Mechanical systems

Ten things to know that will help you get the best value out of a photovoltaic solar panel system. Diligent research is absolutely essential for any homeowner looking to install a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel system on their home. But at some point, you need to hand the reins over to a trustworthy contractor. To…

Making sense of the best wood burning fireplace inserts and wood stove specifications and knowing how to choose the best one for you if you're looking to burn wood for minimum environmental impact & maximum heat output is easy with our guide. Wood Burning Inserts & Stoves - which are best & which burn…

Developed to be used with Uponor pex tubing only, the Milwaukee expander tool will shave tons of time off any plumbing job. Traditional pex piping is installed by slipping a metal ring over the exterior of the pipe, then slipping a union or any other joint inside and crimping the ring to hold it in place. It works…

Short of a wood stove, pretty much all heating systems require power to operate. So in the event of an apocalypse (zombie, climate, asteroid, etc) these two pellet stoves can keep you warm when the power goes out. These Wood Pellet Stoves need no electric! Burning wood to heat a home does not make you an…

To ensure comfort and get the highest efficiency from the systems in the Edelweiss House air must circulate. In order to ensure comfort and get the most from the various systems of our house air needs to move around. Our air source heat pump and our heat pump water heater work together in boosting the efficiency…

Heat pump water heaters can help cut your hot water energy consumption by close to one third, particularly when partnered with an air source heat pump. Heat pump electric hot water heaters, good or bad idea? Water heaters are generally the biggest energy drain in a home after heating. so Air-to-water heat pump water…

Heat pumps can heat a house three times more efficiently than other heating types. When paired with a heat pump water heater this significantly reduces the cost of heating & domestic hot water, especially when the home is LEED or Passive House certified. How well does a heat pump work in a LEED or Passive House…

LED light bulbs now come dimmable and with warm colours. Check out our video on choosing bulbs and DIY installation tips. DIY video about choosing the best LED bulbs and DIY lighting fixture installation tips. LED bulbs are here to stay, it's time to make the leap. The colours are warmer now, the bulbs are dimable…

Radiant heated floors add comfort to a home and can help you heat more efficiently. There is some debate in performance building circles, particularly in the Passive House community as to whether or not you can add enough insulation below a concrete floor to eliminate the need for heating it. We have been on the…

Comparing the performance of air source heat pumps and ground source geothermal heat pumps at the Living City Campus Archetype Sustainable House to discover which is the best option. Air Source Heat Pumps, and are Ground Source Heat Pumps "Geothermal?" First let's clear up some confusion on terminology regarding…

The Lunos Heat Recovery Ventilation system (HRV) is a completely new approach to home ventilation, great for both new home construction and renovations. This heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system is very different than what people are probably used to seeing, where air is directed to a centralized core for a heat…