Choosing / Discussions

...choosing between and HRV and ERV, (heat recovery and energy recovery ventilation). Units will have an ‘efficiency’ rating, meaning how much heat the recover before air is expelled from the home. You will pay more for a more efficient one, but it will also save you money on heating and cooling. Feel free to check back w...

Can you recommend the best method of building an insulated slab on grade suitable for the laurentian mountains in the event that bedrock prevents digging out a foundation?  On your site, you discuss Frost Protected Shallow Foundation - or FPSF., 8 inches Rockwool rigid board under the exterior of the slab, Tpye III EPS...

...Choosing the right lumber for framing depends on a lot things, everything from your design, local building codes, and what lumber is available nearby. Here is our page all about choosing the right wood for framing, it will help you chose the right one for your project –  Timber choices for Wood Frame Construction of Ho...

...choosing – Choose between an HRV and ERV, which is best for cold climates The major difference between the two is that an HRV transfers moisture either in or out depending on where its more humid, whle an ERV keeps the moisture on the side of the wall where it already is. Ottawa is a humid climate, and can even be so i...

...choosing the best flooring for alternatives. There are al types of engineered floors such as Maple, Birch, Oak, and you can find Cork engineered floors as well.  

...Choosing a house wrap, which is best? That page outlines the pros and cons of different types of house wraps, and as mentioned, how you apply them is as important as the products you choose. The best weather barrier in the world won’t help if you pop a thousand holes in it! We have a DIY green home building video serie...

...Choosing Between an HRV and an ERV.  As for brands, we have used Van EE, Venmar, Lifebreath, Zehnder and other brands in our builds, we even used this system here that may be of interest – Lunos Ductless wall insert ERVs. I would see what is available regionally and base your decision on warranty, availability, cost, a...

...Choosing between a slab on grade and a basement foundation And remember that bigger isn’t always better. A bigger house costs more to design, more to build, more to heat and more to cool. So my first tip would be to build the size of house you want to live in.  As for structures, builders also recommend the types of wa...

...choosing flooring for a home, and as you mention, we have often chosen different materials for bathrooms or kitchens to improve durability since both those areas are more prone to having standing water than in living areas. Here is our page about choosing flooring to see the options- How to choose eco-friendly, healthy...

Hi I am planning to retrofit our 1960s 3bed semi here in Ireland.  We have a suspended timber floor and I intend to lay electric underfloor heating under laminate flooring.  Can you help me choose the best type of insulation (both underlay and overlay of the electric heating system).  My main concerns and fire and offg...

I have a 36' x 36' cottage style bungalow with 2 x 6 walls with spray foamed 9' walls, vaulted southern kitchen and living room with passive solar window design and 6' overhang on south& west walls. 1 1/2" R 7.5 styro on the outside of exterior walls as wekll as 4' pony wall crawl space. Electric forced air duct sy...

I will be building an Ecohome in the middle of Colorado where it snows for a third of the year, is freezing for about half of it, and has a couple warm summer months. With all the different building and insulation techniques I have come across, I still have no idea which would be best for my specific climate. If it mak...

What is the best option for window replacement in a basement? When looking for high performance windows, there is no really no difference between basements and above grade walls. Basement windows are often smaller than main floor windows, other than that, whatever performance of windows you decide to invest in would ma...

I am going to be building my corewood home soon but I wood like to get the floor plan down before I start getting the materials for the house so I can gage out cost. And if i can have all my water and pluming in the floor with my heating system and can place the massive walls on the system to because of the weight of t...

I need a 3 or 4 zone ductless air source system in the 24,000 BTU range. Suggestions? When looking for a heat pump for a home, we would recommend checking the specs page on whatever heat pump brand you are looking into, but first, make a short list by eliminating any that don’t carry an ENERGY STAR certification. We ha...

I have a newly constructed 2000 sq ft home with Natural gas In floor Radiant heat. With the most updated energy codes. We are just looking for the best air exchange system. Thanks, John How to choose between an HRV and ERV (Heat Recovery Ventilator and Energy Recovery Ventilator for those not familiar) comes down mostl...

...Choosing Solar Panels   Choosing the Best Woodstove Pellet stoves for off grid heating that don’t need electricity  

At the moment I'm designing a small house that I hope to be able to be able to live in all year round, with zero bills so I'm using wind, hydro and solar for electricity and rain/lake water for water. I want the house to be as well insulated as possible so I have to generate less electricity, so I'm wondering what sort...