Synopses & Reviews
Want to build responsibly, reduce waste, and help preserve the environment?
Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your friendly, step-by-step guide to every facet of this Earth-friendly method of construction. Building a home—even a green home—uses plenty of resources and energy. This practical, hands-on book shows you how to build or remodel conscientiously, whether your dream home is a simple remodel or a brand-new multimillion-dollar mansion.
You’ll start by identifying green materials and sizing up potential systems and construction sites. You’ll weigh the pros and cons of popular green building methods and identify opportunities for saving money in the long run. Need to find some green professionals to assist you in your venture? We’ll help you do that, too. This book will also help you discover how to:
- Understand the lifecycle of building materials
- Choose the right system for your green building project
- Put together a green team
- Work within your budget
- Use green building methods and sustainable systems
- Speed construction and reduce energy use and waste
- Refinish old fixtures and materials
- Beware of asbestos and lead-paint hazards
- Avoid costly mistakes
Complete with lists of ten green things to do on every project and ten things you can do right now in your home in order to go green, Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your one-stop guide to planning and building the home you’ve always wanted.
Synopsis
A practical guide to the top trend in construction today
Green building involves designing and constructing buildings and homes to reduce energy use, conserve water, improve indoor air quality, and reduce reliance on nonrenewable natural resources. Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies provides an introduction to every facet of green building, from start to finish, including the materials, architecture, and construction methods of green building and remodeling for both homeowners and professionals such as architects, interior designers, and contractors.
Eric Corey Freed (San Francisco, CA) is the founder of and principal architect at organicARCHITECT,
a firm at the heart of the environmental movement that designs environmentally-friendly homes throughout the United States. The Founding Chair of Architecture for The San Francisco Design Museum, he teaches at the Academy of Art University and UC-Berkeley, sits on on the Environmental Committee of The Commonwealth Club of California, and writes a syndicated monthly column for GreenerBuildings.com.
Synopsis
Reduce waste, speed construction, and save moneyThe fun and easy way® to plan and build your dream green home
Want to build responsibly and help preserve the environment? This friendly, step-by-step guide introduces you to every facet of green building and remodeling, from sizing up construction sites and selecting materials to working with green professionals, reducing energy and water use, and weighing the pros and cons of popular green building methods.
Discover how to:
Video
About the Author
Eric Corey Freed teaches sustainable design at the Academy of Art University and the University of Claifornia, Berkeley. He sits on the board of numerous environmentally focused nonprofits and museums.
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: The Need for Green.
Chapter 1: Going Green.
Chapter 2: Green Building in an Organically Grown Nutshell.
Chapter 3: Remodeling with a Green Eye.
Chapter 4: Working with Building Professionals.
Part II: Paying Attention to Material Matters.
Chapter 5: Looking at a Material’s Life Cycle: From Cradle to Grave.
Chapter 6: Material Opportunities: From Cradle to Cradle.
Chapter 7: Green Finish and Construction Materials.
Part III: Green Building Methods.
Chapter 8: Framing Things Up.
Chapter 9: Natural Building Methods.
Chapter 10: Manufactured Building Methods.
Part IV: Green Building Systems and Site Planning.
Chapter 11: Energy Systems.
Chapter 12: Heating and Cooling Systems.
Chapter 13: Water and Waste Systems.
Chapter 14: Landscaping and Site Planning: Going Green in the Great Outdoors.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 15: Ten Common Myths about Green Building and Remodeling.
Chapter 16: Ten Green Things to Do on Every New-Home Project.
Chapter 17: Ten Green Materials You Can’t Live Without.
Chapter 18: Ten Green Things You Can Do in Your Home Right Now.
Appendix: Resources.
Index.