Green from the Ground Up

Green From the Ground Up is a project of the non-profit Tyee Solutions Society made possible through the support of the Vancity/Real Estate Foundation Green Building Grant Program. The entire series was awarded Gold at the 2011 Canadian Online Publishing Awards in the category of 'Best online-only article or series of articles.' If your media outlet or organization would like to republish any or all of these articles, please contact Chris Wood to discuss. To download a PDF of part of the series, click here.Support for this project does not necessarily imply endorsement of the findings or contents of these reports.

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A Tyee Series

Building Green from the Ground Up

We asked experts how to make true sustainability the norm. Here's what they told us. Last in a Tyee Solutions Society series.

By Colleen Kimmett, 21 Sep 2011

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A Tyee Series

How Many 'Miles-per-Gallon' Does Your House Get?

Home buyers deserve labels revealing future utility costs, say efficient building advocates.

By Colleen Kimmett, 20 Sep 2011

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A Tyee Series

Greening Homes Can Be Big Boost to Economy

As U.S. programs show, Canada could 'win-win-win' by doing more to help homeowners retrofit.

By Colleen Kimmett, 1 Apr 2011

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A Tyee Series

A Smarter Way to Help You Pay for Greening Your Home

On-bill financing is making energy saving upgrades more affordable in the US. And soon here?

By Colleen Kimmett, 31 Mar 2011

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A Tyee Series

How to Design a Building that Restores the Earth

UBC's Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability aims to set a new North American standard by actually benefitting the environment.

By Katie Hyslop, 28 Mar 2011

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So Much Rain! Why Not Put It To Work?

Exasperated that our wet winters turn into water-scarce summers? Get your own 1000-gallon rain barrel.

By Christopher Pollon, 24 Mar 2011

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How Smart Is 'Power Smart', BC Hydro's Try at Saving Energy?

Not very smart, says economist Mark Jaccard. But are we brave enough for California's far more successful approach?

By Christopher Pollon, 9 Mar 2011

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A Tyee Series

How Green School Buildings Help Children Grow

Students and teachers are more healthy and productive in sustainably-built schools, research shows.

By Katie Hyslop, 9 Feb 2011

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A Tyee Series

Low-Energy Homes Mean Thousands of New Jobs

In Europe, that is, where Passivhaus principles are going into building codes. Could B.C. do it?

By Monte Paulsen, 27 Jan 2011

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A Tyee Series

In Snowy Whistler, a House with No Furnace

Canada's first Passivhaus points to the future of green building with wood. Second of three parts.

By Monte Paulsen, 26 Jan 2011

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A Tyee Series

Step Inside the Real Home of the Future: Passivhaus

Canadians helped invent a house so efficient you could heat it with a hair dryer. Then we forgot about it. First of three parts.

By Monte Paulsen, 25 Jan 2011

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A Tyee Series

Building Jobs By Tearing Down Houses the Green Way

Vancouver aims to boost a new employment sector: recycling buildings.

By Colleen Kimmett, 18 Jan 2011

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A Tyee Series

How Do They Decide a Building Is 'Green'?

The Tyee Guide to green building certification systems in Canada. Third in a series.

By Monte Paulsen, 11 Jan 2011

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A Tyee Series

Green Homes For Less

Three affordable homes that could change that way you think about green building. Second in a series.

By Monte Paulsen, 7 Jan 2011

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A Tyee Series

Five Myths About Green Building

Green doesn't have to mean expensive, exotic or uncomfortable. First in a series.

By Monte Paulsen, 6 Jan 2011

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Designers Challenged to Get Creative About Housing Homeless

This Thursday, take part in Architecture For Humanity's 'superchallenge' to find quick, affordable and green housing solutions for the city's growing homeless population.

By Monte Paulsen, 14 Apr 2010

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A Tyee Series

Homeless Housing For Less

Proposals to build free or low-cost homeless housing said to be 'stalled' by the province. Last of three parts.

By Monte Paulsen, 14 Apr 2010

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A Tyee Series

Is this Canada's Most Affordable Green Home?

How Victoria designer Keith Dewey transformed eight used shipping containers into an airy residence. Second of three parts.

By Monte Paulsen, 13 Apr 2010

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A Tyee Series

Green and Affordable Homes, Out of the Box

Shipping containers hold the potential to revolutionize urban housing. First of three parts.

By Monte Paulsen, 12 Apr 2010