Building or renovating a home is a daunting task, particularly when done with consideration for the Earth and human health.

Materials that were once considered safe are now being found to be detrimental to indoor air quality and to the environment at all stages of the life cycle. Carpets manufactured with petroleum-based synthetic fibers and toxic glues are thought to give off gas for years. Vinyl flooring is made with one of the most toxic materials used in the home.

These considerations are even more critical when statistics are saying the majority of us spend up to 90% of our time indoors. Natural flooring options improve indoor air quality and long-term health, while being much better for the planet. …read more of Sustainable Flooring here

A lot of the topics covered here in the ecomii ‘Green Building Blog’ are time-intensive and costly, though they of course lead to big pay-offs within your home and to the environment.

There are many things, however, that anyone can do- renters or homeowners, to retrofit the home to be healthier, more efficient and water and energy conserving. These are the top five simple, cheap, and sure-fire ways to green your home without having to hire a contractor.

• Tap aerators. These simple little devices are probably already on the end of your faucets, but often can be upgraded to 1.5 gallon per minute, making them water-saving. They are under $5 at any hardware store, screw in easily to most taps (bathroom and kitchen) and work through aeration. …read more of The Anti-Renovation here

We spend a lot of time focusing on the inside and envelope of the building, but it is also important to look outwards as well.

What surrounds the building? Various shades of green? A vibrant rainbow of native flowers? A landscape that encourages a pluck of fruit here or a chew on an edible green there? Or is it a monoculture of high-maintenance grass?

The time is of the essence to start asking these questions and imagining the potential of our outdoor spaces.

With rising food prices and food security called into question, one of the most critical actions we can take right now is converting our resource-heavy, unproductive lawns to more diverse spaces that combine relaxing and recreation with edibility. …read more of Getting Off The Green here

The world’s population is expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2040.

That’s a lot of people to sustain.

Population growth tends to be a taboo and contentious issue within climate change discourse.  However, what holds true is that we as a global population, need to be creative and also realistic about how to support our growing species.

In North America, our cultural relation to space and the need for much of it has lead to a commonly held lifestyle that does not correlate to what the Earth’s resources can support.

In the city I live in, situated in the foothills of Western Canada, our geographical footprint is said to match or exceed that of New York City, and our population is just over one million; less than one-eighth the population of New York.

Yet, the building continues. Much of it to house single families living in near or certifiable mansions. …read more of Finding the Right Size here

One of the common challenges to buying “green” products and services is the associated costs with better labor practices, better quality and more eco- and human friendly materials.

A true sustainable product will also have a cost reflecting a growing, but certainly not yet dominant market. It is fantastic to live in an age where consumers and corporations are starting to clue in to the fact that cutting corners and operating from a pure financial bottom line does not consider the health of people and the planet.

However, the manufacturing of more sustainable products is not an answer in itself. A greener economy does not have the power to absolve us of our overdrawn natural resource account, because it still requires a great amount of energy and virgin material to create new goods. …read more of Ode to Kijiji here