Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 3rd Edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders & Homeowners (Paperback)

by Paula Baker-Laporte (Author), Erica Elliott (Author), John Banta (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Packed with advice on sourcing healthier materials and the likely costs, with information on every aspect of housebuilding from design to interior finish." Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer Jan / Feb 2009

Product Description

Although there is nothing complicated about constructing healthier homes, building for health is still not standard practice, and in fact there are many aspects of conventional home construction that are detrimental to human well-being.

From foundation to rooftop, to home care and repair, Prescriptions for a Healthy House takes the mystery out of healthy-house building, renovation, and maintenance by walking the owner/architect/builder team through the entire construction process. Chapters include:

• Frame construction alternatives
• Thermal and moisture control
• Flooring and finishes
• Furnishings

The authors-an architect, medical doctor, and restoration consultant-bring a singular combination of expertise and perspectives to this book. The result-now in its third completely updated edition-is a unique guide to creating healthy indoor and outdoor spaces, including many new resources, as well as specialized knowledge from several nationally recognized experts in the field of building biology.

This unique guide will appeal to architects, designers, contractors, medical professionals, and homeowners.

Paula Baker-Laporte is the principal architect and founder of Baker-Laporte & Associates and EcoNest Design. John Banta is a senior indoor environmental consultant for Restorations Consultants, Inc. Erica Elliott, MD is a medical doctor specializing in environmental medicine and family practice.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers; 3 Revised edition (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865716048
• ISBN-13: 978-0865716049
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 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 (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,601 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have Resource For Building Healthy Homes, June 26, 2008

By	Doctor Mercola (Schaumburg, IL) - See all my reviews

Paula is a committed and dedicated architect and one of the leaders in the green building movement. She is a pioneer, and her book is an absolute treasure of information. Paula has integrated many of the safe building practices that are time honored and tested, and incorporated them into contemporary American building practices.

The dangers of conventional building materials, and how they are toxic and contribute to indoor air pollution is one of the areas of her expertise. She carefully details why standard building practices are harmful, and how to take a healthier route. Comprehensive guides on how to find some of these alternative building materials and resources are found in A Prescription for a Healthy House.

This book is an absolute must for those who are considering constructing a new building, or renovating an older one. If you are interested in health, this book is a no brainer. Why wouldn't you invest a few dollars to learn what one of the most talented and knowledgeable leaders in this field haves learned so you can apply it to your home?

I actually hired Paula as a consultant for our new office building. With her help we were able to achieve the highest green building certification on the planet. The new building is Platinum LEED certified. There are only 17 buildings in the US, and 70 in the world that have achieved this certification level. If you are ever in the Chicago area, I hope you will stop by and visit our new office building, located at 3200 West Higgins in Hoffman Estates, IL.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend this book to everyone, September 24, 2008

By	V. Tourangeau "BBEC" (Chandler AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a Building Biologist I work with people who want healthier homes and there is no better resource for creating a healthy home than this book. Every builder, architect and home remodeler needs to read this book before they start their next project. It's cutting edge thinking.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Home is where the heart is - and what's around the heart can make it unhealthy., July 14, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Home is where the heart is - and what's around the heart can make it unhealthy. Now in a newly revised, updated, and expanded third edition, "Prescriptions For A Healthy House: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders, & Homeowners" is especially for those who are building homes. "Prescriptions For A Healthy House" discusses how to improve the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of those who would reside in the home being constructed. Looking critically at current building practices, and offering advice on how to improve one's techniques, "Prescriptions For A Healthy House" is an expert manual on so-called Bau-Biologue - building biology. Highly recommended for community library architecture collections.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch