Concept and design

We have mixed views on homes built from shipping containers, but there's no denying that their architectural style can be appealing, here's one Tiny House example we found that seems to work well in a warm climate. We already have an article about whether shipping container homes are good or bad? But that was more…

Architect-Designed Modern & Minimalist homes always attract attention - especially ones that are super efficient, stunningly beautiful and that ooze quality - But Le Refuge is all that and more - It's Affordable too. The tiny house movement is on the far end of the scale of a very encouraging and growing trend…

Tiny Houses – Washington State Paves the Way for Tiny Home Eco-Villages & minimum building codes for their construction. WA Paves the Way for Tiny Home Eco-Villages: Tiny houses, also colloquially referred to as tiny homes, are both an increasingly attractive and affordable housing option as well as a trending…

Intelligent home devices allow you to control your home remotely, and send you notices of problems. So what is a smart home? When paired with intelligent and connected home devices, the phones that most of us carry in our pockets can make our homes safer, more comfortable and durable, and reduce our home energy…

Are you wondering how to build a Tiny House for living in cold climates? How much insulation does a tiny house need? See plans for the best tiny house on wheels that we've ever seen. Are tiny houses a good investment? That depends on how you want to live and how well they are built. Small homes are more affordable…

Tiny houses, accessory dwelling units, coach homes; whatever you like to call them, we will soon see more of them popping up in Ottawa back yards. In the fall of 2015, the City of Ottawa conducted a public-consultation survey to gauge interest in a change of bylaws to allow secondary dwellings (Coach Houses or Tiny…

Dense materials hold more heat than light fluffy stuff does. This can work for or against you. Materials in a home that act as thermal mass are things like concrete, masonry, ceramic tiles, even a large volume of wood like timber frames. Intentionally adding greater amounts of thermal mass in a building can be an…

When a substance melts or solidifies, it absorbs or releases energy. Materials that do that at room temperature can help regulate temperatures in homes. This article was inspired by a podcast I heard at Positive Energy, where I have yet to hear a podcast that I didn't want to listen to a second time, so check them…

Just as a regular battery stores electrical energy, a thermal battery stores heat. Solar heat can be collected, stored and distributed later as needed. What is a thermal battery? Thermal mass of any kind can by definition be called a thermal battery, as it has the ability to store heat. In the context of a house…

Homes are often over-insulated in some parts and relatively under-insulated others. Balanced insulation when building a Green Home means applying your insulation dollars where they are most needed. Home Insulation, How Much do I need & Where? Think of the heat in your home as if it were water behind a dam, and that…

迷你屋运动是一个鼓舞人心的绿色家居潮流，但带轮子的迷你屋是绿色的吗?了解更多关于居住在寒冷气候下的迷你屋，以及它们是好还是坏的主意。《小房子》值得吗?迷你屋是一项好的投资吗?这取决于你的生活方式以及你如何构建它们。Here…