Green Homes: Dwellings for the 21st Century (Hardcover)

by E. Ashley Rooney (Author), David Hartke (Author), John C. McConnell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Building a green home or redesigning an existing home to be green is more than energy efficiency and preservation of natural resources. It is about integrating cost-effective design and materials to better the well being of inhabitants. Explore the many ways architects have achieved sustainability, incorporating commonsense strategies of solar orientation, natural ventilation, recycling of household water, and making use of cutting-edge materials and building technologies such as earth sheltering, thermal mass, super insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, and photovoltaic electrical generation - all without compromising their aesthetic goals. Here are more than 50 green homes in North America, shown in 400 color photographs. Many have won major awards; others have been the subject of media attention and tours. This book will help the homeowner, builder, and architect design homes that are more energy efficient, reduce consumption and emissions, and incorporate sustainable materials. The residences presented here demonstrate the range of potential solutions and ideas for building a sustainable house.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing; illustrated edition edition (June 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764330330
• ISBN-13: 978-0764330339
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,024,937 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Green Homes guide is much anticipated, July 23, 2008

By	S Ryan - See all my reviews

Rooney's Green Homes is an excellent guide to designing a green home. Much of what she portrays in commonsense, down to earth language is commonsense strategies, which helped me understand what technologies and materials were available and how they can be used. Because of it, my wife got bamboo flooring, and we are delighted. I have replaced my lightbulbs and am looking towards installing some large ceiling fans for those hot summer days. Through it, I understood much better what I, a homeowner, can do in my current home and in renovating my basement. There are many illustrations and a very clear glossary of some of those confusing terms.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Good to Be Green, July 15, 2008

By	S. Theriault - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'll bet you are like me and frustrated by the increasing cost of energy, to heat, cool or illuminate my home -- much less fuel my car. In her book, "Green Homes," Ashley Rooney, together with key members from the architectural community, outline the steps that you can take to make your new or renovated home "green" or at least greener." Featured homes such as the Big Dig house near Boston come from throughout the U.S., allowing the reader to hone in on a specific region., although I must admit I was fascinated by those strawbale walls. Handy sidebars define terms, thus making the book very reader friendly. Even if you are not currently building or renovating, you will find this book a valuable resource to stimulate your thinking about energy conservation and the measures you can take.