Heating and cooling

​​​​​​​Standard wood stoves can turn an energy-efficient home as hot a a sauna if you're not careful. Learn how masonry heaters solve this problem by acting as a thermal battery and radiating heat in airtight Passive House, LEED and Net Zero homes. There is a specific quality of warmth that comes from a masonry…

Learn the critical requirements for installing a wood burning stove in an airtight house, including sealed combustion and correct low-output sizing for homeowners and builders. Can you put wood burning stoves in airtight homes? There is an inherent feeling of resiliency that comes with having a wood stove, in that…

If you live in Vancouver, new 2027 rules mean your next hot water tank replacement needs some thinking about. Discover which high-efficiency model of hot water heater offers the best rebates and long-term savings for Vancouver homeowners. Vancouver's New Water Heater Rules: A Homeowner's Guide to Upgrades & Rebates…

Radiant cooling in homes can be comfortable, quiet and efficient, but does it work? Find out the cost and disadvantages compared to forced air cooling. What is radiant cooling? Radiant cooling is an alternative to typical forced air home air conditioning systems. Radiant home air conditioning involves reducing the…

Can a fake flame ever replace the real thing? I’m not sure yet, but the case for ditching my wood stove is getting harder to ignore. As someone who heats his home partly with firewood, I am aware of the ecological impact, as well as the impact on air quality inside my home and for my downwind neighbours. I live in a…

Heat pumps are the most efficient way to heat a home no matter the climate, but some heat pumps perform better in low temperatures. Find out here what to look for when shopping for a heat pump. Which cold climate heat pumps are best? Heat pumps that work efficiently in very cold climate conditions are constantly…

Under floor radiant heating is comfortable for your feet, efficient for your wallet, and great for indoor air quality. See the options for different types of electric wire radiant floor systems. Radiant underfloor heating in homes is a very efficient and comfortable method for heating a home. There are different…

Hydronic heating systems involve heated liquid being pumped through radiators, baseboard heaters, floors or even walls. Hydronic heating is a system that uses water as the medium to distribute heat throughout a home, rather than relying on heating air. In simple terms, this means that water is used as the…

Under floor radiant heating systems are efficient and comfortable, they also lead to cleaner indoor air quality by not circulating dust and particulate like forced air systems. Underfloor heating, or infloor heating as it is also called, is a very efficient, comfortable, and healthy way to heat a home. Radiant floor…

Heating with electricity is a more eco-friendly option than heating with fossil fuels. As an alternative to electric furnaces its worth a look at convection heaters for efficient comfortable heating. Convection heaters are an excellent choice for homeowners seeking reliable, efficient and low-cost heating solutions…

Is natural gas a good heat source for your home? If you're looking for a green and clean heat source for you home the answer seems to be no, and it won't be cheap for long either. Is natural gas bad? Yes it very much is no matter how you look at it. Burning any fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere…