Making Sense of Lumber
A typical house in North America uses a lot of lumber, and many homes aiming to be more sustainable are not much different in terms of the actual amount of lumber used. Given the demands on our forests, lumber can only be considered a sustainable material if it is...
Prefab Bale Walls on Second Floor
In a repeat performance of crane work and team work, the Endeavour crew installed the prefabricated straw bale wall panels on the second story of the home. Once the panels and framed window openings are linked and plumbed, we’ll be ready for the roof trusses and...
Air Sealing – The Unseen but Crucial Element
While there are many exciting technologies and materials being used in Canada’s Greenest Home, one of the most important aspects of the home’s energy performance is taking care of air sealing details. A lot of the heating and cooling energy that is lost from a home is...
Prefab Wall Panels Installed
Upward progress on Canada’s Greenest Home was marked by the arrival this week of our prefabricated straw bale wall panels from NatureBuilt Walls. The class had previously traveled to the NatureBuilt facility to assist in the construction of the panels, and it...
The Plywood Dilemma
Among the many perplexing choices facing a sustainable builder, appropriate sourcing of wood ranks high. A lot of wood goes into most buildings, even those that are “straw bale” or feature other alternative building materials. For the purposes of the Living Building...