Learn how to build sustainably, with topics ranging from deep dive comparisons of natural building techniques to insighftful reports on green infrastructure to improving a building’s indoor environmental quality.
Can Laser Technology Reduce Waste in Wood Renovation Projects? Renovating wooden pieces can create a surprising amount of waste. Sandpaper wears out quickly. Paint strippers leave behind chemical residue. Dust collection systems fill up with fine particles. And every pass […]
Why Don’t More Homes Have Green Roofs? Architect Bruce Greenway on What Drives Homeowner Adoption of Green Roofs In November 2025, Toronto’s Green Roof Bylaw was repealed, which required green roofs on new buildings with a gross floor area exceeding
Q&A With Bruce Greenway of Greenway Studio Architecture Bruce Greenway is the founder of the Victoria-based architecture firm Greenway Studio Architecture. In this Q&A, he discusses his approach to architecture and offers some advice both to aspiring architects and homeowners
Retrofitting Canada’s Buildings: A Long Game Worth Playing A Conversation with Duncan Rowe of RJC Engineers Canada is accelerating efforts to retrofit its existing building stock in pursuit of its 2050 net-zero targets. Yet public and industry sentiment towards retrofits
Daniel Marks is the founder of the North Vancouver-based woodworking studio, Omba. In this Q&A he talks about his approach to building furniture that lasts and offers some advice for people shopping around for sustainable furniture. 1. Can you tell
How to Prepare Your Build Site Responsibly and Minimize Habitat Disruption Building projects come with a lot of responsibility. Not only do you need to ensure that the project is completed safely and efficiently, but you also have to consider
Thinking of Expanding? Here’s Why Prefab Additions Beat Traditional Builds Renovating is getting expensive. Across Canada, the cost to renovate has increased nearly 10 percent a year on average since 2017, according to the Residential Renovation Price Index. And renovation
How Prefabrication is Shaping Sustainable High-Rises in Canada By Nick Haughton, Director of ESG at Sapphire Balconies Published: June 11, 2025 Canada’s construction industry is rapidly evolving to meet the growing demand for sustainable building practices. With rising urbanization, a
A couple of winters ago, I spent a weekend at my friend Glen’s new home outside Surrey. That’s where I really felt what an energy-efficient home does. I remember it being really blizzardy outside, and we stayed pretty warm and
The construction industry in Canada is crucial to the economy, generating well over $100 billion in GDP annually. While industry growth has economic benefits, it comes at a cost; the industry is one of the dirtiest and contributes significantly to
