Customer Reviews

Materials for Sustainable Sites: A Complete Guide to the Evaluation, Selection, and Use of Sustainable Construction Materials

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As a current LA student, I found this book immensely informative, and will no doubt return to it often for reference. As a former home builder, I recognize that this book offers a comprehensive, true cost assessment of both common and uncommon building materials.
In short, this book is a great resource for those who are interested in discovering, understanding and comparing sustainable building materials.

Materials for Sustainable Sites is an invaluable resource for architects who practice sustainable design. This work provides an in-depth and thorough analysis of the major building materials used in design and construction; while geared toward site design it is also applicable to architectural projects that utilize these materials. It details and makes easily accessible sustainable criteria for materials from extraction and production to delivery and implementation. Sustainability is not simple. Making intelligent and informed decisions requires navigating a complex web of interrelationships and choices. Calkins provides an unbiased, factual and encouraging tool to understand sustainability issues and to promote sustainable practices in design and construction and the materials industry.

Materials for Sustainable Sites is also a vehicle for clear communication between architects and their clients, consultants and contractors that can help in evaluating, understanding and encouraging innovative practices. This can be of great use especially when the architect does not have the benefit of consultants versed in sustainable practices. Or when the architect provides services on projects in which many materials components and sourcing are chosen and directed by the contractor.

Calkins is clearly devoted to and passionate about promoting sustainable practices and has given us a tool and a resource for changing our world and providing a future for our children. As Calkins states "Many small steps can add up to big impacts, and small steps over and over can result in a changed materials industry - an industry that closes material loops; eliminates toxins and toxic waste; and uses durable, local materials." Now it is up to us to implement these steps.

Christopher Gutsche, Architect, Principal, LEED AP
Ecosmith Architecture & Consulting