Rating System for Water Efficient Toilets
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.
Do Wind Turbines or Buildings Kill More Birds?
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on a panel at an integrated design charette in Ottawa, given by Enbridge Gas Distribution through their Savings By Design program. Sustainable Buildings Canada organizes the sessions and provides the expertise. We work as a team to help...
Measuring Light Intensity with watts or lumens — watts the difference? (sorry)
I’ve been meaning to write this post for awhile as the lighting industry is changing over to lumens from watts to measure light intensity. So, the next time you have to go buy an (LED) light bulb, you will be able to use your newfound knowledge to buy with...
Best Water Efficiency Practices for Homeowners
March 22nd marked World Water Day, a day used to highlight how important fresh water is to the planet and how much of the world’s population struggles to get reliable clean freshwater every day. Canadians are the second largest users of water in the world with...LEED for Homes and Other Green Housing Certifications
In 2007 we moved into a brand new house with the naive view that new was always better than old. My husband’s and my belief was that a new house would involve less maintenance, lower running costs, higher energy efficiency and overall fewer headaches. What...
Linoleum Flooring Guide
Linoleum flooring was the flooring of choice for schools, hospitals, residential kitchens and entry ways until the invention of vinyl (PVC) tile and sheeting. It’s relatively easy to maintain, especially newer versions, it is hypo-allergenic and doesn’t...
What makes a cabinet and a cabinet company Green?
Beside budget, style, color, durability, brand that influenced our selections in the past, kitchen cabinet manufacturers increasingly compete for our business on the basis of providing healthy cabinets. Cabinets are often made of particle board, press wood, hardwood...
An Introduction to Induction Cooktops
The latest in energy efficient stove tops uses induction heating to warm and cook food. Food and liquids are heated significantly faster than with either a traditional electric stove or natural gas. But I’ve always had a few reservations with induction heating...
What to Consider When Purchasing New (Green) Appliances
Buying new appliances can be a pretty overwhelming task, even if you’re just buying a replacement for one that’s finally konked out. And if you’re buying a suite of new appliances as part of an overall kitchen/laundry room renovation, they will...
Energy Efficiency — Creating and Implementing an Action Plan
I’ve written many articles on energy efficiency, and read a lot on it as well, where I’ve always gotten frustrated are the uncoordinated tips that are given about improving your home’s energy efficiency. “Buy this super duper auto shut-off...Cutting your electricity Use: Observing your Family’s Behaviour
Think back to the ’80s, before the existence of iPods, home computers, electric telephones, home theatres, gaming stations (all right, there was Nintendo). Although our appliances consumed a lot more electricity per unit than the ones we use now, we used a lot...A Do-It-Yourself Plug and Lighting Load (Electricity) Audit
In a previous post I discussed the importance of benchmarking your electricity use. Benchmarking helps you understand how much electricity you are currently consuming, as well as your usage history. Now we want to figure out where we consume it. A Do it Yourself Home...
How to Shop for Windows
Windows are usually the “path of least resistance” when it comes to heat loss/gain. Because you’re cutting a big hole in your building, it’s not hard to see where your heat loss is likely to come from. So compromising on window quality could...
How to Tell if You’re Working With A Green Kitchen Designer
Kitchen renovations tend to be a first priority when it comes to renovating older homes. There are many reasons for this including colour, design, material use (think terracotta tile flooring from the 80s), and most importantly, functionality. Kitchens are also a...Tankless Hot Water Systems — Benefits and Drawbacks
There are pros and cons to tankless water heaters. We list them in this short article.
