 2040, aiming to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental advocates commend this decision, calling it a critical step in tackling climate change. Environmental groups welcome Quebec’s recent announcement banning natural gas heating in…

GOOGLE MAPS update - prioritizes ECO-Friendly ROUTES & Bikes

Google Maps updated to show most eco friendly and fuel efficient routes first

Google maps has now been updated to show the most eco friendly route to drivers, as well as adding additional information for bike routes, it's an interesting application of technology. Google just announced that effective immediately, the Google Maps app will feature the most eco-friendly routes for iOS and Android…

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