by Cathy Rust | 13,Nov, 2019 | Guide, Water Efficiency
The MaP rating system for toilets measures a toilet’s flush performance – how effective it is at doing its job. The minimum performance should be 350.
by Cathy Rust | 8,Nov, 2019 | Insulation
Havelock sheep’s wool insulation is available in either batts or loose fill and has an R-value of 4.3. It stays resilient in humid environments.
by Cathy Rust | 4,Nov, 2019 | Countertops |
This post was updated on October 31, 2019. IceStone countertops are made from 75% post-industrial recycled glass, Portland cement and a non-petroleum-based binder in Brooklyn, New York. They look like a subtle terrazzo for your countertops. The company was...
by Cathy Rust | 29,Oct, 2019 | Architecture and Design |
Update as of October 29, 2019. I contacted Blu Homes this week to see if they were still offering to build homes in Canada. This is the response they sent me: We are currently not serving your geography and only available to build in California. If you do own land in...
by Cathy Rust | 23,Oct, 2019 | Flooring, Green building stores |
There are several advantages to using reclaimed wood for your floors. It has character (you can see nicks, gouges, worm holes), it’s dense because it is probably from an old growth forest, it gives the wood a second life, and it supports local industry.
by Cathy Rust | 20,May, 2019 | Lighting |
LED lighting is far more complex than traditional incandescent lighting. We examine the issues to consider in choosing the right lights for your home.
by Cathy Rust | 16,Jan, 2018 | News and Events
The Endeavour Centre in Peterborough, Ontario has consistently developed excellent, hands-on courses for students of all ages to learn the craft of building low-impact, sustainable homes. The “low-impact” aspect is important because there are...
by Cathy Rust | 2,Jan, 2018 | Book Review, Energy Efficiency |
Niall Enright is a sustainability consultant helping companies become more resource and energy efficient. A few months ago he contacted me to tell me about a book he’s written called, Energy and Resource Efficiency Without the Tears – the complete guide to...
by Cathy Rust | 14,Dec, 2017 | Opinion
Recently, in The Globe and Mail there was an article about the future of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. According to the article, annual maintenance costs $32 million and the roof needs replacing to the tune of $200-300 million. There is a new mayor, Ms....
by Cathy Rust | 11,Dec, 2017 | Green Living
Why is it important to recycle your old electronics? This infographic explains it all.
by Cathy Rust | 24,Nov, 2017 | News and Events
On October 15th, California Governor, Jerry Brown, signed into law, the “Buy Clean California Act.” The intention of this law to prevent contractors from using material that is shipped in other states and countries with considerably lower quality than...
by Cathy Rust | 21,Nov, 2017 | Building Envelope, Roofing
In Rotterdam, BlueCity is a Circular Economy incubator for companies developing technologies that create products from waste. So far they have about 12 companies that are working within their facilities – which are located in a defunct indoor tropical swimming...
by Cathy Rust | 11,Sep, 2017 | Water Efficiency
An efficient, low flow toilet (3 litres) that is virtually clog-free. Great for hotels and institutions due to its low maintenance.
by Cathy Rust | 13,Jul, 2017 | Book Review
“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.” ―Stanislaw Lec Like many others out there I am suffering from climate anxiety, and yes, it’s a thing. In fact, there is even a 9 step program for it available in some cities. I sometimes feel like there is...
by Cathy Rust | 19,Jun, 2017 | Green Living
We are in the market for a new car and so we thought that maybe the time is right to look at electric vehicles. We’ve been thinking about them for a while and I admit that if I ever win Loto 649 the first thing I’ll do is buy a Tesla model S. Up until this...
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