urban-planning-transportation / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Electric scooter for commuting
Commuting

The Scrooser: Electric e-bike / scooter for urban commuting

Enter the Scrooser. The Scrooser is a German engineered electric scooter / e-bike with a top speed of 24 km (15 mph) and a range of 35.5 km (22 miles). It works with an Impulse Drive that is literally kickstarted by it's rider as the engine engages when the scooter reaches speeds over 3 km per hour.  The Scrooser no...

Urban Farm Unit - Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Pisciculture and Urban Farming
Food production

Growing food in urban cores with the Urban Farm Unit

So, urban agriculture. It's important, right? That’s certainly the conclusion I've come to when pondering the future of food production, our future on this planet, and sustainability in general. As a proponent of urban agriculture it's also clear to me that both space and soil toxicity are challenges that beg to be ove...

Bike lanes in Downtown Vancouver
Choosing where to live

Urban living

Housing is an enormous source of carbon emissions, so it is also a place where we have tremendous room for improvement. This building guide will walk you through the steps than can help you minimize your personal emissions as much as possible, whether you are building, buying or renting. Keep in mind, this is not a sac...

Building Green Homes on a Budget is Possible - Our top tips
Planning and Design

Top tips for planning and building a green home on a budget

Proper planning is the key to successfully building a sustainable green home. An energy-efficient ‘eco home’ doesn’t necessarily need to cost a lot more than a code-built home because a lot of that depends on design, but choosing and finding green building materials can take a bit longer as they often need to be specia...

Commuting after Lock-down in the new Covid-19 World
Lifestyle, location and commuting

Green commuting - getting back to work after social distancing is relaxed

All nations want and need to get back to work, and soon, but there's going to have to be a lot of adjustments to how we actually do it. When we start to get back to normal after COVID-19, (the new normal anyway), there will likely be an extended period of time where we are all a little leery of shaking that first hand,...

ProductiveHouse in Montreal
Choosing where to live

Green living in the city

1. Life without a car. One of the nice things about living in the city is public transportation and proximity to services, which makes it possible to live without a car. Or at the very least, it can reduce the amount of driving you have to do. When choosing a place to live, check the walking distances from buses or sub...

Cutting a 110 year old dying pine tree.
Recycled and Reclaimed Materials

The rise of urban logging

It's always a bit sad to watch an old and seemingly healthy tree come down. But if it must, it's great to do something useful with it. This 110 year old pine tree in Chelsea, Quebec that was looming over two homes started to show signs of rot. With a new building project slated to go right underneath it, it was time to...

Concept and design

How to stay on budget when building a home

The following is an interview with Patrick Ranger, General Manager at Belvedair, a construction company specializing in the design and construction of green homes. Patrick is trained in business administration and information management, and is an experienced green building project manager. JP – Patrick, please tell us...

How to plan and budget for home renovations and new builds
Concept and design

Important tips for a successful build or renovation

1. Make a realistic budget and schedule: This is, without a doubt, the starting point to a successful build - don’t underestimate the time and money it will take to complete a build or renovation. Even professional contractors tend to underestimate the costs and duration of a project. Get advice from multiple professio...

Future proof your home by preparing and building to for climate change
Planning and Design

Homes built for Climate Disruptions: A Primer for Home Owners and Buyers

I’m writing this during a heat wave in June, 2021, as much of the US and Canada seem poised to experience yet another record-breaking hot summer. Those who are not climate geeks might ask if this warmer-than-average weather is caused by climate change. In fact, weather is not climate. Weather is what happens day-to-day...

Building Climate Zones USA & Canada Maps Help with Specification of Homes
Planning and Design

Climate Zones in USA & Canada for Building Homes

The first step to building a durable and energy-efficient home in North America, including Passive house to PHIUS standards, LEED or Net Zero Homes is knowing your climate zone. Just as we need to wear different outfits in different climates, homes need to be properly designed to meet the temperatures, humidity levels ...