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The electrification of homes and a move away from natural gas and fossil fuel heating systems is fast gathering momentum but are heat pumps any good, and is this a good time to buy one? We take a deeper look into heat pumps. As a seasoned construction professional with lots of HVAC experience, people often ask me…

This prefab housing project in Toronto features rapid modular construction to create 25 sustainable units. Smart Density and Assembly, with the CMHC's Rapid Housing Initiative, shows how prefab can provide quality and affordable housing for Toronto. We keep hearing how the way forward for construction is to adopt…

All basements are prone to flooding, which is why we don't really like basements much. So, if it's your turn to look with dismay at your unplanned basement pool and wonder what to do next to fix things, read this guide and we will try our best to help. Flooded basement? That really sucks... Basement flooding can be…

In North America rarely a day goes by without a home renovation show or well known home renovation celebrity extolling the virtues of spray foam insulation. Homeowners in the UK are starting to realize what an expensive mistake spray foam can be. Spray foam insulation has gained popularity in North America as a…

The challenges of removing spray foam insulation means that recycling or even sustainably disposing of homes in the future will be problematic for those choosing this popular insulation material - a favorite of many TV renovation shows. Spray foam insulation is often promoted as an environmentally friendly option…

Most finished basements are moldy or will develop mold in the future because they are usually built poorly. Learn what to look for when home shopping. Basements, downstairs in more ways than one For those wishing to become homeowners, one of the decisions you'll face when buying a new property is whether or not to…

The LogisVert programme by Hydro Quebec encourages the adoption of electric heat storage systems with a special grant, which are an effective way of conserving energy for home heating, reducing the costs and problems associated with electric heating. Electric heating is the best option in Quebec . The downside…

The federal government has proposed a groundbreaking solution to the Canadian housing crisis: the establishment of a standardized home directory. Ecohome would like to see the accent on performance and sustainability. In Canada, the pursuit of homeownership faces formidable challenges, including escalating…

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Partanna's Carbon-Negative, Storm-Resistant "Tree-like" Home Offers Self-Sufficiency for a Changing World. Imagine a home that embraces nature's wisdom, not just mirroring its beauty but also actively healing the environment it inhabits. This isn't a futuristic fantasy; it's the…

Insights, impacts, and industry perspectives on the early end to the seven year initiative to encourage greener Canadian homes. Starting March 2024, the Greener Homes grant program in Canada will stop accepting new applications , as reported by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada…

While electric powered homes, using high efficiency heat pumps and heat pump water heaters are the preferred option for green homes, if your home is too far from the natural gas supply or it's mobile home or tiny house, propane may be the only option. While Ecohome is a firm advocate of decarbonizing homes by the…

An in-depth guide with checklists to help make the best choices when buying a home, by outlining the advantages or disadvantages of buying a Fixer-Upper vs. Move-In Ready or New Property for sustainability, health and investment potential. The classic dilemma when buying a property is whether to buy new, to buy…

What is a 3D printed House? What are the pros & cons of 3D printing homes? Ecohome takes a detailed look at the printed home idea using new technologies and gives its verdict on this innovative construction technique that is very popular in the media. We've seen more and more headlines calling 3D Printed homes, "the…

Discover the key differences and factors to consider when choosing between Geothermal heating systems and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) for your home. Geothermal vs. ASHPs - what's the difference? Heating and cooling systems play a crucial role in maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures in homes everywhere…

A guide to the best home renovation shows for aspiring DIY enthusiasts and first-time home buyers and where to stream them. Are you considering buying a first home, a fan of home renovation shows on TV, and so perhaps pondering embarking on your own fixer-upper adventure? If so, you're somewhat in luck! North…

Firmly convinced that we can make better choices every day (and that this would actually make a difference), here's an Ecohome checklist of easy ways to learn sustainable habits at home. Let's be inspired, every day According to a recent survey sponsored by Google of more than 3,000 Americans by using a type of AI…

Holistic design, recycled materials, hempcrete, pushing the boundaries beyond Net-Zero, all of this and more at the UBC Vancouver campus in the form of the Third Space Commons building by Third Quadrant Design. Officially billed as displaying the best of 'carbon minimalism', Third Quadrant Design's Third Space…

Bill S287 was signed on Jan 30th and signals State sanctioned incentives for the decarbonization of the concrete industry - including the supply, delivery and use of lower carbon concrete. In a breakthrough for reducing the carbon footprint of North American construction, Bill S287 was signed on the 30th of January…

High performance energy efficient homes help to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool them, but this is only half of the story! The embodied carbon in the construction is also important, especially when building mid-rise high density homes. Embodied & operational carbon comparison for mid-rise…