Scientists in Quebec take stands on both sides of the EMF debate.
Follow this link for a background and an overview of the debate on EMF and human health. The debate is strong in Québec. A large group of scientist and engineers worried about what they consider the...
View ArticlePersonal thoughts as to why I am sceptical about the wireless industry's...
Reflections on why someone with a scientific orientation like myself might give more credibility to those who worry about the health effects of cell phones and smart meters than to those who say there...
View ArticleAn alternative to paying hydro to opt out of smart meters
Alternatives to paying hydro to not install a smart meter In Quebec as in some other jurisdictions, the hydro company has opened the door to refusing the installation of Smart Meters by consumers --...
View ArticleFire Safety & Installing Wood Burning Appliances
Wood heating appliances get hot -- that's why we use them -- but they also burn down houses. They are only safe if you install them safely. The last two graphics above lead to two short videos: --...
View ArticleFrost Protected Shallow Foundations -- and water pipes
Frost Protected Shallow Foundations The foundation for a house is generally poured below the soil grade level so that the footing itself is well below the frost depth for any given region and soil...
View ArticleGrowing pains in a small Quebec municipality -- expensive by-laws and democracy.
Many Canadians buy land in small rural areas for a cottage or a retirement home. Generally these are friendly areas where you feel comfortable. But there are rules and regulations, costs and personal...
View ArticleBack Pain and Home Improvements
Back Pain and arthritis are probably the two primary health problems that cause people to give up manual trades and even renovating or repairing their own homes. Back pain in particular can step in...
View ArticleThe EMF debate changes: Laboratory proof that low powered electromagnetic...
Ce texte en français se trouve après le texte anglais. The following document was prepared to support the municipality of Lachine, Québec in their demand for a moratorium on the installation of Smart...
View ArticleInsulating problems with historical buildings
Hello Jon I am the chairman of a church committee with the task of raising money, and doing the admin. for the restoration at St Andrew United. My concern now is the proper procedure to fully insulate...
View ArticleChoosing between an HRV and an ERV
After 30 years of installing Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) we are now asked to choose between an HRV and an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator). What is an ERV and does it really work in Canada? Early...
View ArticleTri-Energy -- a step further towards energy efficiency
You have heard me speak as a strong supporter of Dual Energy programs for a long time. Let me tell you the history of an engineer from Montreal that has sold me on backing “the next step”: Tri-Energy....
View ArticleIs this wall structural? A code proposal for labeling structural walls.
At one time or another every renovator, professional or weekend warrior, has tried to determine what might happen if they remove or make a big hole in a wall – is it holding something up? This is not...
View ArticleProtecting shower tiles from hand held shower scratches
When mysterious problems arise in a house the task is to track down the cause – and sometimes encapsulate it. I built a beautiful new tiled shower, only to discover a hole starting to develop in one...
View ArticleThe Bathtub Fill Alarm
There are many water spill or flood detectors on the market; some hard wired, some battery operated, some free standing, some tied to central alarm systems. The battery operated models are quite...
View ArticleBack Lit street numbers & the best night light I have ever found
Being able to read house numbers at night is quite a hit a miss thing. This is not only frustrating when you are trying to visit someone, but could be life threatening when an emergency vehicle is...
View ArticleAt what speed should my saw blades spin?
Tools Vary Woodworking tools, from table saws to portable saws right down to tiny routers vary in rotational speeds from around 3,000 RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) up to 50,000 RPM. If it is a direct...
View ArticleMaking an X-Ray of your roof
When there is morning frost or light snow on a roof, you can learn a lot about a heat losses from the house and how to eliminate ice dams and icicles. What causes problems Melting the bottom of a...
View ArticleRestoring Heritage Windows
When Heritage Window Restoration becomes an energy efficient & cost effective alternative to new windows Most of us who have worked in older neighbourhoods have at one time or another thought about...
View ArticlePressure Treated Wood - the new generation
Have we really moved to a new generation of Pressure Treated Wood? With the introduction of MicroPro treated wood to the Canadian market in the spring of 2013, some are saying that we have a game...
View ArticleShingle starter strip & should you remove that plastic strip?
The starter shingle If you put the first row of shingles on the edge of the roof just like all the rest, you will see the bare roof deck through the cracks between the shingles. Many self-taught...
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