Mechanical systems

The SANC02 is the first heat pump water heater available in Canada to use outside air for heating water. Read our in-depth review of this innovative way to save money on hot water. There are many manufacturers of heat pump water heaters on the market, which, rather than heating water with an electric coil as a…

Not only are they more durable, they are also pliable, lightweight and easily transportable. Standard solar panels are rigid, relatively heavy and fragile. A new product on the market called Microsystems Enabled Photovoltaics (MEPV) from mPower Technology may change that. The cells in these pliable sheets are made…

Passive solar air heaters are easy to make for competent DIY'ers from downspouts, pop-cans or roofing sheet or there are affordable solar heaters for sale online & both offer a quick payback - discover more here. How solar air heaters work: Solar air heater diagram © Ecohome The above diagram indicates the basic…

On display at Igloofest in Montreal, the Celsius solar igloo is an artistic demonstration of solar heating. A solar igloo at first sounds counterintuitive, but contrast is at the heart of this design concept created by the L. McComber architectural team for Montreal's Igloofest. The solar igloo known as 'Celsius'…

A great vintage look, reminiscent of Thomas Edison's handmade bulbs but with LED longevity and low energy consumption. What is the difference between LED and Incandescent lightbulbs? At the beginning of the 20th century, light bulbs were handmade, with incandescent filaments painstakingly being placed in tiny glass…

The name Tesla inspires visions of fast cars, rocket ships, high speed trains and now home solar roofs. So far they are big on fanfare but short on hard facts. Tesla is a powerful brand that when riding on its track record of electric vehicles needs to do little but step into a market to get glowing accolades. Some…

Aquion Energy's Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI ) saltwater batteries offered a safe, clean, non-hazardous and hassle-free solution to storing your own power - but can you make DIY saltwater batteries for off-grid power storage. Updated: Aquion as a saltwater battery is no longer available in North America having moved to…

Ever wonder how solar panels actually work? Here is a great explanation of how sun is converted into electricity, and some resources for getting set up with solar panels in Canada. Going solar at home is more straightforward and affordable now than ever before. Areas throughout Canada are experiencing a jump in…

Making sense of the best wood burning fireplace inserts and wood stove specifications and knowing how to choose the best one for you if you're looking to burn wood for minimum environmental impact & maximum heat output is easy with our guide. Wood burning inserts and stoves - which are best & which burn cleanest…

Developed to be used with Uponor pex tubing only, the Milwaukee expander tool will shave tons of time off any plumbing job. Traditional pex piping is installed by slipping a metal ring over the exterior of the pipe, then slipping a union or any other joint inside and crimping the ring to hold it in place. It works…

Short of a wood stove, pretty much all heating systems require power to operate. So in the event of an apocalypse (zombie, climate, asteroid, etc) these two pellet stoves can keep you warm when the power goes out. These wood pellet stoves need no electricity Burning wood to heat a home does not make you an…