May 27, 2008

Book Review - Building Green

Building Green: A Complete How-to Guide to Alternative Building Methods
Clarke Snell & Tim Callahan
TH 4860 .S6397 2005

Snell and Callahan believe that building green is inherently about creating a home that is uniquely designed to interact with the earth and environment in which it is placed. With that goal in mind, they discuss numerous renewable materials and energy saving building techniques that can be incorporated into a home's design. Considerable attention is made to designing with minimal destructive impact to the site of the home, both during construction and through the lifespan of the home. At the same time, the authors recognize that the primary considerations must be placed on providing a sturdy structure, maintaining a consistent temperature for those living inside, providing sufficient separation from the elements, yet retaining a connection with the earth and environment surrounding the home. Throughout this book, the authors design and build a small home, using it as an example of the techniques that they discuss and design and building considerations that they hope to impart on their readers. This engaging, lavishly illustrated book may be of interest to general readers, but also provides sufficient detail to be useful to those in the design and construction industries.