Nalliah Thayabharan's (expertinspector) Blog

Through thoughtful, innovative design and construction processes, it is expected that EQuilibrium housing will help to conserve our natural resources. Building size should be optimized for intended use, materials should be specified from local and renewable resources, and construction waste shoul...

Eqilibrium Housing involves site planning and community design that reduces demand for greenfield development, protects wildlife habitat, agriculture and fisheries, promotes resource-efficient native landscaping, and considers broader community issues such as efficient transportation, reduced inf...

Affordability is an essential aspect of sustainable housing. Sustainable developments generally reduce the life cycle costs of their buildings and infrastructure. They are conceived as durable systems with low maintenance and operating costs that use significantly less purchased energy. Flexible...

One of the primary objectives of the EQuilibrium Housing initiative is to demonstrate the capacity of housing to drastically reduce the energy load required by a home, and then to produce as much, or more, renewable energy than it consumes on an annual basis. This will be achieved by matching hig...

Faced with rising energy costs, a greater concern for the environment and an increased focus on the health of their families, more and more Canadians are looking for housing options that are healthy, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and less expensive to operate and maintain. EQuilibriu...

Building Science Fundamentals 2007 is an advanced two-day seminar about optimizing building performance.  That is, designing buildings that perform as they should: efficiently and without assemblies that spall, decay, corrode, peel, blister, mold, condense water, leak air and water and otherwise...

Canadian provinces have now notified gas certificate holders on the date they plan to adopt the 2007 Supplement to the national Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code (CSA B149-1S1-07).  This supplement will require that all plastic vent piping to be certified to ULC S636 “Standard for Type BH...

Windows and exterior doors are subject to the wear and tear that comes from constant use and exposure to the weather. Over time, weatherstripping, hardware and the door and frame materials can deteriorate or fail. Homeowners can either repair or replace window or door units. Repairs can be inexp...

Windows are an important component of a home. In addition to enhancing the esthetic beauty of the house, windows can provide fresh air and ventilation to the home, allow daylighting to brighten interior spaces and keep out harsh outdoor elements (wind, rain, snow). Buying new windows can be a da...

Chinch bug Causes yellow patches on grass — can cause grass to turn brown and die. Control Methods  Big-eyed bug, tiny wasp and praying mantis are natural predators of chinch bugs. Put 30 ml of dishwashing soap in seven litres of water and drench a small area of the lawn. Place a flannel sheet on...