"choosing windows"

choosing windows / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Paints, finishes and natural coatings

How to find a healthier wood finish

...Choosing safe paints for safer air quality in homes Zero VOC paint and the difference to low VOC paints Water based vs oil based polyurethane varnish: Water based: There is an option of gloss or satin It dries quicker than oil based It isn't flammable or explosive It usually contains less than half the VOCs of oil b...

Efficient home design

Insulation in green home building, a balanced approach to putting it where it does the most good

...Choosing the right windows: Another case of balancing your thermal envelope is in terms of window quality. Having an extremely well-insulated wall is great, but if you blew the budget on insulation and had to put in low-quality windows, they become the weak link in the chain and you can effectively undo all your own ef...

Kitchens

Choosing green kitchen countertops for sustainable homes Including LEED v4 & Passive House PHIUS+ certified

...Choosing the best kitchen counters - health and durability Find more about green home construction in the Ecohome Green Building Guide pages or to learn more about the benefits of a free Ecohome Network Membership, see here.

Solar photovoltaic

Choosing between solar trackers and fixed solar panels mounts

...Choosing a solar panel mounting system: The price tag for fixed solar panel mounting stands is unquestionably lower than moveable ones. They can be free standing, attached to a roof, you can even build your own stand if you choose, like the timber framed panel mount in the image below. Timber framed solar panel ...

Healthy indoor air quality

Keep vinyl out of your home (albums excluded of course)

...windows, the list goes on. We have surrounded ourselves with the stuff. So what can we do? Slowly but surely, remove it from your life. Here are some alternatives: Glass shower doors Choosing healthy and durable flooring materials Choosing green kitchen countertops Wood or metal siding for exterior cladding Fiberglass...

Concept and design

Prefab Passive House & LEED ready kit homes - the future of buying a new home?

...windows (2x more efficient than ENERGY STAR® double glazing) A double layer of low-emissivity window film selected for maximum insulating value (R6) Thermal and acoustic comfort (triple-pane windows transmit less sound than double pane). Chosen Triple-Glazed Window Brand: Elite doors and windows Low-maintenance exter...

Interior design and furnishing

Interior furnishings and decor

Protect your home air quality during renos Any renovation or building project is exciting, but it can also be exhausting and emotionally taxing. Don't forget to keep your air safe to breathe in the process. Right at the end when it's time to furnish your new space can be one of the hardest times to stick to your enviro...

Renewable energy

Transparent solar panels

...windows, providing an onboard power source for electronic window functionality or to offset energy consumption in buildings. Now you know more about the latest innovations in solar power generation. Find more info pages about solar PV & sustainable building in the Ecohome Green Building Guide and these pages...

Wall assemblies - renovation

Green home improvements: an energy-saving pyramid scheme that actually works!

...windows and doors, and see where your efforts are best spent. Pay particular attention to deadbolt and door lock striker plate holes running into the wall cavity. Plastic on windows: If you have old leaky windows, as a temporary winter fix for a few bucks per window you can put a thin sheet of plastic over them that wi...

Air and vapour barriers

The difference between air barriers and vapor barriers

...windows and no vapor barrier but simply a sealed gypsum board box all around, you would have an airtight seal with no moisture carried through by air transport. The key factor here, is that the amount of vapor molecules that will pass through that gypsum board box is insignificant compared to the moisture that will pa...

Ventilation

Ventilation & air exchangers

...choosing between an HRV & ERV system, see here Indoor air quality is important for many reasons: Preventing moisture issues such as rot and mold Preventing damage to windows from condensation Preventing respiratory illnesses caused by interior contaminants Reducing heating costs by not heating excess water ...