Process being documented online

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Like many couples looking to start a family, Jeremy Bell and his wife Jessica Lax wanted to move to a bigger home.

So they spoke with real estate agents and attended open houses, looking for a home somewhere in the city since they both worked downtown.

They found there were nice homes in not-so-great neighbourhoods and nice neighbourhoods with not-so-great homes.

"My wife said we looked at about 50 homes," Bell, 28, said. "We didn't find the perfect thing."

Then Bell and Lax realized where they currently lived at 360 Winnett Ave., near Allen Road and Eglinton Avenue, was their ideal location. They decided to stay and tear up the bungalow to rebuild a larger, more modern home.

But then the young couple wanted to do more than just construct a bigger home. They wanted to construct a "smarter home."

That meant building a "green" home. It also meant changing priorities.

Working closely with architects and contractors, Bell noted the new home wouldn't be as big as they could have afforded.

Instead, some of the money would be invested into buying materials that are more durable and energy efficient for everything from the foundation and walls to the windows and insulation.

Bell also decided to document the progress to show people that building green is possible and share his experience from start to finish through his website, www.360winnett.com, which has been up for the past two months.

"It's kind of taken off," said Bell, estimating about 22,000 unique hits to date. "I've been getting a lot of questions."

People would ask such things like, which architects and contractors he's working with or how he's able to finance the project.

Bell is learning a lot himself, reading books and magazines about the latest environmental technologies available on the market.

"And I watch Holmes on Homes almost religiously," Bell admitted. "I just try to educate myself. I love it."

His wife, on the other hand, isn't into the construction side of things as much as Bell is. He noted, however, she'll be more involved when it comes to designing the interior of the home.

But first things first. The bungalow is slated for demolition in the first week of August.

Bell will then be moving in with his in-laws a few blocks away. That'll make it easier for him to drop by and see the progress of the extreme renovation himself while updating the website regularly with blog entries, photos and videos.

"We're excited," said Bell, hoping that construction will end within eight to 10 months from the demolition date. "There's a lot to do."