Terms of Service

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a contract between site Visitors (“Visitors” - comprising “Users” & “Members”) and Ecohome Network (“The Ecohome Network”). They govern use of The Ecohome Network’s sites, services, mobile apps, products, and content (“Services”).

Visitors of The Ecohome Network website agree to these Terms. If a Visitor doesn’t agree to any of these Terms, they can’t use The Ecohome Network website(s) and should leave.

The Ecohome Network can change these Terms at any time. If a change is material, we let subscribed Members know before they take effect. By using The Ecohome Network on or after that effective date, Visitors agree to the new Terms. If Members don’t agree to the new terms, they should delete their account before they take effect, otherwise their use of the site and content will be subject to the new Terms.

This Agreement and those annexed or referred to set forth the legally binding terms for your use of the Services whether you are simply a “Visitor” (which means you are just browsing the Services) or an “Authorized User” (also known as “Member”), which means you have registered to use them. Collectively, Visitors and Authorized Users are referred to as “Users” or individually as a “User” or “you”.

Content rights & responsibilities

Contributing Members own the rights to the content they create until posted on The Ecohome Network website.

By posting content to The Ecohome Network, Members give us a nonexclusive license to publish it on The Ecohome Network Services, including anything reasonably related to publishing it (like storing, displaying, reformatting, and distributing it). In consideration for The Ecohome Network granting Members access to and use of the Services, Members agree that The Ecohome Network may enable advertising on the Services, including in connection with the display of the Member created content or other information. We may also use Member content to promote The Ecohome Network, including its products and content. We will never sell Member content to third parties without explicit Member permission, but we may license full or partial use of content to third parties in binding them to the applicable Terms between The Ecohome Network and their Member.

Members are responsible for the content they post. This means Members also assume all risks related to it, including someone else’s reliance on its accuracy, or claims relating to intellectual property or other legal rights.

Members are welcome to post content on The Ecohome Network website that they’ve published elsewhere, if they have the rights needed to do so. By posting content to The Ecohome Network, Members represent that doing so doesn’t conflict with any other agreement they’ve made.

By posting content Members didn’t create to The Ecohome Network website, they are representing that they have the right to do so. For example, when posting a work that’s in the public domain, used under license (including a free license, such as Creative Commons), or a fair use.

We can remove any content posted for any reason.

Members can request deletion of any of their posts, or of their account, anytime. Processing the deletion may take a little time, but we’ll do it as quickly as possible. We may keep backup copies of deleted posts or accounts on our servers after they are deleted. We may elect to keep created URL’s live related to content and replace deleted content with another or other article(s) pertinent (or not) to the original.

Our content and services

We reserve all rights in The Ecohome Network’s look and feel. Some parts of The Ecohome Network may be licensed under third-party open source licenses. We may also make some of our own code available under open source licenses.

As for other parts of The Ecohome Network website, it is forbidden to copy or adapt any portion of our code or visual design elements (including logos) without express written permission from The Ecohome Network unless otherwise permitted by law.

No Visitor, User or Member may do, or try to do, the following: (1) access or tamper with non-public areas of the Services, our computer systems, or the systems of our technical providers; (2) access or search the Services by any means other than the currently available, published interfaces (e.g., APIs) that we provide; (3) forge any TCP/IP packet header or any part of the header information in any email or posting, or in any way use the Services to send altered, deceptive, or false source-identifying information; or (4) interfere with, or disrupt, the access of any user, host, or network, including sending a virus, overloading, flooding, spamming, mail-bombing the Services, or by scripting the creation of content or accounts in such a manner as to interfere with or create an undue burden on the Services.

Crawling the Services is allowed if done in accordance with the provisions of our robots.txt file, but scraping the Services for commercial purposes is prohibited unless authorised in writing by the Ecohome Network.

SUBMITTED CONTENT - DIRECTORY OR REVIEWS
As a condition of submitting any Content or other materials to the Sites or Services for inclusion in the Directory or Reviews, you agree that:
1.    you grant to Ecohome a royalty free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, nonexclusive, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, reproduce, copy, adapt, modify, merge, distribute, publicly display, create derivative works from, incorporate such Content into other works as per but not exclusively in the nature of dynamic online platform Content publication;
2.    you grant to Ecohome all rights necessary to publish or refrain from publishing your name and address in connection with your Content; sublicense through multiple tiers the Content, and acknowledge that this license cannot be terminated by you once your Content is submitted to the Sites and Services;
3.    you grant to Ecohome all rights necessary to prohibit the subsequent aggregation, display, copying, duplication, reproduction, distribution, or exploitation of your Content by any other party;
4.    your name and report information may be made available to the public and to the Service providers or products on which you report;
5.    you represent that you own or have secured all legal rights necessary for the Content submitted by you to be used by you, Ecohome, and others as described and otherwise contemplated in these Terms of Use;
6.    you represent and warrant that each person identified, depicted, or shown in in your Content, if any, (and if a minor, the parent or guardian of the minor) has provided consent to the use of the Content consistent with these Terms of Use;
7.    you are solely responsible for your reviews and ratings;
8.    Ecohome may, in its sole discretion, choose to remove or not to remove reviews and ratings once published;
9.    you will not submit any reviews that may be considered by Ecohome to be infringing, harassing, libelous, abusive, threatening, obscene, profane, hateful, offensive, harmful, vulgar, distasteful, defamatory, or otherwise violates any relevant law or right of any other party, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
10.    all of your reviews and ratings will either be based upon (i) your actual first-hand experiences with the Service providers or products you are reviewing or (ii) as provided below, an individual and that individual’s actual first-hand experience with a product or service or health care or wellness provider whereby you have the legal authority to disclose such health information and experience of such individual;
11.    all of your reviews and ratings of the Service providers or products that you are rating will be accurate, honest, truthful, and complete in all respects;
12.    you do not work for, own any interest in or serve on the board of directors of, any of the Service providers or products for which you submit reviews and ratings; you are not in any way related (by blood, adoption or marriage, if the Service Provider is an individual) to any of the Service providers or products for which you submit reviews or ratings;
13.    you have not received any form of compensation to post reviews and ratings;
14.    you will submit thorough and thoughtful reviews of the Service providers or products you review (for example, submitting a review describing a service contractor as “He/She is great.” Without additional commentary is not a thorough and thoughtful review);
15.    you will not submit reviews that comment on other users or the reviews of other users;
16.    you will not submit reviews with hyperlinks; or
17.    the reviews and ratings that you provide do not reflect the views of Ecohome, its officers, managers, owners, employees, agents, designees or other users.

TRAINING COURSES AND WEBINARES

Notwithstanding anything else in these Terms, and unless otherwise specifically provided on the Site itself or on a case-by-case basis, Ecohome does not own the rights, and does not make any claim, to the course and educational related content, services, and material that is submitted to Ecohome by third-party instructors and speakers and any subsequent presentation thereof by them, which is owned by such third parties (“Third-Party Material”). Ecohome is, however, granted from such third parties, a license to use, distribute, publish, rebroadcast, and/or otherwise make available (“Use”) the Third-Party Material. Such third parties solely responsible and liable for: (i) the content, accuracy, correctness, reliability, sufficiency, quality, and usefulness of the Third-Party Material, (ii) complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, and (iii) any protection and enforcement of the rights in such Third-Party Material. Ecohome shall have no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or on account of any injury, loss, or damage (including for any consequential, incidental, indirect, direct, exemplary, special, or punitive damages) arising out of or in connection with the Third-Party Material including (without limitation) their use or the reliance on such Third-Party Material.

We may change, terminate, or restrict access to any aspect of the service, at any time, without notice.

No children

The Ecohome Network is only for people 13 years old and over. By using The Ecohome Network, Users & Members affirm that they are over 13. If we learn someone under 13 is a Member of The Ecohome Network, we’ll terminate their account.

Security

If you find a security vulnerability on The Ecohome Network, tell us. We have a bug reward disclosure program. 

Incorporated rules and policies

By using the Services, you agree to let The Ecohome Network collect and use information as detailed in our Privacy Policy. If Visitors are outside the United States or Canada, they consent to letting The Ecohome Network transfer, store, and process their information (including personal information and content) in and out of the United States or Canada at their discretion.

To enable a functioning community, we have Rules. To ensure usernames are distributed and used fairly, we have a Username Policy. Under our DMCA Policy, we’ll remove material after receiving a valid takedown notice. Under our Trademark Policy, we’ll investigate any use of another’s trademark and respond appropriately. The Ecohome Network allows you to access certain augmented features or content in exchange for subscribing as a member, as applicable (the “Member Services”). Your subscription and any other use of the Member Services are subject to the Ecohome Network Membership Terms of Service.

By using The Ecohome Network, you agree to follow these Rules and Policies. If Visitors don’t, we may remove content, or suspend or delete any account or accounts at our discretion.

Liability

Use of the Site is at your own risk. You assume full responsibility and risk of loss resulting from your downloading and/or use of files, information, communications, Content, or other material (including without limitation software) accessed through or obtained by means of the Site. Under no circumstances shall The Ecohome Network or its affiliates, or any provider of telecommunications or network services for The Ecohome Network or its affiliates, be liable for any indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages that are directly or indirectly related to the use of, or the inability to use, the Site or Fee-Based Services, even if The Ecohome Network, its affiliates, or their providers of telecommunications or network services have been advised of the possibility of such damages. THE TOTAL LIABILITY OF The Ecohome Network AND ITS AFFILIATES HEREUNDER IS LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT, IF ANY, ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU FOR ACCESS AND USE OF THE FEE-BASED SERVICES. YOU HEREBY RELEASE The Ecohome Network AND THE AFFILIATES FROM ANY AND ALL OBLIGATIONS, LIABILITIES AND CLAIMS IN EXCESS OF THIS LIMITATION. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

Indemnification

You hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless The Ecohome Network and its affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees and representatives from and against any and all liability and costs incurred in connection with any claim arising out of any breach or alleged breach of any of your obligations set forth herein or your use of the Site, Content, Discussions and Fee-Based Services. The Ecohome Network reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and you shall not in any event settle any matter without the written consent of The Ecohome Network.  You shall cooperate as fully as reasonably required in the defense of any claim.

Miscellaneous

Disclaimer of warranty. The Ecohome Network provides the Services to Visitors as is. Visitors use them at their own risk and discretion. That means they don’t come with any warranty. None expressed, none implied. No implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, availability, security, title or non-infringement.

Limitation of Liability. The Ecohome Network won’t be liable for any damages that arise from using the Services. This includes if the Services are hacked or unavailable. This includes all types of damages (indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary). And it includes all kinds of legal claims, such as breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, or any other loss.

Communications. You agree to keep your contact information up to date and accurate, and to register ecohome.net email addresses with your email provider so that ecohome.net emails are not diverted from your inbox. The Ecohome Network is not responsible for failure to notify you of updates to the content or charges to your stored credit card if the email address listed with your Registration Information isn’t valid, or if the messages are failing to reach you.

No waiver. If The Ecohome Network doesn’t exercise a particular right under these Terms, that doesn’t waive it.

Severability. If any provision of these terms is found invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, Visitors agree that the court should try to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision and that other provisions of the Terms will remain in full effect.

Choice of law and jurisdiction. These Terms are governed by Canadian law, without reference to its conflict of law’s provisions. You agree that any suit arising from the Services must take place in a court located in BC Canada.

Entire agreement. These Terms (including any document incorporated by reference into them) are the whole agreement between The Ecohome Network and Visitors concerning the Services.

Government use. If ​using ​The Ecohome Network for the U.S. Government, this Amendment to ​The Ecohome Network’s Terms of Service ​applies to you​.

Remuneration Disclosure

What we do

The Ecohome Network is an objective & independent online & offline resource. By making online platforms available we connect Sustainably motivated construction professionals, enthusiasts, manufacturers, homeowners, want-to-be homeowners & homebuilders, home renovators & just about anybody who wants to live better while making an informed & positive impact by choosing the best of Sustainable products, materials, professionals, rebates, & best practices for building, renovating or remodeling homes with Sustainability & Affordability at the forefront. From setting realistic & affordable home related Sustainability goals to what to do, how to do it & which products & techniques help achieve these goals in a Durable & Affordable way.

To this aim, The Ecohome Network team researches hundreds of product categories & construction techniques for the purposes of providing education & helping interested construction professionals & non-professionals alike. We also do our best to entertain in the process!

In contrast to many other Sustainable or Green Building websites, The Ecohome Network includes many individuals with actual hands-on construction experience & qualifications who design, assess, assist in certifying, act as Consultants & accredited Experts & who actively participate in the construction & remodeling of Sustainable homes worldwide. In other words, we don’t just talk about it – we actually get our hands dirty, get out there & do it! (Which we're rather proud of...)

This is the depth of knowledge to be discovered in The Ecohome Network.

The Ecohome Network also has an ongoing program of helping design & build cutting-edge Sustainable homes – putting theory into practice & pushing the boundaries of Sustainable construction. A non-exhaustive list of previous & current projects includes:

If you feel you might be a good fit for The Ecohome Network, are a committed Sustainable construction professional or Eco-minded individual who feels they may have useful skills to help further The Ecohome Network's goals, contact us on [email protected]  

Our content & commercial transparency

While the data & content found on The Ecohome Network is entirely its own (unless otherwise noted), we also include references from other renowned sources on sustainable building where appropriate.
We research everything we can think of that has to do with sustainable living to help & motivate everyone who lives in a home to live in a better home. As such, we also include industry expert insights at our discretion where available & back-up this information with data.

We may publish articles on innovative products or technologies, or feature home builders, designers or projects whom we think gets it right. We do this to share valuable information; we are generally not compensated for these stories, but we, or someone who is a part of The Ecohome Network, may have a direct or indirect commercial connection with featured products, professionals or projects. Notwithstanding, our aim is to always provide objective content, which is why the platform includes the opportunity for open discussions on any subject covered.

How The Ecohome Network makes money

The Ecohome Network is a free resource for Visitors as per our Terms of Service.

The Ecohome Network may at any time decide to operate as a “for profit” a “not for profit” or an altruistic organisation in any geographic location in respecting the local regulations applicable to the structure chosen and persuant to their commercial licensing agreement for using the Raiiz platform.

In addition to these free services, we may work with construction professionals in paid relationships by offering Augmented Member Services for those who wish to commercially promote their work or products on The Ecohome Network. To ensure our Sustainability goals are maintained, Professionals wishing to be commercially listed on The Ecohome Network will be vetted by our team & go through a Sustainability Criteria Assessment before Augmented Member Services subscriptions are validated. The Ecohome Network reserves the right to set or change the qualifying criteria for acceptance of Augmented Member Services subscriptions, and their decision is final in deciding who promotes what on The Ecohome Network.

The Ecohome Network may also work with Manufacturers & Suppliers who have credible Sustainable manufacturing & product performance goals & achievements - & we enable transparency for those companies by allowing them to showcase independent projects, assessments & certification of products – with sponsored listing placements for products or services pertinent to featured projects & articles.

Commercially sponsored placements will be marked as such as will remunerative relationships which may be described as Official or Exclusive Partner Programs. As an Amazon Associate we may also earn from qualifying purchases.

Manufacturers & Suppliers may also choose to supply product for inclusion in Ecohome projects for assessment at beneficial rates &/or enter into a discounted product promotional relationship with The Ecohome Network – including in the form of exclusive Member offers which may or may not be targeted at The Ecohome Network's discretion based on Visitor habits & demographics as laid out in our Terms of Service & Privacy policies. 

The Ecohome Network reserves the right to enter into other mutually beneficial business relationships at their discretion.

SERVICE or PRODUCT PROVIDERS and their USER GENERATED CONTENT (UGC)

Ecohome does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity, quality, or appropriateness of any Content transmitted to or through the Products or Services offered sections on the Ecohome website. You acknowledge that Ecohome simply acts as a passive conduit and an interactive computer Service or Product Provider for the publication and distribution of Content and for the publication and distribution of any content posted by Service or Product Providers in response to Content (“Service and Product Provider Content”). You understand that all Content and Service or Product Provider Content posted on, transmitted through, or linked through the Service, are the sole responsibility of the person from whom such Content originated. You understand that Ecohome does not control and is not responsible for Content or Service or Product Provider Content made available through the Service, and that by using the Service, you may be exposed to Content that is inaccurate, misleading, or offensive. You agree that You must evaluate and make Your own judgment, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content and Service or Product Provider Content.

You further acknowledge that Ecohome has no obligation to screen, preview, monitor or approve any Content or Service or Product Provider Content, or Content posted or submitted by any other Ecohome member or any Service Provider. However, Ecohome reserves the right to review and delete any Content that, in its sole judgment, violates the terms and conditions of this Agreement. By using the Service, You agree that it is solely YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to evaluate Your risks to bear associated with the use, accuracy, usefulness, completeness or appropriateness of any Content that You submit, receive, access, transmit or otherwise convey through the Service. Under no circumstances will Ecohome be liable in any way for any Content or Service or Product Provider Content, including, but not limited to, any Content or Service or Product Provider Content that contains any errors, omissions, defamatory statements, or confidential or private information (including, but not limited to, health information) or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content or Service or Product Provider Content submitted, accessed, transmitted or otherwise conveyed via the Service. You waive the right to bring or assert any claim against Ecohome relating to Content or Service or Product Provider Content, and release Ecohome from any and all liability for or relating to any Content or Service or Product Provider Content.
You may, however, report Content that you believe violates these Terms of Use or is otherwise unlawful by visiting Member Support. Please note that you may be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) for unlawful misrepresentations. If you are uncertain whether an activity is unlawful, we recommend seeking advice of an attorney before making formal complaint(s).

You agree that Ecohome may establish general practices, policies and limits, which may or may not be published, concerning the use of the Sites and Services, including without limitation, the time that reviews and ratings will be retained, the maximum number of reviews and ratings that may be sent from an account, the length of reviews and ratings sent, and the maximum number of times and the maximum duration for which you may access the Sites and Services in a given period of time. You agree that Ecohome has no responsibility or liability for the deletion or failure to store any Content or other materials maintained or transmitted by or through the Sites and Services. You agree that Ecohome has the right to change these general practices and limits at any time, in its sole discretion, with or without notice.

Ecohome does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any Content, data, advertising, products, goods, or services available or unavailable from, or through, any third party or Service or Product Provider (which may include, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related and health care and wellness providers). You agree that should you use or rely on such Content, data, advertisement, products, goods, or services, available or unavailable from, or through any third party or Service or Product Provider (which includes, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related, health care and wellness providers), Ecohome is not responsible or liable, indirectly or directly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with such use or reliance. Your dealings with, or participation in promotions of any Service or Product Provider (which includes, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related, health care and wellness providers), and any other terms, conditions, representations, or warranties associated with such dealings, are between you and such Service or Product Provider (which includes, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related, health care and wellness providers) exclusively and do not involve Ecohome. You should make whatever investigation or other resources that you deem necessary or appropriate before hiring or engaging Service Providers (which includes, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related, health care and wellness providers).

Third parties and Service Providers may link or otherwise direct Internet users to our Sites and Services for the purpose of utilizing one or more of the services we provide on behalf of others. Additionally, we may provide links or otherwise direct you to third party or Service or Product Provider websites. Ecohome does not control or operate any such third party or Service or Product Provider websites. Any information you provide to these third party or Service or Product Provider websites while on these third party or Service or Product Provider websites is subject to the respective policies of those third parties or Service Providers, and not Ecohome’s policies. It is your responsibility to review such third party or Service or Product Provider policies, including any relevant privacy policies. You agree that Ecohome will not be responsible or liable for, and does not endorse any content, advertising, goods, or services provided on or through these outside websites or for your use or inability to use such websites. Ecohome does not make any representations or warranties as to the security of any information (including, without limitation, credit card and other personal information) you might be requested to give to any third party or Service or Product Provider sites. You use these third party or Service or Product Provider websites at your own risk.

You agree that Ecohome is not responsible for the accessibility or unavailability of any Service or Product Provider (which includes, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related, health care and wellness providers) or for your interactions and dealings with them, waive the right to bring or assert any claim against Ecohome relating to any interactions or dealings with any Service or Product Provider (which includes, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related, health care and wellness providers), and release Ecohome from any and all liability for or relating to any interactions or dealings with Service Providers (which includes, but is not limited to, construction services and materials related, health care and wellness providers).

Without limiting the foregoing, your correspondence or business dealings with, consumption of products or services of, or participation in promotions of, third parties or Service Providers found on or through the use of the Sites and Services, including payment for and delivery or fulfillment of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties, or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such third party. You agree that Ecohome shall not be responsible or liable, directly, or indirectly, for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such third parties or Service Providers on the Ecohome Sites and Services.

Recommendations & guidance in The Ecohome Network online domains are not made with compensated relationships in mind, but rather in the spirit of being “The Ecohome Network – the Sustainable building network where everyone wins.tm”

Questions? Let us know at [email protected] - we are always here to help.