Here is a new detail I have created and am including in all of my plans. Dew point can be seen in this chart Example 1 (Winter): If 20ºC interior air at a relative humidity (RH) of 40% gets into the wall through an unsealed gap around a window, it works it's way towards the exterior and it cools down. Once it drops to about 9 ºC, it has reached 100% RH, otherwise know as rain. Rain inside a wall is generally considered "bad". This situation will lead to mould and rotting fram

I have just completed the certification training for Net-Zero and R-2000 homes in Ottawa. The net zero portion is a pilot program run by EnerQuality and the Canadian Home Builders Association, with support from Natural Resources Canada. A Net Zero home is a home that was designed and built to produce as much energy as it uses. This would include heating, lighting and all electrical loads for the things we like to do in our homes. For example, over the last five years in our h

Brian and his team have built the cabin we helped design and it looks really inviting. It's the first of a few similar cabins at the camp. Also check out their website - looks like a great place for kids! http://www.willowgrove.ca/home

The design work is nearly complete on the Conquer's straw bale home. It is a passive solar designed post and beam straw bale home.

This addition to the Trottola cottage gives the cottage a larger gathering room with gorgeous views onto Hudson Lake.

The Kowalski family have decided to build their dream cottage and will be doing it themselves! Here are a couple of images - note the stair tower.

The Daniels family have had a cottage Robinson Lake for many years and have now decided to renovate and add a second floor.

Here are some final images of the Cox home on Paudash - a simple but charming reconstruction of a cottage the owner's father built many moons ago.

The design of the Stanczak home is progressing and they were interested in seeing where the shadows from both the roof overhang and an adjacent tree line would fall on the home. Knowing the height of the trees and distance from the home, as well as the geographic location, we could illustrate where the shadows fall and show that the windows will be shaded in summer, and exposed in winter. Once the leaves fall, they will be exposed to more sunlight producing nice, free heat! T