If you’ve ever entertained the idea of being a Jeopardy! contestant, consider this feature as part of your preparation in the All Things North category. A quick visit to jeopardy.com offers resources like a prep centre and practice tests to evaluate if you are quiz-show-worthy. If you’re biting your nails already, you can also enjoy these northerly tidbits for no good reason other than they’ll make you a more interesting coffee date or dinner guest.
North House
In Cambridge, Ontario, North House is a slick, solar-powered living lab that generates more energy than it consumes. Situated on the Rare Charitable Research Reserve, the urban land trust and environmental institute focuses on protecting highly sensitive habitats and ecological restoration. North House is the award-winning end product of a University of Waterloo entry into the 2009 International Solar Decathlon. Students and faculty from U of W, Ryerson University and Simon Fraser University placed fourth in the design competition hosted by the United States Department of Energy.
North House capitalizes on solar energy to produce hot water and regulates temperature with automated coverings, quadruple-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows and a computer system that allows residents to view and modify their energy use via a laptop or
