Product Description
The best-selling and highly regarded reference to sustainable construction gets an update! It’s refreshed with a completely revised introduction, a bright new cover, and extensive online resource tie-ins. Plus, it’s now printed on recycled paper with agri-based inks, so it’s greener than ever!This groundbreaking book doesn’t just tell you about “green” house-building techniques: it actually shows you, with more than 1,200 step-by-step photographs that fo… More >>
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#1 by V. Sims on March 25, 2010 - 6:35 am
Although I have wanted to build my own green home for several years, I have no construction skills. This book brought me back down to earth gently by teaching me much more than I would imagine one book could teach while helping me realize that I should not do this myself. In guiding capable(others)and incompetent(me)starry-eyed builders, the authors generously admit to their own errors despite years of experience and concede that in some aspects of home-building, conventional is the best route at this time. Through the book, one follows the construction using alternative building methods of a small guest house from the conception to the finish and plans for future additions.The photos themselves would make the book worthwhile, but the text is lively, straightforward, and encompasses all phases of the process.In addition to being some of the best reading and gazing that I have had in awhile, I now know what to seek in the professionals who will build my house–and use this resource, I hope.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Jay Tompt on March 25, 2010 - 6:59 am
This has become one of the most important books on my shelf. I became interested in green building, then natural building, for professional and personal reasons. As a result of prior research, I thought I was quite knowledgeable. Then I got my mitts on this book! Wow, this is by far the clearest, most useful building book I have ever found. The text itself is fantastic, but what sets this book apart are the hundreds of detailed photos and instructions that illustrate techniques and solutions with incredible clarity.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Michael Hurd on March 25, 2010 - 7:28 am
This book is the best book on green and natural building that I’ve come across. In fact it’s a solid source for building knowledge in general. Many of the books out there give you a focused look at one building type or another (say strawbale) and these are great if you have already chosen that one building type. It’s much more common though, to come across hybrid situations, where a broad variety of techniques or building challenges are at play. An earthship might be your best best – if you live in the southwest, but maybe not in the southeast. Each building is unique, from the site to the nearby structures and environment, the potential future inhabitants, the usage, etc.
This book gives a very grounded and informed perspective on residential building, not limited to any one form or another, but seeking only to inform the reader of the dangers and best possibilities in each situation. Snell and Callahan recognize that there is no one best or “greenest” practice. Their book educates and empowers the reader to approach each unique building as it’s own challenge.
Their research into and command of the building field is a boon to anyone looking to build wisely, be that person a builder with 25 years in the field, a potential do-it-yourself homebuilder, or even someone with no building experience looking to have a home built for them who is interested in having things done right.
Also, PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS! They didn’t skimp in this department. This book has hundreds (thousands?) of pictures. Nearly every key point has a diagram or a photo to bring the message home. It makes the material extremely clear and easy to grasp, as well as being a valuable resource for inspiration and ideas.
Everyone has something to gain from this book, and for the price there’s no excuse not to own a reference copy.
Rating: 5 / 5