Grade-A Construction

Category: Blog Posts

  • Radon Levels by State & Province – Why a Radon Test is Essential

    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 of…

    Why Radon maps by state or province shouldn't replace testing

  • Is this the safest and most powerful small home wind turbine yet?

    We were told about the PowerPod compact home wind turbine appearing on a Kickstarter campaign, but having seen a fair few home wind turbines in the past that failed to deliver on their promises, Ecohome decided to investigate. Countless inventors are stepping up to the plate with the latest and greatest green technol…

    Are Small Wind Turbines for Homes Any Good?

  • Passive House reaches new heights in Vancouver Canada!

    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 homes…

    The tallest Passive House in the world will soon be built in Vancouver BC

  • Is it safe to build beds or furniture with shipping pallets?

    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 & he…

    Pallet beds are trending but pallets can be toxic so be careful

  • Tru Earth Eco-Strip laundry soap reviewed as a liquid laundry detergent alternative

    If the recycling bin is overflowing with large plastic jugs & packaging from everyday grocery purchases maybe it’s time to be a little more eco-friendliy with Tru Earth Laundry Eco-Strips laundry detergent? We put them to the test. Do Tru-Earth Eco-Strips laundry detergent actually get clothes clean?
    Any new product s…

    Tru Earth Eco strips laundry detergent reviews

  • What is clean energy?

    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 po…

    Renewable energy wind farm

  • Why recycling is important, and how to recycle correctly at home

    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 furnitu…

    Sorting home recyclable materials at a recycling center

  • Heating with Electricity – The Best Choice for High Efficiency & Zero Energy Homes?

    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 the…

    Why Electric Heating Systems are Best for Sustainable Homes

  • How much insulation is too much in attics and walls?

    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 throughou…

    How much is Too Much Insulation in my Attic or Walls?

  • Product feature: window film treatment to reflect heat and lower air conditioning bills

    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 ve…

    Reflective window film to reduce overheating