Category Archives: Green Building
Raising a House in Vancouver
Building a brand new home while retaining heritage and character by raising a house in Vancouver can be a challenging but rewarding process. Here are a few of the top reasons homeowners and builders decide to raise a house instead of demolishing and building new. 1. Increased Density and Floor … Read more
Save energy by using On-Demand Tankless Water Heaters
What is the most efficient source of hot water for your home? Based on a recent study from the CMHC, comparing gas fired on-demand hot water heaters and conventional hot water holding tanks, the on demand water heaters proved to be the most cost effective using 46% less energy. Although clearly … Read more
Solar Hot Water Systems in Vancouver
Interested in using solar power to help heat your home’s hot water? Now might be the time to investigate whether or not your house is suitable for solar hot water. For a limited time, Vancouver’s Solar Home Pilot is offering a $3000 incentive towards the cost of solar hot water … Read more
LED lights in the home
While Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) is popular because it is an energy-saving light bulb that fits into a standard light bulb socket, the light it casts still doesn’t compare to incandescents and there is much concern about the toxic elements that are contained within the fragile bulb. Breaking these bulbs … Read more
Laneway Housing in Vancouver a Success
There have been over 100 new laneway houses built in Vancouver since the July 2009 bylaw amendment. One of the city’s EcoDensity charter initiatives, construction of additional rental housing is now allowed in RS-1 and R-5 zones. To qualify, landowners must have a lot that is at least 33 feet … Read more
Efficiency in Your Home – Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are a unique kind of heating system, because they can do the work of both a furnace and an air conditioner. Thus, there’s no need to install separate systems to heat and cool your home. Heat pumps can also work extremely efficiently, because they simply transfer heat, rather … Read more
Efficiency In Your Home – HRV’s
Heat Recovery Ventilator Heat Recovery Ventilators commonly referred to as HRV systems/units are used when you want to introduce large amount of outside air in to occupied environment to increase actual level of indoor air quality. The air in many homes is 2 to 5 times more polluted then the … Read more
Efficiency in Your Home – Tankless Hot Water
When you turn on a hot water faucet or have a hot shower in the home, cold water travels through a pipe into the tankless hot water unit, where a gas burner heats the water. The faucet acts as a key for turning on the gas to heat the hot … Read more
