Our experts share their knowledge.
Providing homes with potable water (water suitable for drinking) requires significant infrastructure, energy and financial resources. As with energy consumption, water use can be curbed in part by installing efficient devices such as low-flow fixtures, aerators and dual-flush toilets. That said, the complexity of water systems presents a key challenge to reducing consumption. For example,…
Pulsinelli is a multidisciplinary design firm specializing in retail, condominium, commercial, residential and hospitality projects. For British sports apparel company Umbro’s Mississauga showroom, the firm created a vintage-inspired space that pays tribute to the company’s history. The 860-square-foot space features a distressed wood floor and custom wood display fixtures with hot-rolled-steel details. Vintage furniture and…
RS Homes has recently completed a renovation in King City. We’re proud of the work, and grateful to the owners for the opportunity to help improve their home. The second floor addition includes a 300 square foot bedroom with walk-in closet, 3-piece ensuite and 50 square foot balcony with glass railings. We were careful to match the exterior finishing with…
The environmental impact of our buildings follows in part from the energy we use within them. Conventional non-renewable energy sources such as coal-fired and nuclear power plants are a major source of pollution and green house gases emissions. Thus the more energy we consume from these sources, the more harm we do. And while renewable…
Home renovation is a great opportunity to make a healthier home for you and your family, reduce your environmental impact, and save money. When renovating your exterior walls, be sure to consider: If the exterior walls don’t protect the house from the elements, you can expect problems to arise sooner, leading to potential health issues and significant…
2011 Nominated For Best Home Renovation By BILD! To make the front door more prominent, an extended, stylish porch was erected. Natural stone was applied for texture and beauty. Copper fascia, new eaves, and a cornice return were added to the gable. To highlight the new windows, precast mouldings were inserted. The bay windows received…
When designing a healthy home, the single most important consideration is indoor air quality (IAQ). Many factors influence the quality of the air in your home: the building envelope and penetrations, the type, quality, and maintenance of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system, and the materials and finishes you select. A well-designed home…
When we talk about developing sustainable homes, we are referring to cost-effective strategies for ensuring human health and reducing our environmental impact. In designing a healthy home, important considerations include air quality, water quality, natural light, and thermal comfort. In terms of reducing the home’s environmental impact, we can look to our use of energy,…
With over 7 billion people on earth, humankind’s demand for energy, water, and resources is having a tremendous impact on our environment. We are literally reshaping the natural systems that we rely on for clean air, fresh water, and healthy food. Faced with this reality, the question of how to sustainably co-exist with each other…
Not all the things you want to look at for your custom home need to be about washers and dryers when it comes to Energy Star ratings. There’s more to it than just the appliances. Although there are design elements that need to be taken into account when you’re looking at where your new appliances…
In the wake of Toronto’s recent flood (July 8, 2013), it seems appropriate to discuss the role of design in water management. As Mark Mattson (@waterkeepermark) of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper explained on today’s Metro Morning, Toronto’s sewer and stormwater infrastructure is combined. When it is overrun during heavy rain events, our rainwater and sewage end up mixing, bypassing our treatment…