High-performance suspended-film insulating glass windows may offer the perfect solution of window performance, window cost & window weight. As early versions of suspended coated film windows had issues, we took another look & review the LiteZone units. Why suspended-film insulating glass windows may be a…

One of the questions we're often asked is about noisy baseboard heaters. They click, they bang, they tick, tick, tick constantly, and most of all, electric baseboard heaters or hot water heated baseboard heaters keep people awake. So, how to fix that. Noisy baseboard heaters -yeah, it's a thing... Over the years…

What does 'FSC Certified' mean on Wood & Lumber Products? Choosing FSC Certified Lumber and Paper Products means it comes from sustainably managed forests and helps to protect old growth forests - which is good. What is "FSC Certified" lumber? The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, not-for-profit…

As so many searches are done online for Radon Gas Maps, Radon Gas safe levels and Radon Maps by State of USA or Province of Canada - We decided to stress the importance of testing for Radon gas in homes as November is Radon Awareness Month. Radon gas maps - levels by State or Province Radon maps show where the risk…

我们被告知PowerPod紧凑型家用风力涡轮机出现在Kickstarter上，但在过去看到不少家用风力涡轮机未能兑现承诺，Ecohome决定调查一下。Countless inventors are stepping up to the plate with the latest and greatest green…

Ecohome has a number of awards for building groundbreaking sustainable homes, but Passive House projects on this scale are breathtaking in the way they are pushing the boundaries - Hats off to Architect Tom Wright. Vancouver, Canada established their place as a leader in reducing carbon footprints of cities and…

Everywhere we look online we see cool & beautiful furniture like beds & headboards made from recycled wood from shipping pallets - but could they be slowly poisoning us? Here's how to keep pallet furniture safe. Pallet Beds - cool but potentially dangerous! We've all seen these rustic shabby-chic pallet wood beds &…

If you want to improve your carbon footprint but can't afford your own rooftop solar array, you can purchase clean energy credits and have renewable energy offset your power use. What is the cleanest energy? Despite how commonly the term ‘clean energy’ is used, there is actually no such thing. At least not in the…

Ever wonder what happens to the recycling you send out to the curb? It may surprise you to learn that it is often sorted by hand. Learn how to sort it properly here. Spending more time at home in the last few months since Covid-19 redefined our reality has presented many with an opportunity to clean, rearrange…

When building a new home, especially sustainable high-performance eco homes like Passive House or Zero Net Energy in a cold climate, some heat is still necessary. Is the greenest option Electric Heating? Read on to find out. More and more homebuyers are starting to demand energy-efficient new homes and are pushing…

There will come a point where the cost of insulation in any attic, wall or basement - and the energy required to manufacture and transport it - will outweigh any savings. Want to find out where that point is. Home Insulation - how much is too much? A House can definitely be under-insulated (millions of homes…

Passive cooling techniques such as reflective window films can increase comfort, home durability and lower energy bills at the same time. After a difficult first half to 2020, heat waves then took hold across North America, from Canada down into the Southern and Central USA. These extreme summer temperatures pose a…

Those setting out to build an efficient, sustainable or even net zero home in the USA or Canada, or to renovate an existing home for lower energy costs and better comfort, need to ask first; "what climate zone am I in?". The first step to building a durable and energy-efficient home in North America, including…

Gabion cage walls can add thermal mass to homes without adding significantly to the carbon footprint of a home like concrete can. Gabion walls are retaining walls built by stacking stone in a gabion cage or gabion basket that can serve many purposes but are most often used to create tiered or leveled ground in…

Ecohome调查发现，一个分层的、不用挖洞的千层面花园可能是把草坪变成食物生产花园的一种简单方法——但批评者可能会说这太容易了。As with any easy gardening technique, there is a lot to consider regarding lasagna gardening that specifically relates to its many benefits and ease of…

电动自行车可以是一种很好的自动绿色交通模式，促进锻炼，减少城市中心的污染。一辆普通的电动自行车能给骑车者带来和普通自行车差不多的体验，只是少花了一点力气。You can still ride…

Lasagna gardening is one of the easiest ways to grow vegetables at home and turn a high-maintenance lawn into a productive garden space. What are the pros and cons of the lasagna garden? Do they work for clay soils. Lasagna gardening - what is it? The easiest way to turn a backyard lawn into an organic…

In 2019, renewable energy sources accounted for the majority of power used in the US, the first time since 1885 that coal was not the country's main source of power. Energy generated by fossil fuels has dominated the globe for generations. Some countries have pushed for a faster transition to cleaner fuels than…

More and more people are installing bidets at home, so Ecohome took a look... does the idea of a jet of water blasting your nether regions seem a hard leap to make at first? Well, the times they are a changin’. Should we consider adding a bidet? Although quite popular in Africa, Asia and Europe, the bidet has been…