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Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods Earth Plaster, Straw Bale, Cordwood, Cob, Living Roofs, Mike Montoya, 2010. This book helps readers understand the fundamental concepts of sustainable design and green building practices, which will soon become common practice on every project. It is also intended as a practical study guide for the LEED Green Associate exam, with a step-by-step study guide and an assessment (a practice exam with 80 questions and a focused discussion for each example). This book includes a discussion on why this topic is important to understand, practice, and teach along with practical examples of methods that are being used to increase a project's environmental performance and additional study resources/references.

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New Directions in Sustainable Design edited by Adrian Parr and Michael Zaretsky, 2010. Combining a series of well know authors in contemporary philosophy with established practitioners of sustainable design, this book develops a coherent theoretical framework for how theories of sustainability might engage with the growing practice of design. This book brings together new and emerging perspectives on sustainability, provides cohesive and jargon-free reading, and articulates the specificity of both theory and practice, to develop a symbiotic relationship which allows the reader to understand what thinking sustainably entails. This volume describes a variety of new ways to approach sustainable design and it equips the next generation of designers with necessary conceptual tools for thinking sustainably.

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LEED Materials: A Resource Guide to Green Building, by Ari Meisel, 2010. Since its launch in 1993 by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program has become the standard measure of sustainability for buildings worldwide. Successfully reaching one of four LEED certification levels-Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum-requires specific point totals, which differ among building types. Getting certified, in addition to altruistic benefits, allows building owners to take advantage of a growing number of state and local government incentives. The menu of potential points available for various practices ranges from installing bike racks on-site to documenting the source of the iron ore used in any construction steel. LEED Materials is packed with critical information on nearly two hundred materials, products, and services. Organized in the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat-industry standard in building contracts-this highly visual guide makes sure your material choices and uses will maximize your LEED credits.

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Fundamentals of Integrated Design for Sustainable Building by Marian Keeler and Bill Burke, 2009. A rich sourcebook covering the breadth of environmental building, Fundamentals of Integrated Design for Sustainable Building introduces the student and practitioner to the history, theory and technology of green building. Using an active learning approach, the concepts of sustainble architecture are explained and reinforced through design problems, research exercises, study questions, team projects, and discussion topics. Chapters by specialists in the green movement round out this survey of all the important issues and developments that students and professionals need to know. From history and philosophy to design technologies and practice, this sweeping resource is sure to be referenced until worn out.

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Sustainable Design: Ecology, Architecture, and Planning by Daniel E. Williams, 2007. In this book, Daniel Williams challenges professionals to rethink architecture and to see their projects not as objects but as critical, connected pieces of the whole, essential to human health as well as to regional economy and ecology. Comprehensive in scope, Sustainable Design answers key questions such as:  How do I begin thinking and designing ecologically? What is the difference between "green design" and "sustainable design"? What are some examples of effective change I can make that will have the most impact for the least cost?  Written for architects, planners, landscape architects, engineers, public officials, and change agent professionals, this important resource defines the issues of sustainable design, illustrates conceptual and case studies, and provides support for continued learning in this increasingly central focus of architects' and urban planners' work.

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I was given a pre-release review copy of Green School Primer: Lessons in Sustainability published by the Images Publishing Group in 2009. At GreenHomeBuilding.com I am mainly concerned with residential architecture, but what better way to learn about the effectiveness of sustainable architectural principles than within a school building that was designed with this in mind? I loaned my copy of the book to a friend, Vince Palermo, who is advising a small charter school in Colorado. It just so happens that they are in the process of coming up with a proposal for a new school building. Vince, a retired physician and renewable energy consultant, is well versed in what makes for good sustainable design. Here are his comments:

"This is an excellent book, and very timely -- both in content and production. First, the book quality is very good, well laid out and organized, with lots of very good representative pictures
illustrating various principles, and is has a quality binding. Though LPA Architects are one of the largest planning firms in California, the book was printed in Australia. The forward and jacket are written by the current president of the American Institute of Architecture and Dean of
North Carolina State College of Design, so it is strongly supported by an important professional in the business. The content looks to my appraisal to be very good and embraces the spectrum of Green, from energy to holistic planning, including the environment and approach to proper utilization and selection of materials. The book is focused on ten principles and presents them succinctly and clearly with supporting illustrations. It is not focused on the details of execution -- leaving that to the architects. In all, an impressive book! This is a template for progressive thinking in school design."

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Modern Sustainable Residential Design: A Guide for Design Professionals by William J. Carpenter, 2009. "The world of residential building is poised to do great things. The guidance, information, materials and technology, while ever-evolving, are in place. Now it's the hearts and minds that must follow. Modern Sustainable Residential Design is a comprehensive, user-friendly guide that can help. So let's get started." (From the Foreword by Allison Arieff, The New York Times "By Design" columnist.) This guide offers lessons for architects, interior designers, and builders who want to conceptualize and implement sustainable design strategies in modern residential design. It outlines solutions for incorporating sustainable aspects into a home design from conceptualization to implementation. Detailed design analyses range from groundbreaking contemporary buildings such as Pugh + Scarpa's Solar Umbrella House to Ray Kappe's LivingHome, illuminating some of the most innovative sustainable strategies in the United States and abroad.

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Understanding Sustainable Architecture by T. J. Williamson, Helen Bennets, Antony Radford, 2002. This is a is a concise review of the assumptions, beliefs, goals and bodies of knowledge that underlie the endeavor to design environmentally sustainable buildings and other built environments. The authors set out a coherent framework within which they discuss the important ethical, cultural, and conceptual issues of sustainable architecture. Through a series of self-reflective questions, the importance of ecological, social, and built contexts is argued, and problem framing is linked to succesful practice.

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Sustainable Leadership by Andy Hargreaves and Dean Fink, 2005. In Sustainable Leadership, the authors address one of the most important and often neglected aspects of leadership: sustainability. The authors set out a compelling and original framework of seven principles for sustainable leadership characterized by Depth of learning and real achievement rather than superficially tested performance; Length of impact over the long haul, beyond individual leaders, through effectively managed succession; Breadth of influence, where leadership becomes a distributed responsibility; Justice in ensuring that leadership actions do no harm to and actively benefit students in other schools; Diversity that replaces standardization and alignment with diversity and cohesion; Resourcefulness that conserves and renews leaders' energy and doesn't burn them out; and Conservation that builds on the best of the past to create an even better future. This book is a volume in the Jossey-Bass Leadership Library in Education a series designed to meet the demand for new ideas and insights about leadership in schools. "What a pleasure it is to read a book that discusses education and schooling within the context of the natural and human environment that shapes them. In straightforward language, the authors teach us how to sustain educational renewal without sidestepping a powerful truth: things left ill- or unattended deteriorate." John I. Goodlad, president, Institute for Educational Inquiry, Seattle, Washington "This book makes a deep impression because it is both timely and powerful. Andy Hargreaves and Dean Fink write with clarity and passion about the need not only to develop leadership but to make it sustainable. This is leadership for the long term not just the immediate, for all schools not just for some." Steve Munby, executive director, UK National College for School Leadership.

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The Green House : New Directions in Sustainable Architecture by Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne, 2005. The design goals of a green house are: 1. Harmonize with the site. 2. Build as small as possible. 3. Use natural heating and cooling 4. Be beautiful as well as ecological. 5. Located close to there the dwellers have to go (work, school, shopping). 6. Refurbish older buildings where possible. The thirty or so houses described in this book fit these criteria as best as possible. Some of these are in remote locations so fail in that criteria (unless you work at home and do not have children in school). But a surprising number of these dwellings are in cities: New York, Vienna, Stuttgart, Melbourne, San Antonio, Phoenix. The houses are striking in appearance, inexpensive to build, totally functional. As with other books of home plans, these houses serve as idea books for architects and potential owners to use in their new designs. (reviewed by John Matlock)

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Building the Future Today by John Clem, 2000. In this book you will find information regarding: building a healthier home, safer home; placement of the home upon the building site; alternative building materials and construction methods; effective insulation methods; the environmental aspects of building materials; the basics of passive solar heating, and much more.

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Green Building: Project Planning & Cost Estimating by RS Means, 2002. Green Building involves energy- and resource-saving strategies, such as low-E windows, reflective roofing, solar technologies and efficient HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. Green building also means using healthy, recycled and renewable materials like certified lumber, low-VOC finishes and natural fibers - along with practices such as xeriscaping and daylighting. This book gives you the whole picture, with the information you need to:*Identify, compare, and specify green materials and systems. *Learn about LEED, Energy Star and other recognized rating systems. *Take advantage of financial incentives and funding resources. *Determine the cost of green products, and calculate energy savings and payback periods. The book also features a Green Building Cost Data section, with over 120 pages of cost data on sustainable materials and systems, which includes many new products and materials, their primary green attributes, and installed cost. Plus 8 Case Studies that demonstrate the challenges, costs, and rewards of notable green building projects.

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Solar Power: The Evolution of Sustainable Architecture, by Sophia Behring, et al, 2000. This is a dramatic, fast-moving voyage from the dawn of civilization to the 21st century, celebrating and reminding us of the importance of the sun. The sun is part of sustainable ecosystems, wind patterns, ocean currents, fossil fuels and the life cycles of animals. The way our ancestors adapted themselves to the influence of the sun is well illustrated with separate chapters dedicated to
neolithic times and the ancient civilizations of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The book finally examines more recent historical developments and sets out exciting ways in which solar-oriented architecture can lead to energy-conscious buildings.

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The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options, by Dan Chiras, 2004. As homeowners become more environmentally savvy and demand ecological choices, a new generation of architects and builders is emerging, intent on creating warm and inviting homes that cause only a fraction of the environmental impact of conventional building methods. The New Ecological Home provides an overview of green building techniques, materials, products and technologies that are either currently available or promise to be in the near future. There are chapters on green building materials, earth-sheltered architecture, passive solar heating and cooling, sustainable approaches to water and waste, energy efficiency, and environmental landscaping. Chiras sets the record straight on the vast potential for passive heating and cooling and provides a resource guide, recommendations, and a green-building checklist. He provides a wealth of up-to-date, practical information for homebuyers, owner-builders, and anyone interested in building for a sustainable future. Dan Chiras is a leading authority on green building and renewable energy options, and is the author of The Solar House and The Natural House, which Earthship inventor Michael Reynolds has called "a much needed, unbiased encyclopedia of sustainability that will put wind in the sails of our future."

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Sustainable Homes : 26 Designs that Respect the Earth by James Grayson Trulove, 2004. Each of these "eco" houses is unique. Some tread lightly on the site by nestling into the land. Others are designed to be extremely well suited to the climactic zones in which they are built. Many use materials that do no harm to the environment—materials that are recycled, salvaged, or harvested. The houses featured in Sustainable Homes are designed by today's top architects such as Obie Bowman, Fernau and Hartman, Hanrahan and Meyers, and Lake/Flato. They reveal how much the parameters of ecological design have expanded in just a few short years. Over two dozen individual houses are featured -- from locations as diverse as a Canadian cove to the Arizona desert, from Kansas plains to the Norwegian coast, from California bluffs to South Carolina wetlands -- each described through descriptions, photographs, plans, drawings, and schematics.

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Living Homes: Sustainable Architecture and Design by Nora Burba Trulsson, Suzi Moore McGregor, 2001. For those who want a beautiful home that also reflects an environmentally conscious lifestyle, the 22 residences featured in Living Homes prove that it's possible to have the best of both worlds. In this lushly photo-graphed book, the authors take readers on a visual tour of stunning earthen homes. They explore a rammed earth neighborhood, a two-story Victorian-style straw bale house, and a recycled concrete coastal retreat, among other alternative living spaces. Meet the architects and owners, read their stories, learn what inspired them, and explore their beautiful gardens and décor. Terrence Moore's striking photographs capture the exquisite interiors and exteriors and showcase the picturesque landscapes that create such magnificent backdrops. With profiles of adobe, rammed earth, straw bale, and reinvented materials in both their historical and contemporary applications, Living Homes is a visual inspiration and vital guide to sustainable architecture and alternative materials.

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Ecohouse, Second Edition by Sue Roaf, 2003. Ecohouse 2 tells you how to design low energy, environmentally friendly buildings. It provides the foundations for building design in a warming world, and shows how to take the first step towards the zero-carbon emission buildings of tomorrow. Sue Roaf is famed for her approach to design and her awareness of energy efficiency. Here she reveals the concepts, structures and techniques that lie behind the realization of her ideals. By using her own house as a case-study Roaf guides the reader through the ideas for energy efficient design or 'eco design'. This second edition, a follow up to the best selling original, introduces new sections including earth sheltering and reed beds. It also explores 24 case-studies of ecohouses from around the world. It is an ideal comprehensive reference for architects, designers and their clients, as well as self builders, who wish to help make sustainable design a reality.

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Sustainable Architecture White Papers, published by the Earth Pledge Foundation, 2001. This book brings together leading voices of architects, designers, planners, educators, manufacturers, and journalists who are each a part of the sustainable design movement. One contributor, Samuel Mockbee, writes, "The smart architect thinks rationally about a combination of issues including sustainability, durability, longevity, appropriate materials, and sense of place. The challenge is finding the balance between environmental considerations and economic constraints." Sustainability is being addressed, increasingly, as something that involves not just the physical but also the social, institutional, and spiritual aspects of life on earth. This volume is a valuable guide, from the practical to the visionary.

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Green Architecture by James Wines, 2000. This book gives an excellent historical and philosophical account of the shifts of human settlements and explains the necessity of a change in attitude towards our built environment and its intrinsic relationship with its natural context. Many examples and a variety of projects, attitudes, perspectives, and approaches to the environmental problems back Mr. Wines view that there is no alternative, that a green architecture must become a basic constant and not remain a mere superficial trend. We already possess the knowledge and the technology to rebuild paradise on earth. We now need a growing, global conciousness and the wisdom necessary to move forward. James Wines puts up the various - and often irreconcilable - concepts of environmentally-friendly architecture for discussion, making a case for an architecture that not only focuses on technological solutions, but also tries to reconcile man and nature in its formal idiom.

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The Ecological Design Handbook by Fred Stitt (Editor), 1999. This one-of-a-kind collection of "green" writings--from seminal figures such as Paolo Soleri and Buckminster Fuller, to unsung pioneers of alternative materials and experimental methods, to experts around the world--makes possible for the first time a grand overview of ecological design in architecure and planning. It's also an unparalleled source of much-needed inspiration, job-simplyfying details, and how-to's for the real-world structures and plans that are an everyday part of your work. Covers everything from alternative energy source hardware to design...aesthetics...permaculture...energy-saving retrofitting...interior air quality...hybrid construction materials...cohousing... bioremediation... and infrastructure.

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Strawbale Construction Curriculum (Facilitator Guide) by Chris McClellan, Owen Geiger, 2006. This book was created by the crew at "Builders without Borders" as a guide for facilitators of workshops on strawbale construction. There is a lot of good information imbedded within the text, but the focus is really on the techniques and processes of instruction in this particular field.

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Green Development: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate by Rocky Mountain Institute, Alex Wilson, Jenifer L. Uncapher, Lisa McManigal, L. Hunter Lovins, Maureen Cureton, William D. Browning, 1998. "Green building"--the trend toward more environmentally responsible construction--has become a popular movement among architects, but it is less well understood by the developers and owners who control funding. This book is the first to demonstrate the advantages of green development, using case studies of developers and owners who built environmentally responsible projects that have delivered superior financial rewards. If you're a developer, architect, planner, contractor, lender, or city official, this book speaks your language. Every stage of the development process is examined in detail: market research, site planning, design, approvals, financing, construction, marketing, and occupancy. Also included are lists of project statistics and contacts, books and other information sources, and development strategies. Based on 80 case studies drawn from Rocky Mountain Institute's extensive worldwide research and consulting work, Green Development distills proven procedures and practical lessons that work in the real world.

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Green Architecture: An International Comparison by Brian Edwards, 2001. Green is the major architectural movement of our time. Throughout the world architects are producing sustainable buildings, united solely by their desire to preserve the environment and precious natural resources. Rather than a universal style, conforming to a common language, green architecture is open to local and individual interpretation. Moulded by a whole range of forces - climatic, cultural, professional and social, it is ultimately an architecture of great richness and complexity. This title cuts across cultures and building typologies, and includes architecture from diverse geographical regions. There are special features on South Africa, Austalia, Singapore, Hong Kong, The Netherlands and North America, as well as essential introductory essays. Work is brought together, with little-known buildings being published alongside those of world-famous architects. The volume is interspersed by 'Green Questionnaires', which, offer a unique insight into the view of premier international architects on this subject.

Green Building Guidelines: Meeting the Demand for Low-Energy, Resource-Efficient Homes
by Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, 2004

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