Sometimes the most eco-friendly options are the most simple. One Canadian family has used low-tech building techniques to construct their dream home in Ontario.
While many of us think of cars being a main source of heat-trapping gases, our buildings can cause just as much harm to the environment. About 40% of all carbon pollution comes from buildings, either in their construction or daily use. The materials used in construction, like concrete, can also be detrimental to the environment.
Because of the massive impact of buildings, some families choose more eco-friendly techniques to live in harmony with nature. Chris Vander Hout and Christine Hoy and their son did so, living completely off the grid in their Ontario home.
The family has been living on the property for more than 18 years, and recently they commissioned a sustainable straw bale home from Toronto architect Martin Liefhebber. Their priority was that they “wanted a healthy home.”
Vander Hout and Hoy chose a clearing on the property to reduce the need to cut down trees or destroy native habitats.
The house uses many sustainable building techniques, like a green roof and local materials. The solar water heater, solar panels, rainwater harvesting system, and composting toilet all help the family live off the grid. With these renewable tactics, Vander Hout and Hoy can avoid relying on dirty energy sources — like coal, oil, and gas — and energy-intensive practices.
Won’t make a bit of difference to the climate. One volcanic eruption produces more carbon emissions than the entire history of mankind