The Northwest Green Home Primer (Paperback)

by Kathleen O'Brien (Author), Kathleen Smith (Author)
Key Phrases: green home project, truly green home, polymer decking, Energy Star, Bainbridge Island, Built Green (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The essential, real-world, green home manual.

Everyone can make green home decisions on a budget with this inspiring, informationpacked guide. Whether you are building, remodeling, buying, or just curious, here are real-world strategies for getting the greenest results from your budget, with hundreds of ideas for a home that is built to last, comfortable and healthy, money- and time-saving in the long term, and kind to the planet. From your home's exterior to its operating systems within, from siting to interior design, this is the basic training that has given many the confidence to proceed. Award-winning sustainable design and building consultant and teacher Kathleen O'Brien and architectural designer and sustainability consultant Kathleen Smith offer their "top picks" for each phase. They've also each faced their own green home challenges in a single-family house and a duplex, and other case studies show affordable energy-efficient green homes both old and new. Brimming with ideas, clear and logical, with tips, checklists, and resources for green home planning, construction, remodeling, and maintenance, extensively illustrated with photos and diagrams, this is the essential green home manual for novice and professional alike.

From the Back Cover
Any building should provide shelter from the elements. Witht a green home, we ask for more.

Everyone can make green home decisions on a budget with this inspiring, information-packed guide. Whether you are building, remodeling, buying, or just curious, here are real-world strategies for getting the greenest results from your budget, with hundreds of ideas for a home that is built to last, comfortable and healthy, money- and time-saving to maintain in the long term, and kind to the planet. This basic training manual will help novice and professional alike to:

• evaluate options and tradeoffs
• create your own green home wish list
• manage green home projects
• apply solutions that are best for the Northwest
• create and maintain an energy- and water-efficient, healthy home

In this pioneering book, Kathleen O'Brien and Kathleen Smith provide the sort of intelligent, thoughtful, experienced insights that—if followed—will ensure that we make the right choices. Certainly, anyone considering bulding, remodeling, or buying a green home should have this book. Those developing and redeveloping neighborhoods and communities should also take a look. And finally, it should be on the desk of every mayor, urban planner, and architect in the region.
From the foreword by Denis Hayes

Award-winning sustainable design and building consultant and teacher Kathleen O'Brien and architectural designer and sustainability consultant Kathleen smith offer advice that is both down-to-earth and cutting edge, with regional examples from new and renovated green homes.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press; First Print edition (February 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088192797X
• ISBN-13: 978-0881927979
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #322,166 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful resources. Love the connections to everyday living in the NW, June 27, 2008

By	L. J. Elfline "sustainable living enthusiast" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

From the first chapter I knew I was reading something special. O'Brien and Smith take the time to tell us exactly why building and remodeling in more sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner are not only important to reduce our imprint on the animals and resources of our lovely planet but also our responsibility to our native history and our current and future everyday lives. Boom! Totally sucked in!

Their dedication to teaching the reader - at minimum - enough to ask the right questions, providing solid resources for digging deeper into issues that are relevant to each reader, and the constant mantra about early planning leading to the best results is amazing. I think those new to green building as well as seasoned folk will find this book to be a great collective resource.

Major kudos to O'Brien and Smith and all those that contributed to such a fabulous product.

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading!, August 14, 2008

By	Christopher E. Gronbeck (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

O'Brien and Smith's The Northwest Green Home Primer is a timely, comprehensive manual, certain to inform and inspire. From initial conception and planning through construction, commissioning and disassembly, the well-illustrated primer walks you through all stages of a green building project, helping you navigate this exciting, dynamic, important design process. It includes an introduction to modern green technologies and practices, up-close and personal case studies, and detailed checklists to ensure that your methodology is complete. If you're building or remodelling a home, The Northwest Green Home Primer will be an indispensable partner, giving you the knowledge and confidence to do it green.

5.0 out of 5 stars "Easy to Read, Packed Full of Region Specific Information..": Review from Eco-Lifestyle Coach:, June 27, 2008

By	M. J. Lewis "Joe" - See all my reviews

Submitted by: Gina Diamond, M.Ed.;Eco-Lifestyle Coach

The Northwest Green Home Primer is the perfect blend of text, pictures, and graphics. It is easy to read and one can glean information quickly on almost every page through the use of bullet points, tips, and charts. It is packed full of region-specific information for build/design professionals, home owners, and renters who want to help create a socially just and environmentally sustainable future. This unique green guide offers something for everyone including those just beginning the process and those who have already made lots of changes. I believe it can help anyone confidently move forward in their journey to live a more eco-friendly life. I intend to use it personally and professionally.