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Latest Posts for Sustainable Home Building - Minimalist Interior
Waterproof floor screeding with under floor electric heating

Electric wire under floor heating systems

Under floor radiant heating is comfortable for your feet, efficient for your wallet, and great for indoor air quality. See the options for different types of electric wire radiant floor systems. Radiant under floor heating in homes is a very efficient and comfortable method for heating a home. There are different…

Finishing a Basement to Resist Water or Humidity

Finishing a basement to be water resistant - reducing the damage from basement flooding

If you're unfortunate enough to have a basement that flooded, or that floods regularly over the years, this guide gives our top tips and information on how to rebuild a finished basement to make it more resilient to water damage in the future. Building a flood-resistant basement: Simple, sustainable solutions for…

Solar panel recycling to prevent sending them to landfills

Recycling process for photovoltaic solar panels

Solar power generation is an integral part of transitioning away from fossil fuels. But do we have another environmental disaster looming when solar panels reach their end-of-life? Find out how to recycle solar panels. Recycling solar panels - a growing need The need to reduce carbon emissions to slow runaway…

Radon sub-slab 10mil vapor barrier and radon barrier

New radon map of US finds 25% of Americans are in high risk cancer-causing radon hotspots

Long term exposure to high levels of radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Find out if your home is in a high risk area and how to fix it. National radon gas maps and database of high risk areas Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have mapped out radon hotspots having…

Insolation v Insulation

Is it spelled Insolation or Insulation? What even is Insolation?!

Ever talk about a topic you know well, only to realize halfway through that the other person has a completely different understanding of the terms you're using? This happens to me often when discussing building design, insulation, and insolation. Is it spelled insulation or insolation? A clear guide to knowing the…

Hydronic heating system

Hydronic heating systems, the complete guide to radiant heat

Hydronic heating systems involve heated liquid being pumped through radiators, baseboard heaters, floors or even walls. Hydronic heating is a system that uses water as the medium to distribute heat throughout a home, rather than relying on heating air. In simple terms, this means that water is used as the…

Waterproof floor screeding with underfloor hydronic heating

The ultimate guide to basement under floor heating and waterproof floor screeding

Turn an old damp basement into useable living space with proper waterproofing, insulation and a nice under floor heating system. In many homes, basements are increasingly being converted into functional, comfortable, and often very livable spaces, but getting them to be warm, dry, and usable poses a unique set of…

Choosing a good caulking gun & caulk is important for a successful sealing job

Top tips for caulking - which caulking gun is best & tips on how to do a clean caulking job

An effective caulking job at air sealing or for water protection in kitchens and bathrooms starts finding the right caulking gun for the job. See here for tips. What is the best caulking tool? The first and most costly mistake made for any first-timers doing a DIY home caulking job is buying the wrong tool. There…

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The Question that Needs to be Asked: Should California's Fire Resistance Code be Expanded for Urban Areas?

As California faces an escalating wildfire crisis, urban areas are vulnerable. With recent insurance regulation updates, the question arises: Are current building codes enough, or what changes can protect vulnerable communities from catastrophic fires. This week’s fires in California have been a wake-up call with…

under floor heating provides comfort and efficiency

All about under floor heating systems for homes

Under floor radiant heating systems are efficient and comfortable, they also lead to cleaner indoor air quality by not circulating dust and particulate like forced air systems. Underfloor heating, or infloor heating as it is also called, is a very efficient, comfortable, and healthy way to heat a home. Radiant floor…

Goverment incentive program sets to increase affordable ADU housing in Vancouver

Thinking of Building a Vancouver prefab Laneway Home, Tiny House or ADU? Now might be the time to do it.

The Secondary Suite Incentive Program from Ottawa and the BC Government makes loans available for rentals with apartments, laneway houses and tiny houses. Vancouver has always been on the leading edge of energy efficiency, and all things about sustainable living. It was one of the first cities in Canada to really…

Canada to build almost 4 million new homes by 2031

Canada intends to build almost 4 million new homes in the next 7 years. Great, but how?

Canada announced it intends to build almost 4 million new homes by 2031. That’s welcome news as they are badly needed, but that's impossible at our current production rate and methods of construction. In April of 2024, the Trudeau government unveiled its housing strategy, which aims to build 3.87 million new homes…

Electric convection heaters for homes, the Ecohome Guide

A buyer's guide for convection heaters

Heating with electricity is a more eco-friendly option than heating with fossil fuels. As an alternative to electric furnaces its worth a look at convection heaters for efficient comfortable heating. Convection heaters are an excellent choice for homeowners seeking reliable, efficient and low-cost heating solutions…

New build home starts are down all across Australia

The Australian home building industry is seeing a drop in new builds and a boom in renovations

There has been a slow down in residential home building across Australia, both new home starts and home renovations and upgrades across. This stagnation has multiple links to the Covid pandemic. but probably indicates some new incentives are needed. New home builds in Australia is at a 40 year low, but a new report…

Sheep wool insulation for homes

The pros and cons of sheep wool insulation for homes

Fancy being a bit of a black sheep when it comes to your home insulation? Try sheep wool Insulation for homes, tiny homes and van conversions. As more people begin to factor indoor air quality and health of occupants into home building and renovation plans, natural insulation materials are gaining traction in the…

JB Demolition company deconstructing a wall for kitchen renovations

Buying a property to renovate and flip as a green home

Flipping homes for profit - how to make money renovating and selling homes and how not to lose your shirt! Buying a property to renovate and to turn into a Green home: Key factors to consider for a smart investment and healthy return. What to look for when buying and renovating to flip a home for profit Purchasing a…

Which Are the Best Asphalt Roof Shingles?

Asphalt shingles: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Asphalt shingles are the most common thing found on pitched roofs, but unfortunately the most common building material in landfills too. Here is how to decide which are the best asphalt shingles and what you should know before deciding on a roof covering. In North America, about 90% of pitched roofs are covered with…

Metal roofing vs asphalt shingles - which roofing material is best?

Which is better - metal roofing or asphalt shingles?

Asphalt shingles are the cheapest roof covering you can buy, until you need to replace it. The short lifespan of shingles makes metal roofing a viable option. We compare the pros and cons of both roofing types to see if metal or asphalt shingles are best. Asphalt shingles are the most common and cheapest roof…

Prefab Homes, Different Construction Techniques & Standardization Canada

Opinion: Canada must adopt Prefab Homes and different construction techniques to address the housing crisis

Traditional new construction in Canada mean site-delivered lumber and tradespeople turning up on-site to build a home from scratch - but this type of construction is unlikely to produce the 3.5 million homes needed by 2030, according to the CMHC. Housing affordability and availability are major challenges in Canada…