Topics
Browse every topic on DIY Eco Homes — from heat pumps and solar to foundations, natural building, and the full Nova Scotia build series.
- Building Envelope & Insulation — 8 guides
How walls, roofs, and floors keep heat in and moisture out — R-value targets, assembly designs, and material trade-offs for owner-builders. - Air Sealing & Ventilation — 2 guides
Building tight, ventilating right. ERV/HRV systems, blower-door targets, and the air-quality moves that make a passive-house-grade home liveable. - Foundations & Slabs — 2 guides
Slab-on-grade, frost-protected shallow footings, and ICF — what to pour, how to insulate it, and how to keep it dry for the life of the build. - Heat Pumps & HVAC — 4 guides
Mini-splits, ducted vs. ductless, sizing math, COP/HSPF ratings, and the cold-climate heat pump tradeoffs DIY builders actually need to know. - Solar & Off-Grid Power — 12 guides
Sizing solar arrays, picking batteries and inverters, planning off-grid loads, and budgeting a self-sufficient power system end-to-end. - Water Systems & Plumbing — 7 guides
Wells, septic, greywater, rainwater capture, vapor barriers, and the moisture-control choices that make or break a long-lived eco home. - Sustainable Materials — 9 guides
Recycled steel, low-embodied-carbon concrete, FSC lumber, hempcrete, and the material choices that move the carbon needle on a build. - Natural Building Methods — 3 guides
Cob, straw bale, adobe, earthen floors, and the time-tested techniques that produce healthy homes from local materials. - Tiny Houses & Cabins — 2 guides
Designing small footprints, sizing systems for 200-600 sq ft, and the tradeoffs between tiny, mobile, and full small-home builds. - Climate-Specific Building & Codes — 8 guides
Cold climate, hot/humid, wildfire and seismic zones — code-aware design choices and the certification standards (LEED, Passive House, Living Building Challenge) worth chasing. - Cost & Owner-Builder Planning — 8 guides
Real cost breakdowns, DIY-vs-pro tradeoffs, permit workflows, financing, and incentives for owner-builders working on a budget. - Nova Scotia Build — 8 guides
Graham's first-person build series — from land clearing through framing, slab insulation, and the cold-climate decisions made along the way. - DIY Skills & Tools — 8 guides
Framing, sheathing, electrical basics, and the hand-and-power-tool fundamentals owner-builders need before swinging a hammer in earnest. - Sustainable Building — 159 guides
The general fundamentals of low-impact home construction — energy efficiency, eco-friendly living, and the broader principles that connect every other topic on this site.