One of our oldest human institutions is the home. For as long as our species has existed, we’ve occupied spaces and made them our own. As we’ve evolved, so have the form and concept of “home,” giving rise to the detached, single-family dwelling that eventually became normative for many people. [Read more…]
Suburban lawns: adrift on a sea of green
Have you ever stopped in a street full of big, green, perfectly groomed lawns and wondered, “WHY”? As places to socialize or grow food, backyards really have primacy in North America. Those seas of green in front of our houses are mostly unjustified by any human activity. [Read more…]
The Sustainable Commute
I spent the past weekend “winterizing my commute”. This didn’t mean putting on my snow tires; rather, I made sure that the trail I walk to work (and home for lunch) each day will be passable in the rainy, snowy months to come. A pair of tree loppers, a bit of scrap wood, and an investment of some spare time were all it took. Now a couple of bridges get me across the creek behind our office; bark mulch keeps the mud at bay. [Read more…]
When is a lake not a lake? The true cost of energy
When is a lake not a lake? When it’s been degraded into a reservoir for hydroelectric generation.
Last weekend my family and I went camping on the shores of Buttle Lake, a beautiful spot nestled in the middle of Strathcona Provincial Park. There, amid the towering peaks and old-growth forests we had a great respite from our everyday tasks and concerns. However, immediately after we left the campground for the beach, it became apparent that all was not perfect in this mountain paradise. [Read more…]
Connecting The Dots: Green Building and governments
People who know of my long-standing interest in Green Building often ask me whether there’s much uptake on sustainable building strategies these days. My answer is, frankly, no; beyond a few courageous early adopters, there’s not much uptake. To explain why, allow me to briefly detour to a recent article in the Globe and Mail… [Read more…]
‘Damn-Near Passive House’ revisited
Our client, Roy de Vries, asked me to share my perspective on the experience of designing his Damn-Near Passive House. Roy is well into the construction of his new home, and I’m taking a few days off, so I thought it was a good time for reflection. It’s been a long and winding road, to be sure… [Read more…]
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