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January 2016

Reframing “Sustainable” Payback: Cost or Comfort?

A common element in Sustainable Design is projected payback period. Payback is in this sense defined as cost savings in dollars that the sustainable measure will have over the long term, i.e by using less electrcity or natural gas. Here is an example of a typical pay-off calculation:   If the typical home is 1500 […]

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MAGICBOX Installation up this week for Toronto Offsite Design Fesitval 2016

Tonight is the opening reception for the installation entitled “MAGICBOX”, as part of this years Toronto Offsite Design Festival. Swing by to see the work, meet the artists, and enjoy snacks and refreshments! January 20th 7-9pm is also the Junction wide reception with over 14 other artists and designers installations. MAGICBOX is an installation exploring […]

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MAGICBOX – Window Installation for Toronto Offsite Design Festival

In 9 days the Toronto Offsite Design Festival will begin, and once again Coolearth is hosting a window installation.  See our previous years installations here, and here.   We’re happy to be hosting MAGICBOX, and installation exploring how the world of “smart devices” still remains in an old paradox of flat, rectinlinear screens and boxes, […]

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Mud and Rammed Earth Structures

At the firm recently we have been discussing the embodied energy of the materials we use to build (see our post two weeks ago, on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of various types of insulation).  Because, while the operation of the building (heating, lighting, cooling, and other plug loads) constitutes the lion’s share of emission over […]

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