Ecological Design and Building Schools: Green Guide to Educational Opportunities in the United States and Canada [Paperback]

Sandra Leibowitz Earley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

The only directory of its kind in North America, this comprehensive guide features an annotated listing of schools and educational centers offering programs in ecological architecture and construction. Included also are a 10-year overview of sustainable design education, tables comparing school programs, and listings of instructors, green building organizations, selected textbooks, and publicly available curricula.

Sandra Leibowitz Earley is a registered LEED®-accredited architect. She founded Sustainable Design Consulting and provides green design specifications for commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential projects throughout the country. Earley has coauthored several guidance documents, including the HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design and the US Green Building Council Toolkit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Are the green builders and designers of the future in your classroom? Sandra Leibowitz Earley's Ecological Design and Building Schools: Green Guide to Educational Opportunities in the United States and Canada is a concise yet thorough directory to degree programs, certificate programs offered by nonprofit organizations, and continuing education programs for professionals and non-professionals in the fields of architecture, design and construction. The book begins with a brief history of education in ecological design and building, and an introduction to the current array of sustainable design/build programs. A 23-page program table then lists 68 schools by category,showing the programs, courses and topics they offer, course formats, financial arrangements, campus facilities and resources, and community involvement. Brief profiles of each program are then given in a section organized by state and province. An "Additional Resources" chapter lists curriculum resources and people who offer instruction as individuals or through programs not listed in the directory. Career counselors, school libraries, and arts and technology instructors should all have a copy of this book."
- Green Teacher

From the Back Cover

The first and only comprehensive, illustrated guide to schools and educational centers offering programs in "green" building design and construction. In it are tables comparing school programs and a 20-year overview of sustainable design educational initiatives, plus selected listings of curriculum resources, related organizations, and individual instructors.

"Nary a week goes by that our firm doesn't hear from an aspiring student of architecture, asking what schools are best to help create a sustainable future. Finally, we have a guide to point them to! Besides thorough listing and comparison of programs, this book's coverage of history and current state of green building make it valuable to all design and building professionals, not just students."
--David Arkin, AIA, Arkin Tilt Architects

"If you want to learn more about ecological design and building education this is the book you need. Up to now finding the right program has been extremely frustrating. This guide simplifies the process with clear diagrams and excellent descriptions that cut through the sales hyperbole and help you find the learning environment that best fits your needs."
--Antony Brown, Director, Ecosa Institute

"As 'sustainability' becomes a more popular topic and green coursework appears in more institutions, it is difficult for the uninitiated to discern between shallow and deep programs. Few tools could be more important than this book at this time."
--Jason F. McLennan, Principal, BNIM Architects

Author Sandra Leibowitz Earley is an architect who focuses on greener solutions for the built environment. She founded Sustainable Design Consulting, which provides a range of green building services for commercial, institutional and multi-family residential projects. Ms. Earley has authored and co-authored numerous articles and guidance documents on a variety of sustainable design subjects. Ecological Design and Building Schools substantially updates and expands her 1996 publication, Eco-Building Schools.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: New Village Press (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976605414
• ISBN-13: 978-0976605416
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #919,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for eco design & building students!, February 14, 2006

By 

Dobber the Cobber "Muddy" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ecological Design and Building Schools: Green Guide to Educational Opportunities in the United States and Canada (Paperback)

I have been interested in Ecological Building (primarily Cob Building)for at least 14 years and have logged many hours online in search of schools and courses. Thankfully someone gave me a copy of this book and I now have a compendium of schools at my fingertips. The 'Program Tables,'comparisons of schools' curriculum. learning environment etc. were particularly useful and the school 'Profiles' were very inspiring (eg. EcoVillage at the Farm) for a novice builder like myself.

Being Canadian, I appreciated that research on Building schools was carried out for my country and included both schools that I recognize and ones that were new to me.

Any student of Ecological Design and Building will find this book an invaluable resource. Buy it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long overdue, an important resource for the future, February 2, 2006

By 

Gregory A. Van Mechelen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ecological Design and Building Schools: Green Guide to Educational Opportunities in the United States and Canada (Paperback)

The rise of environmental design or "green" architecture is by far the most important movement in architecture and the building industry for the last two decades. And for years young people have faced the daunting task of finding the best education to meet their needs. My architectural office is constantly receiving questions from students asking where they should study. At last we have a clear and effective guide to the broad range of opportunities to learn about sustainable design.

The guide takes on the very broad and sometimes confusing diversity of ecological design fields, from "natural building" schools to institutions that offer study in more technological solutions. This book covers an incredible range of schools, including traditional 4 year college as well as part-time schools, post-professional education, and organizations that provide hands-on instruction.

The book is very well organized, and I found the ratings charts of the schools to be especially clear and useful. I only wish there were more of the concise 1 page profiles that paint a very clear portrait of what the schools are like. While students still have to do more personal research as to which school will ultimately suit them best, they now have an excellent base to get them started.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Green book is good, April 6, 2006

By 

R. Scott Wheeler "Scott Wheeler" (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ecological Design and Building Schools: Green Guide to Educational Opportunities in the United States and Canada (Paperback)

I was very pleased to finally find a well written and thoroughly comprehensive study of the options out there for someone looking for an education based on ecological design. This is a very important and developing area of study and needs specific attention. When I was in school for design you only had "word of mouth" on what was out there for a design education based on the environment. The author has obviously recognized the need for such a resource for people interested in design, as well as people interested in teaching and implementing sustainable design programs. Great book. I may buy another to send to some old professors. Very recomended.