A listing of all of the articles I’ve written organized into groups based on the structure of a home: ie., first design and build, then the building envelope, mechanical systems, and finally interior finishes. There is also a list of green building stores and extra resources. This list is by no means exclusive, but rather, just what I’ve been able to write about so far. As I write about new products, materials and services, I will continue to update this list. If a product is on the list but not highlighted it’s because I haven’t written about it yet, but “it’s in the hopper,” so to speak.
Green Building Stores:
Building and Design Services
Architects
- Heather Dubbeldam
- Stone’s Throw Design
- Bruce March
Contractors
Building Envelope
Foundation Wrap and sealers:
Insulated Concrete Forms:
- Durisol
- ARXX
Insulation:
- UltraTouch Cotton Insulation
- Heatlok/Polar Soy Foam Insulation
- Reflectix Reflective Panel Insulation
- Durafoam Low Expansion Window and Door Insulation
SIPS (structural insulated panels):
Venting Products for Building Envelopes:
Sealants and Adhesives:
Windows:
Wood Products (excluding Flooring):
I. Millwork materials
II. FSC lumber
- Tembec
- Columbia Forest Products
Mechanical Systems (HVAC, Hot Water, etc.)
Furnaces:
Heat/Energy Recovery Ventilator:
Heating Units:
- Jaga Radiators
- EdenPure Infrared Heaters
- Hydronic Radiant Heat
- Redwell Infrared Heaters
Cooling Units:
Hot Water Heaters and Accessories
- About Tankless Water Heater Systems
- Bosch Tankless Hot Water Heaters
- Power Pipe Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit
Interior Finishes
Counter top and tile material
Coatings and Paints:
Flooring
I. Bamboo
II. Carpet
- Earth Weave
- Flor
- Wool Carpets (Read here for more specific details and local Toronto retailers)
- Fibreworks (jute and sisal)
III. Cork Flooring
IV. FSC Wood Flooring
V. Natural Linoleum
VI. Reclaimed Wood Flooring
VIII. Modified Wood Products for outdoor use (ie., decking)
Lighting:
- evoLED
- EcoFitt
- Heron LED Personal Task Light
- Sylvania RT4 LED Recessed
- Sylvania Ultra LED A line 100W replacement
Kitchen Products
Outdoor Landscaping and Renewable Energy Units
- Energy-Wise Landscaping (book review)
- Envirobond Joint Compounds
- Unilock Permeable Pavers
- Rain Barrels from Sustainable Solutions
- Wind Simplicity Micro Wind Turbine
- Using Less Water in the Garden
Window Coverings
Water Efficiency Products
I. Water Fixtures
- Delta WaterSense Labelled Showerheads with H2Okinetic Technology
- EcoFitt
- Oxygenics
- Fluid Emperor Faucet
- Watermark’s Titanium22 Collection Faucet
- Hastings Chelsea H125 Faucet
II. Toilets
III. Gray water and Water cisterns and Rainbarrels
Furniture and Accessories:
- The Cork House
- Green Tea Design
- Natura Mattresses
- Montauk
- The ReCYCLEr
- ReOrient
- Snob
- Style Garage
- Urban Tree Salvage
- Whitewash Furniture
Prefabricated/Modular Homes
“Green” Houses
- 301 Munroe
- Canada’s First Passive House Certified Home
- Earthquake Proof Home and Earthquake Proof Home Revisited — An update
- John Bell’s Green Home
- Living Home (PreFab)
- Massachusetts Garage made from dirt and old tires
- Rammed Earth Home and Rammed Earth Home Revisited –An update
- Rosedale House and Rosedale House Revisited — An update
- Guatemalan School and Community Centre
Resource Articles
- A Rating System for toilets
- An Introduction to Induction Cooktops
- Are Stone Counter Tops Eco-Friendly?
- Are Toronto’s Waste Initiatives Working?
- Beware of Greenwash
- Building a Home Taking Embodied Energy Into Account
- The Benefits of Wool Carpeting
- Developing an Ecologo Standard
- Different Hot Water Heater Options
- How to Buy a Carpet
- How to Talk to your Contractor About Using Green Building Materials
- Tips for Choosing the Right Solar Panels and Installers
- What Makes a Cabinet and Cabinet Company Green?
- What to Consider when Purchasing New Appliances
Energy Efficiency Articles:
- I. Benchmarking Your Electricity Use
- II. A Do it Yourself Plug and Lighting Load Audit
- III. Cutting Your Electricity Use: Observing Your Family’s Behaviour
- IV. Creating and Implementing an Action Plan
- Improving your Home’s Energy Efficiency: The Financial Case
- Passive House in a Canadian Climate
- Why Hire an Energy Auditor?
- Zerofootprint: Energy Efficiency through software, architectural design, and human behaviour
Living Green Products
Energy Efficiency Products and Services
Renewable Energy Products
Wind Turbines:
