North America’s Greenest Hotel
Dec 2011
When the long-abandoned building at 357 College went up for sale, Anthony Aarts, my business partner and old college friend, saw a chance to build Toronto’s greatest hostel. When he approached me as financial backer, I saw a chance to build North America’s greenest hostel. The two visions came together as “Planet Traveler.”
Indoor Air Quality: Neglected by Most Home Owners
Dec 2011
Often neglected, indoor air quality is becoming more important to homeowners, especially during the winter months when most of our time is spent indoors. As building envelopes get tighter in order to improve energy efficiency, trapped air can cause numerous health problems, especially if allergenic spores caused by mould are floating in the air you breathe.
Greening up your Kitchen (and its environmental footprint)
Dec 2011
For most of us, the kitchen is the heart of our homes. But what does it take to keep it truly healthy and sustainable? Between washing dishes, replacing old countertops and energy draining appliances, what happens in the kitchen can have a big impact on your home’s environmental footprint. We decided to take a look at the best ways to “greenovate” your kitchen.
Sustainable Selections – Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co.
Nov 2011
Cheese is the second oldest culinary family after wine. Both occurring naturally (albeit highly benefitted with guidance from affineurs and winemakers), and both are delectable together because the natural acids in the wine react with vestigial fats of cheese. Quite literally, the two were made for each other, and when done sustainably and in a “vin naturel” style, we can really appreciate the terroir of both.
Working with Builders & Contractors – Building Sustainability into your Choices
Nov 2011
Nestled across the road from the sprawling suburban homes of Vaughan’s Vellore Village is the suburban home of the future. Like its counterparts, the Archetype Sustainable House, located at the Kortright Centre for Conservation, was designed to meet the cookie-cutter demands of the mass market. “It’s the archetype suburban answer to green homes,” explains David Nixon, Kortright’s Sustainable Technologies Monitoring Coordinator.
