Book Description
Focusing on green building as it applies to larger commercial, institutional buildings,
Sustainable Construction provides a complete introduction to the design and construction of high-performance green buildings. By providing a thorough grounding on the subject, this insightful guide encourages you to realize the ecological and economic benefits of green building.
Author Charles Kibert uses the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) suite of standards to explain the best practices in building procurement and delivery systems. Providing a detailed overview of the entire process of green building, he covers the theory, history, state of the industry, and best practices in green building.
Whether you're an industry professional, building owner, or real estate developer, you'll gain the knowledge you need to test any of the myriad decisions that have to be made in design and construction -- from materials selection to considering the use of natural systems for wastewater processing.
Book Description
From the arid deserts of Tucson, Arizona to the icy forests of Poori, Finland to the tropical beaches of New South Wales, Australia to the urban jungle of downtown Manhattan, critics Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne have traveled to the farthest reaches of the globe to find all that is new in the design of sustainable, or "green," homes. The result: more than thirty-five residences in fifteen countries -- and nearly every conceivable natural environment -- designed by a combination of star architects and heretofore unknown practitioners.
Six different climactic zones are presented in The Green House -- waterfront, forest and mountain, tropical, desert, suburban, and urban; there is also a section on mobile dwellings. Each chapter features a series of homes that show the diversity and possibility of sustainable design. Projects are presented with large color images, plans, drawings, and an accompanying text that describes their green features and explains how they work with and in the environment.
Architects included: Santiago Calatrava, Shigeru Ban, Miller/Hull, Rick Joy, Lake Flato, Kengo Kuma, Glenn Murcutt, Pugh & Scarpa, Werner Sobek, and many others.
The Green House is not only a beautiful object in its own right, but is sure to be an indispensable reference for anyone building or interested in sustainable design -- and if you ask us, that should be everyone.
Customer Reviews:
The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture.......2007-07-20
Well designed and easy to use Layout on this Book for People interested in modern & green architecture. I recommend this book without any doubt. A very good source of inspiration!
Nice.......2007-06-18
Very nice book if you are interested in sustainbility and green architecture.
For architects or the coffee table.......2007-03-29
The book focuses on very modern designs, which are frequently stark or very heavy on the glass and steel. There are some ideas for creating a "greener" house, but most of the examples ignore the most basic green principle of minimizing the square footage of the house. Also, with a few exceptions, most of the examples appear to be very pricey.
Good ideas.......2007-01-12
I liked this book and I think the other reviews have summed this book up well.
Nice pictures. Not much content........2007-01-11
Has some nice pretty pictures and limited text about each property. Does cover a variety of types of housing from city buildings to country living in many different climates but not much content about each property. I was looking for more technical information which wasn't there.
Book Description
Clarke Snell and Timothy L. Callahan, whose popular Good House Book helped environmentally-minded readers create an earth-friendly home, have returned with a photo-packed, amazingly complete, start-to-finish guide to "green" housebuilding.
This absolutely groundbreaking manual doesn't just talk about eco-friendly building techniques, but actually shows every step! More than 1,200 close-up photographs, along with in-depth descriptions, follow the real construction of an alternative house from site selection to the addition of final-touch interior details. Co-authors Clarke Snell and Timothy Callahan (a professional builder and contractor) provide thorough discussions of the fundamental concepts of construction, substitutes for conventional approaches, and planning a home that's not only comfortable and beautiful, but environmentally responsible. Then, they roll up their sleeves and get to work assembling a guest house that incorporates four different alternative building methods: straw bale, cob, cordwood, and modified stick frame. The images show every move: how the site is cleared, the basic structure put together, the cob wall sculpted, the bales and cordwood stacked, a living roof created, and more. Most important, the manual conveys real-world challenges and processes, and offers dozens of sidebars with invaluable advice. It's head and shoulders above all others in the field.
Customer Reviews:
great service.......2007-09-05
recieved product within one week great book thinking about building using all natural products
Building Green.......2007-02-12
This is an excellent book that is easy to read and actual tells you step by step with over a 1000 beautiful photos how to build your own "Green" building. I am an inexperienced owner-builder and after reading this book I feel that each step of the process was described so clearly that I can use it as a guide for building my own house. None of the other books I've read on the subject have provided this level of clarity or detail - all in an upbeat, easy to read and sometimes humourous style.
The first part of the book does a good survey of the differnet types of materials used in green building and the considerations of siting and design as well. The second part covers actually building the house and what to do or to avoid in the process.
Great Book...not for northwestern climates.......2007-02-07
This is a VERY informative and educational book. I LOVED it, however, I live in a wet climate in Northwestern Canada and the methods used in this book are not condusive to this area.
Excellent and Comprehensive Intro and Education........2006-04-29
I have been looking for a book that would educate me on exactly what green building is, whether it is actually practical and what it would take to achieve it. This book answered all those questions. I think it has filled a void in the information market. So many people are not satisfied with current building practices especially in the US yet finding one comprehensive source for reliable answers is extremely difficult. There is lots of experience bound up in the very well-written, easy flowing text. The mass of photos is extremely instructive and attractive. This book is not clouds-in-the-sky, blindly pro-environment babble. Neither is it full of the marketing lies that exploit the "green" movement. It is useful for normal people who are interesting in trying to build earth-friendly but practical, efficient and affordable homes. The writers are very honest in their educated opinions and recommendations. And they actually built a small green building in order to write this book. So you get the useful, hands-on advice that they learned themselves the hard way even with their past, extensive building experience in the US. I appreciate their effort and book very much, and can't recommend it highly enough as one every non-expert should read if they have a possible interest in green building in the future or even in just building a marginally more efficient home.
Nicely presented intoduction to several green techniques.......2006-02-27
A very nicely presented 'survey' of several green building techniques with a practical and mainstream perspective. Less inspiring and holistic (in terms of presenting an overall philosophy of building AND living) than the likes of The Hand-Sculpted House (Evans, Smiley and Smith), etc. but the beautiful photography and clear writing is a powerful tool to use in convincing the skeptical that green building is a legitimate and aesthetically pleasing option in construction. Really more of a 'complete introduction' than a 'complete how-to guide' in my estimation- if you are really going to build you'll need to suppliment your knowledge with additional in depth books on the particular system(s) you choose to use, but this book will expose you to some of the options and provide you with an informational foundation to 'build' on (pun intended).
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource.......2007-05-15
A must have for any green designer, builder or home owner who wants to do the right thing.
not what I expected.......2006-03-27
this is actually a list of places that sell "green" materials- like a specialized phone book. I think most of this information is on line, and that we will need to buy things within our local area- not from the other side of the county. we returned this book.
Excellent Job of Research.......2005-09-08
Housing is probably the second largest consumer of non-renewable resources after the automobile. This book is on building in a way that provides everything you need in a house, but doing so with a minimal impact on the earth.
The first step is building a house that is satisfactory but not so big as has become normal in the US, and designing it for energy efficiency. Well insulated houses are easier to keep warm in the winter, cool in the summer.
After the design is completed, then comes the selection of components and materials to be used in the construction of the house. That's where this book comes in. In going through the book you can find ideas that will help you in the design, but more importantly, you will find components that fall into the general rules of 'reuse/recycle.' Here is lumber recovered from older buildings, lumber made from plastic that from recycled packaging. Here are high performance appliances, insulation made from recycled components.
This book takes the form of a listing of suppliers, broken down by category. I find that by looking at these procucts, many of which I didn't even know existed, the design of the house is changed to fit.
These people have done an excellent job of research as to what's avaialble.
An excellent catalog featuring the latest 'green' residential building material choices.......2005-09-04
Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn edit Green Building Products: The Greenspec Guide To Residential Building Materials whether you're a builder or a homeowner, learn the truth about what items are truly 'green' and which are false promises. And get the addresses, phones, and web sites to quickly locate products ranging from cork underlayment for floors to special green paints, finishes, and mechanical and lighting systems. An excellent catalog featuring the latest 'green' residential building material choices.
Excellent Reference For Your Green Library.......2005-08-23
This Book is an excellent reference for any architectural and construction library. The Book contains product information in each of the CSI 16 Divisions. The information listed is "Certifiably Green", but limited in number of manufacturers. As you may know the Green Market is rapidly expanding where new products are develop and old products are receiving the LEED Certification. As an initial guide in the new green world of residential materials, it is a must have in your Library and undoubtedly, there will be new editions out.
Book Description
Green. It conjures images of a meadow in spring for some, and the color of money for others. What does "green" have to do with our homes? In essence, green building-or sustainable building-means being smart about how we use energy, water, and building materials so that we can live well without needlessly damaging the environment. Creating a good green home isn't just about conservation, about using less or saving more-although that's certainly part of it. It's about creating better homes that are easier on the environment, less expensive over the long term, and more delightful to come home to. That's the message Jennifer Roberts wants to share in Good Green Homes, the ultimate new guide for people who want to live in comfortable, healthy, environmentally conscious homes. With some simple steps outlined in this book, you can save money, and do your part to help save the environment. For instance, using an energy-efficient light bulb saves you money. It also results in less demand for electricity, which in turn results in less pollution from power plants, which may help a child with asthma breathe a little easier. If you associate green-built housing with the unconventional or the quirky-tree houses, geodesic domes, dwellings constructed of tires or soda bottles-think again. Perfect for homeowners, remodelers, renters (who might be surprised by how much is within their power to change), architects, builders, and interior designers, this book lays out seven fundamental principles of green building, illustrated with more than 150 color and 20 black and white photographs of more than twenty-five homes. Jennifer Roberts launched two retail stores in San Francisco specializing in environmentally sensible consumer products, including household goods; and is a freelance writer and editor on topics that include energy-efficient building design and systems.
Customer Reviews:
A good start..........2007-01-18
This is an excellent book for those seeking an introduction to environmentally sound home building. There are many good general points and examples of green homes. It is short on details for actual designers but good for home builders who need to read this information desperately and stop building mega-mansions with 5 bedrooms for families with one kid.
Good book.......2006-07-12
Doesn't give a detailed analysis of anything, but is a great tool for people wanting a basic understanding of green building, energy efficient techniques, etc.
Beautiful, but...........2004-10-29
This book no doubt makes a lovely addition to my coffee table. I feel so inspired and now.. how do I do it?? I was looking for more practical advice that addressed all my reasons for wanting to remodel green - protecting my family's health and our planet's natural resources and my financial savings. If the intention was to create a stunning, inspiring book - great job. If it was to really explain what green is and exactly how to do it, I think I'd look to books like "Green Remodeling" by Johnston and Master or read Environmental Building News....
Real Homes that Make a Difference.......2004-03-03
"A recent poll revealed that an astounding 96% of consumers are willing to pay more for green features in a home, and 91% feel that energy-efficient features in a new home were extremely or very important."
If you are planning to redecorate or remodel, Good Green Homes offers ideas, real-world advice and lots of inspiration. Jennifer Roberts is a freelance writer who specializes in sustainable building, energy efficiency and corporate social responsibility. She helps people make choices that encourage positive change in their living environments. She answers the following questions:
How does having a "green" home actually save money?
How can someone who rents their home make significant changes?
What are some ways to protect and improve the quality of air inside our homes?
What are "rapidly renewable sources?"
How can you afford a green home on a limited budget?
Jennifer is also a merchandising manager for the Marina Green stores and joys introducing consumers to the joys of stylish clothes made from organically grown cotton, healthy paints, energy-efficient light bulbs, tableware made from recycled materials and environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday household products.
Featured Homes Include:
A Delightful Cottage
An Ecofriendly addition to a historic home
A Trio of Healthy and Green City Homes
An Artist's studio on a Wooded Island
A Vacation Retreat in the Wine Country
A Neighborhood of Homes
A Remodeled Victorian Flat
It is rather shocking to learn that the air inside our homes can be five times more polluted than the air outside. One look at your energy bill might convince you to read this book.
These homes don't really look all that different, but there are features like skylights to save electricity or there is a home that is naturally cooled, heated and lit. Some homes have solar water-heating systems for the summer and a unique solar power system blended right in with a backyard trellis to generate electricity from the sun.
The section on air quality was of interest to me because I am always moving my Austin air filter about the house.
The "Wine Country Retreat" looked like a house I could live in because it even has a tower. Well, the pools also looked rather inviting.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
Best Book of Its Kind!.......2004-01-01
This book is a gift to the Earth and to so many of the people who inhabit it! Good Green Homes is educational and practical in an amazingly palatable way...that is to say, it is most enjoyable reading; and at the end one is so much wiser than when one began. It is a visual feast. The concept of environmentally sensitive choices in every aspect of the home is brought to the whole spectrum of the population, from new construction to renters to "what can I do with what I've got." This book is beautiful, user friendly and, above all, inspirational. I kept saying, "I can do that! I can take that action. I can make a difference, and I want to!" Bravo!
Book Description
Citywide networks of green roofs can result in cooler summer temperatures, reduced energy demand, controlled stormwater runoff, protected wildlife habitat, and an enhanced sense of urban well-being. Highlighting these benefits, Green Roofs informs and inspires communities, designers, building owners, and government and business leaders by showcasing the environmental and aesthetic potential of green roofs around the world.
"Imagine the effect of community kitchen gardens on the rooftops of New York City," writes visionary green architect William McDonough in his forward. "The gardens would make visible the vital connections between water, soil, food, and human culture, and create a network of living landscapes across the ancient archipelago that is New York City."
Hundreds of photographs, forty case studies of exemplary green roof projects - from Mexico City to Malmo, Sweden to Fukuoka, Japan to Dearborn, Michigan - provide inspiration and guidance for green roof development, as well as design details. The book includes seven essays on green roof development in Berlin, Tokyo, London, Portland, Chicago, Toronto, and New York City. Additional essays detail the technical requirements, architectural history, and design possibilities of vegetated rooftops.
Customer Reviews:
Look elsewhere for technical info.......2007-06-25
Perhaps some of the previous reviewers liked it because they use it for inspiration when designing at the very high visual level -- because really, this book is about pictures.
There is no useful information in the book about the design or construction of green roofs (except a couple of pages in passing).
Want to know more about how to design and construct using membranes, insulation, drainage, soil and gravel? Then look elsewhere.
Want to know more about how to design and construct a green roof on a new versus and existing building? Then look elsewhere.
How about planning the maintenance needed for a green roof whilst at the design and construction phase? Again look elsewhere.
Nice Coffee Table book, but no real information.......2007-01-25
Compared to the wealth of books on the subject in German and Japanese, there has yet to be a single good book in English. This book has nice pictures, but it doesn't even attempt to touch on the detail required to fully understand this subject adequately to qualify people to specify and actually implement Green Roofs. [...].
Green roofs around the world.......2006-04-23
GREEN ROOFS: ECOLOGICAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION advocates the construction of 'green roofs' which can reduce energy demand and protect wildlife, packing in a survey of buildings and communities already using such roofs to their advantage. Some forty case studies of these projects pair color photos of roofs around the world with discussions of sustainable development and project management: thus practical applications appear alongside environmental advocacy. Experts also discuss technical requirements and history, which will please working architects. An excellent survey of working green roofs and their appeal.
Great Book.......2006-01-27
As a very vocal proponet of green or living roofs I love this book. I believe that Mr Collum, previous reviewer must have just looked at the pictures. Pages 9 through 23 tell very well why we should have green roofs. If you are already an advocate or a newbe to green roofs, this book is for you. There is not a lot of technical information here but it gives the bare bones. If everything you needed to know about green roofs was here you couldn't lift the book. This book is ment to inspire you to get behind green roofs and advocate them in your neighborhood.
Why produce a book like this?.......2005-12-23
This book has lots of nice photographs. That is all. The technical section consists of two pages which state that a waterproof membrane is needed between the roof structure and the soil. There is no information of a technical nature in the book. I wonder why use up the earth's resources for no value. An absolute waste.
Book Description
With more and more clients and architecture schools demanding green design, both student and professional architects need to get up to speed quickly with the vast range of techniques in this fast moving area.
This extensive and user-friendly handbook presents practical guidelines for applying environmental strategies during the schematic design of green buildings. For each strategy, the book provides: brief descriptions of principles and concepts, step-by-step approaches for integrating technologies into the early stages of design, annotated tables and charts to assist with preliminary design sizing, key issues to be aware of when implementing a given strategy, and references to the most recent international standards and rating systems, guidelines, and internet resources.
The text is reinforced with conceptual sketches and photos in full color, illustrating each strategy. A discussion of the green design process and case studies of several green building projects puts the strategies presented in context.
* Provides information required to implement green design ideas with confidence and accuracy.
* Practical information provided in an easy-to-use format.
* Full colour images throughout.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource, A Must Have .......2007-09-21
As an architecture student, I have found this to be an ideal source for helping me incorporate green design strategies into studio projects. Time is always valuable during the design process and having all this data under one cover is sure to save you bundles of it. Filled with top-notch photos, written descriptions, and evocative sketches and illustrations, I can't recommend this book enough.
Every Architect Needs this one!.......2007-07-07
This is a great book, thats easy to use, clear and consise and even looks great on the coffee table (colour photos). This book is a helpful resource for those who are practitioners as well as those who need a guide to more informatively converse in green design strategy with their contractors/architects.
Book Description
Shelter, like many other elements of human existence, comes at an extraordinary cost to our planet and its inhabitants. In the U.S. alone, construction of 1.2 million new homes a year results in a massive drain on Earth's natural resource base. Today, nearly 60 percent of all timber cut in the U.S. is used in building houses, not to mention construction wastes and the huge amounts of resources used in the day-to-day operation of the "modern" household. In addition to environmental costs, there are the personal economic costs--the thousands of dollars each homeowner spends each year to heat, cool, and power our homes. Today, a new generation of architects and builders is emerging, intent on creating homes that meet human needs for shelter while causing only a fraction of the environmental impact of conventional housing. The New Ecological Home provides an overview of green building techniques, materials, products, and technologies that are either currently available or will be in the near future. Author Daniel Chiras provides a wealth of up-to-date, practical information for home buyers, owner-builders, and anyone interested in building for a sustainable future. Included are chapters on: * The Healthy House; * Green Building Materials; * Wood-Wise Construction; * Energy Efficiency; * Earth-Sheltered Architecture; * Passive Solar Heating and Passive Cooling; * Green Power: Electricity from the Sun and Wind; * Water and Waste: Sustainable Approaches;* Environmental Landscaping.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent introduction to wide array of green building options.......2006-12-11
During the planning phase of building our first home, this book was very helpful. We liked the emphasis right at the start on site selection -- what to look for in everything from the overall community to aspects of the land itself and how to environmentally protect that land during construction. A comparison checklist for assessing lots is included. Even though ours will not be a "natural House" (rammed earth, straw bale, etc.) and though those types of construction are covered, there was plenty of solid information on building a more energy efficient, and less wasteful, home of wood and concrete. Also included are chapters on design, using green and non- or less toxic materials, sustainable approaches to water and waste, environmental landscaping, and enery-efficient design, heating, and cooling. As this will be a retirement home, we especially appreciated the chapter on accessiblilty and ergonomic design.
An Excellent Overview of Green Building...Superb!.......2004-11-05
Author Dan Chiras has produced a series of amazing books on green building, including The Natural House, The Solar House, Superbia!, and The Natural Plaster Book. His books are extremely well written, well organized, comprehensive, and extremely well illustrated. He's truly one of the best, if not the best, writer in the green building field.
The New Ecological Home is no exception. In fact, I think it is one of the best books he has written. Although the cover is pretty drab, the book is a beauty inside. The book is engaging, easy to read, and full of interesting and helpful information that will assist those who want to explore the many options for building homes that are good for people, the planet, and the economy. This book should be read by all who are considering building a new home as well as those who are thinking about remodeling their homes. It is also a valuable resource for architects, builders, and students of architecture. Adding to its value, this book has a detailed resource guide that adds considerably to its value.
Ok, but not great.......2004-10-29
This book was a little bit hard to understand, especially if you are not knowledgable on the subject. I would recommend something more clear and easier to read.
Book Description
A follow-up to the highly successful XS: Big Ideas, Small Buildings, this book features contemporary solutions to two of today's most challenging problems-how to conserve space and help save the environment. The design goals of the 40 houses included here are to build as small as possible, to harmonize with the site, to use natural heating and cooling techniques, and, above all, to combine aesthetic beauty with ecological sensitivity. The houses are striking in appearance, inexpensive to build, and totally functional, and will serve as inspiration for architects and potential owners.Designed by a variety of young international architects (among them Patkau, ShoP, Sean Godsel, and Klein Dytham) the projects featured here reveal an extraordinary degree of ingenuity within a tight, creative context or budget. As homeowners become more environmentally savvy and demand environmentally sound choices, a new generation of architects and builders is creating warm, inviting homes that cause only a fraction of the ecological impact of conventional building methods. The book is also a compelling manifesto that illustrates how ecological responsibility can reinvigorate contemporary architecture. Sustainability is not just good for the environment-it also propels architects toward new innovations and greater creativity.
Customer Reviews:
Not just houses, structures.......2007-03-14
Note carefully the words in the title of this book, 'Small Structures.' In spite of the copy on the back of the book, this is not a book concentrating on small houses. This a book on all kinds of small structures. They may be viewing platforms, a bridge, a pigeon loft, a monument, an emergency shelter made out of an ocean shipping container, a camera obscura, a work of art, or indeed there are a few houses here.
What this book is really trying to do is push the state of the architectural art just as far as it can be pushed. Here are structures that are ecologically responsible, wildly creative and showcase the advanced thinking that the premier architectural firms can do when removed from the restrictions of building yet another McMansion.
As you look at these structures, some give you ideas that you'd really like to try in your next building, some of the others just look weird and don't fit into anything that seems reasonable.
All in all, I found it a stay up late and look at every picture just to see what they might think of next kind of book.
Book Description
Applying cutting-edge analysis and three decades of experience as an architect, philosopher, and educator, the renowned design pioneer Travis Price presents a visually rich and thought provoking view into the worlds of design, architecture, and modern life. The Archaeology of Tomorrow offers an innovative perspective on the enduring nature of design and architecture, identifying the principles of the "mythic modern" and employing the "three lenses of architecture"; to define the nature of design through the influence and inspiration of architect Frank Gehry, sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, and mythologist Joseph Campbell. Travis Price is a multiple award-winning architect and innovator in environmentally sound architecture. A former consultant for the Carter administration on alternative energy policy, he is credited with coining the term "passive solar". Price designed the world's largest solar office building - TVA's one million square foot complex, planned new urbanist town developments from Virginia to Uganda, designed an array of stunning individual residences, commercial properties and institutional monuments, and created a line of furniture. He has received numerous AIA design awards, been featured in several films and television programs, and is widely published in journals and books internationally. www.TravisPriceArchitects.com
Customer Reviews:
Get out of the box!.......2007-03-17
Travis Price invites us to get out of our safety and boring molds and explore/enjoy/rejoyce in the various creative and living forms that nature offers. In reading Price's book I am reminded that a home is a temple where one can retreat in peace.
Try it!
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