for Cold Climate Housing and much more

Found 89 results for the keyword ‘Alternative’

  • Speciality products for Toilets

    This time I collected some toilets and toilet accessories that you may have never heard of. The North Vent is a new Canadian invention designed to draw the bathroom exhaust air directly from inside the toilet bowl -- you can't get any closer to the source of the pollution. It uses a good squirre...
  • The room heater is in the ceiling fan!

    That is an interesting idea. Put the heater on the ceiling as part of a ceiling fan which assures that all that extra heat up there gets circulated all around the room. Room light, ceiling fan for summer cooling and heating unit for winter heating all in one unit. Add to that a remote control za...
  • OVERVIEW: Window Replacement

    When it is time to replace your windows you will hear a lot of confusing and even contradictory things from contractors, salesmen and even friends. If you just look up Windows in this database you might be overwhelmed -- so here are the links to the most useful entries specifically related to pla...
  • WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN NEW FURNACES?

    The field of energy efficient heating systems is advancing rapidly and constantly and I cannot evaluate all the new products here. Remember that it usually takes a company a couple of years to work the bugs out of new products. And some companies try so hard just for novelty that... for example i...
  • A Retracting Latch for a Gate that Swings toward the street

    Gates that swing out towards the street present a serious problem for latches.  If you mount the latch on the gate itself, it will not work unless you install it on the street side.  Out on that side it is simply not secure.  If you mount it on the fence, then the shaft that catches the gate is a...
  • Choosing between an HRV and an ERV

    After 30 years of installing Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) we are now asked to choose between an HRV and an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator).  What is an ERV and does it really work in Canada? Early Development Both HRVs and ERVs were developed together in the early 80s with the promise that ...
  • Laying counter, floor, wall or shower tiles in a professional manner

    It may surprise you to hear that despite silicone sealants and the like, neither the grout between ceramic tiles nor the tiles themselves are actually moisture or vapour proof. Wherever water can sit on a tiled surface, or steam can soak into grout, the wood below can be destroyed by moisture see...
  • Personal thoughts as to why I am sceptical about the wireless industry's "scientific" position on EMF and Health

    Reflections on why someone with a scientific orientation like myself might give more credibility to those who worry about the health effects of cell phones and smart meters than to those who say there is no "scientific proof" of a health problem.   The following is an extract from an exchange wit...
  • Miter Saw Stands

    Miter Saw stands are generally categorized into 4 types of support systems for miter saws: 1) Rail systems that look much like saw horses; 2) fixed or portable tables with the saw bolted into place; 3) hybrids of rails and tables and finally 4) part kits that assemble around a large 2x wood c...
  • A window that is warmer than the insulated wall

    I have always said that as far as the cold getting into your house is concerned, a window is always the coldest part of a wall. But no longer. A company called Prelco from Riviere-du-loup, Quebec has produced a window called Prel-Therm that actually plugs into your electrical system. That's right...