Home design / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

...designing with simplicity in mind. A low pitch shed roof is an easy and safe workspace and can contribute to home designs that are durable, high performance and affordable to build.  Image © Ecohome.  The most affordable home design features: Simple foundation design: We built a frost-protected slab-on-grade foundat...

...design intent must be perfectly executed on site. What is a design-build firm and how does it work? The advantages of design-build for sustainable and high-performance homes Challenges and disadvantages of the design-build approach Who is on a design-build team and what are their roles? What is a design-build firm a...

...design ideas: a homeowner's and pro's guide The kitchen is the heart of the home, but it can also be a source of frustration if the space is not designed to function efficiently. This guide explores a range of innovative, space-saving, and convenient ideas that will make your kitchen a pleasure to use. From hidden stor...

...home design during the early architectural planning stages. Now you know about how to stay on budget when building a green home. Find more building advice in the Ecohome Green Building Guide and these pages here :  Find green building design professional in the Ecohome Directory  Top tips for building green hom...

...home The draw backs of building on a slab on grade: Building your home on a slab on grade means you will have no basement storage, a mechanical room on the main floor, and no ability to move plumbing fixtures for future renovations.  So how to deal with that? No basement storage: build a shed, or build your slab slig...

...home Green Building Guide and these related pages :  Tips for seniors on downsizing homes The top ten things home buyers are looking for  Evaluating a home before purchase - how to identify major problems and price out repair costs  Should you buy a home to renovate, a move-in-ready renovated home or a new home...

...home design. Find more pages about sustainable construction below and in the Ecohome Green Building Guide pages. Resilient home design features - how to build a durable home All about air and vapor barriers in high-performance homes Rigid foam insulation panels : which to use, and where - polyiso v EPS v styrofoa...