Choosing where to live

Urban centers are increasing in population, with that comes the challenge of making them a healthy and enjoyable place to live, both in a green home and out. First published in SAB magazine. Kim Barnsley Is a senior architect at the Vancouver office of Perkins+Will. The way we live is changing. As both an architect…

Tips for getting out of the city and living a rural small town lifestyle.   For those that aren't made for the bustling lifestlyle of cities, small towns can be a dream come true. The nature of small towns is one of community and accessible downtown cores. Essential services like grocery stores, banks and post…

Suburbs can be one of the hardest places to live a green lifestyle, as they often have little access to services and public transportation. Here are a few tips to reduce your carbon footprint in the suburbs. The ecological impact of suburban living: U.S. studies regarding the energy impact of population by location…

Being in the core of a city can be one of the greenest places to live. Transportation, services and utilities are already there, not to mention usually the house itself. 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…

A green home doesn’t always cost more to build, but always costs less to operate. A healthy efficient home saves money, reduces your carbon footprint and improves your quality of life. Housing is an enormous source of carbon emissions, so it is also a place where we have tremendous room for improvement. This…