What makes a home green / Guides

...aulking: Air leaks account for an enormous amount of heat loss in a home , and can lead to condensation and mold in walls in cold climates . In a really leaky house, a tube of caulking might even pay for itself in a day or two. On a windy day check for drafts around windows and doors, and see where your efforts are bes...

...act domestic wind turbine on Kickstarter claim that "for places that get less than 300 days of sun a year, a PowerPod could produce more power, for less money than solar panels" which really did make us wonder, as there are so many variables in play that we don't see how that can always be true. Important in that cla...

...al air quality and an inefficient furnace Are air filters for furnaces washable? Some filters are washable such as those with lower MERV ratings (or no rating at all), so in general we would have to recommend against washing furnace and home air filters. The higher-rated air filters are paper-based, as that is th...

...ater per day, research shows that the average Canadian generates over 300 litres of waste water each day . This statistic makes Canadians one of the highest per capita consumers of water on the planet. Gray water recycling Since gray water is whatever you send down your sinks, bath and shower drains, it will contai...

...are available for sale again in USA & Canada. Renewable energy is a hot topic, not just in green building circles, but all across the globe. The need is urgent, the products are improving and the prices are dropping. So what used to be a niche market is now somewhat mainstream, and a greater market share always leads...

...art by asking the question: What makes a home livable? This query sparked the Livable Homes initiative launched by Perkins+Will. The initiative surveys participants around the question ‘What makes a home livable to you?’ Developed as a publically accessible platform, livablehomes.perkinswill.com has received 140 ...

...ases the value of the property and makes it easier to rent when you leave. These are affordable solutions that will help to reduce your bills and the ecological footprint of your home. Renovation tax credits and financial incentives: First speak with your bank and find out what funds you have available. Many bank...

...and that takes fuel. There have been some changes lately that are quite promising, And THIA (Tiny Home Industry Association) has made great strides with cities and counties across the US to make tiny Houses legal to park and live in, read more here. As long as this thing stays put, then no great harm here and I tak...

...as it managed and harvested sustainably? Lifespan: How long before this product will need to be replaced? Impact on human health: Homes can be a toxic stew of glues, VOC’s, formaldehyde and other contaminants that aggravate and cause serious respiratory illnesses and other health effects. Many toxins can ea...

...an, material composition and lack of recyclability made installing one less of a noble gesture and more of a move towards self-preservation (not that there's anything terrible about that). This is actually changing now - lead/acid batteries still take a large share of the home battery market, but new lithium-ion batter...

...at as long as your home stands. Solar thermal heating and solar water heaters This refers to using solar panels to absorb heat in a liquid (mix of glycol and water) and redistribute it throughout the house, through radiators or radiant floor heat. A system can work to heat your home, as well as pre-heating your d...