last updated 19th January 06
by 4ecotips.com

New step-by-step book is a must

If you've a mind to build your own house using the "greenest" possible methods or you just want a good read about sustainable options, then you'll definitely want to take a look a new book called, quite simply, "Building Green". The authors are Clarke Snell and Tim Callahan, both experienced US builders, and the book is the result of their "combined experiences and our shared interest in exploring possibilities".

As Clarke and Tim point out the book far more than just the mechanics of building green. It's fundamentally about creating a house that is uniquely yours.

Jam packed with over 1000 absolutely superb colour illustrations, the book is divided into two parts.

Part one is a sort of a primer on the basics - it takes a look at what goes into making a house, any house. It discusses the concepts such as structure, building loads, thermal mass, insulation and more. From there it moves on to outline some strategies for manifesting these "basics" in sensible ways.

It's here that the authors start to take issue with how modern houses are being constructed and learn the advantages gained by simply taking responsibility for the specifics of your own housing.

In Part Two the authors introduce hands-on experience. They create a small, efficient, carefully thought out green building that incorporates and compares a wide spectrum of alternative materials and construction techniques. And every step of the way is clearly documented from site selection to final finishes.

The authors' intention is "to reach up out of this book, grab you by the shoulders and pull you onto the building site with us to show and teach you how to use a whole host of alternatives to conventional building practices, all incorporated into a single, small structure.

Among this "special" building's alternative features and innovations area a practical living roof system, a gravel trench foundation, lightweight insulated concrete stem walls (the waterproof walls that lift a building away from the ground), a simple and versatile post-and-beam framework, passive solar design and both earth and lime plasters covering four different popular alternative wall systems - straw bale, cob, cordwood, and modified stick-frame.

In essence the authors' "little building" gives a step-by-step tutorial to the complete creation of a simple, thoughtfully created house.

Regardless of the thoroughness of the book's instructions, there is still no substitute for actual doing! It says if you have little or no construction experience the book can be "only the start" and the authors hope it will be your launching point for the real thing.

The book is a compelling read which you won't want to put down at least until you start building your own special home.

Building Green is published in the UK by the Guild of Master Craftsman Publications. Price is £19.95 plus £2.95 p&p in the UK. (ISBN 1 57990 532 3)

More information: www.gmcpubs.com