Green living just got easier for people who are looking for an affordable, environmentally friendly and energy efficient home.

Ecological Homes recently launched its new ready-to-assemble green home packages at the Edmonton Home and Garden Show and the Go Green Eco Expo.  The Edmonton-based company wants to put green living within reach of the average home buyer.

According to Ecological’s co-owner Les Hagen, a green home shouldn’t put consumers in the red.  “Ecological Homes wants to place quality green homes within reach of the average home buyer.  This innovative home package will help to meet the increasing consumer demand for affordable green housing.”

The green home package includes various solar energy design features, Read the rest of this entry »

I’m betting I’m not the only one who, whilst renovating a home that’s long on character and short on ecofeatures, has seriously wondered ‘why not build the ideal green home from scratch?’ This is the question on Chris’ and my mind while our nearly finished green kitchen lays idle.

As everyone knows, home renos take time – and lots of it. The best scenario for us would have been to do all our planning up front and then to take time off to do the reno. This works for some folks, but in our case taking time off is really difficult. Read the rest of this entry »

What is Green Doors Open Ontario?

Green Doors Open Ontario is a listing of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings across Ontario that have been built with greener features. The Clean Air Partnership has posted online profiles of Ontario’s greener buildings complete with photos and in some cases public tour dates.

Since 2002, Open Doors Ontario has invited Ontarians to discover buildings and sites of historical and cultural significance across the province. Now, green buildings can also be toured as part of the initiative, “giving you a rare opportunity to gain access to innovative, surprising and sustainable green buildings.” (Green Doors Open)

Watch out for tour dates in the Spring and Summer. You might chance a glimpse of green homes, libraries, breweries, and even laundromats!

Image Source: Green Doors Open

For those overwhelmed with the seemingly endless research required to renovate green, there’s help at hand. Thanks to the US Green Building Council and the American Society of Interior Designer’s Foundation (and to Green Strides for this valuable information), weighing one green building product against the next just got a little easier.

The two have partnered up to bring you the Regreen Green Product Checklist – a tool that will help you (and people like me) transition from scribbles on random scraps about VOC s and recycled content to neatly organized profiles for each of the green building products you’re considering.

The checklist also lists useful links that may lead you to discover new green building products and even product reviews. Although these resources may all be US-based, they may indeed still help you out. And, should you find a product not currently available in Canada that you like, tell us about it and we may be able to bring it in for you.

Resources

Regreen Green Product Checklist