I am very excited to announce that the Green Building Learning Zone (GBLZ) is coming to the National Home Show, March 8-10 and March 13-17 at the Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place. What is the Green Building Learning Zone? It is the bringing together of Ontario’s best and brightest residential green building experts in a collaborative […]
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December means holidays. It also means spring renovations, at least for me. I’m fielding a lot of questions from those of you hoping to start major renovation projects in April or May. This timeframe is feasible if you have architectural plans in hand. However, even if you checked all the boxes with your architect, you […]
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For several days this summer, Toronto’s air quality was the worst in the world due to wildfire smoke from northern Ontario and Quebec. We were advised to stay indoors if we could and use a HEPA filter to remove any smoke-related particulate matter that entered the home. A HEPA filter removes other particulates as well, […]
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On July 8, Toronto will mark the ten-year anniversary of the great rainstorm that cost the city $65 million. You may recall submerged cars on the Don Valley Parkway. According to Toronto’s Future Weather and Climate Driver Study, in just 20 years Toronto can expect an average 4.4 C increase in annual temperatures, and more […]
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If you’ve been thinking about renovating your home and are wondering what to do when inflation remains high and a mild recession is in the cards, you are not alone. It’s important to keep in mind that the low interest rates and soaring housing market of the recent past were an anomaly. The days of […]
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When you think of a green building, what first comes to mind? Most people envision solar panels. Some think of energy efficiency. Rarely if ever do they consider building materials and their “embodied carbon.” Embodied carbon is defined as the total greenhouse gas emissions from harvesting, transporting and manufacturing building materials, and it’s a big […]
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Supply chain issues, inflation, labour shortages, potential recession… welcome to the new renovation reality! Starting a home renovation these days may feel like embarking on a perilous journey to the unknown. However, there are ways to help make that journey go a little more smoothly. First and foremost, find yourself a trusted renovator. I’ve written […]
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Most of us have spent an inordinate amount of time sheltered in our homes, courtesy of the pandemic. We want to ensure that our homes are indeed safe – not just from the coronavirus but from toxic materials. A home renovation is a perfect opportunity to remove asbestos, lead, mercury, mold and other debilitating and […]
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