Product Description

Now in its 3rd edition, the bestselling Ecohouse continues to be both a technical guide and an inspiration for thousands of architects, designers and eco-builders all over the world. As the need to slow climate change becomes increasingly urgent, growing numbers of people are looking to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings by using more ecologically sound techniques. Ecohouse provides design information about the latest low-impact materials and technologies, showcasing the newest and best green solutions with international case studies demonstrating sustainable design in action around the world. This edition has been expanded to include advice on powering Ecohouses using renewable energy - including wind, micro hydro and heat pumps - and an introduction to low impact building materials such as lime, earth and hemp. New case studies from across the globe have been added to inspire readers with real life examples of how to make an Ecohouse work Just reading this book won't save the world from the impact of climate change - but if everyone from governments down to householders followed its advice we might just begin to turn the tide.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84567 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 488 pages

Review
Sue Roaf never fails to impress with her inexhaustible energy, forthright opinion and attention to detail. Ecohouse has become a classic in the green building genre. This book, the third edition, builds on the strengths of the two previous issues and keeps the subjects covered pretty well all up-to-date. Ecohouse is an all-encompassing tome so sit back and don't be prepared to dash through every subject that green building embraces. Don't expect to be short changed either. It has been written as an international book, with a quarter of the book dedicated to case studies, mostly from abroad, although the underlying philosophy from them all could be usefully adapted to UK buildings. However, Roaf has ensured a formulaic methodology to string them all together. This ensures that the book has appeal to an international audience and reflects Roaf's background in academia, which naturally sees the whole world as a shared space. The book deals with the design and building of actual houses. The new edition has been expanded to include advise on powering ecohouses using various forms of renewable energy (PV, wind, micro hydro, biomass, and ground source heat pumps. It also includes more on water conservation plus an introduction to low impact-materials, such as lime, hemp and earth, with construction approaches. There are several case studies from across the globe that demonstrate sustainable design action in practice. In the introduction to the third edition Roaf sets the scene by outlining the changes across the world since the second edition was published in 2003. A lot has happened to prove that climate change is a reality and now taken seriously by politicians around the world. She refers to four events, in particular, and the consequences of these; the European Heat wave of 2003; the power failures in the USA in 2003; the New Orleans flooding in 2005 caused by Hurricane Katrina; and the inexorable rise of oil and gas prices. A vital read or update for anyone who wants to get to grips with the issues of sustainability and domestic design. --Green Buildings Magazine autumn 07

Review of Previous Edition 'A must-read for architects, builders and eco-house enthusiasts!' --EcoTech Magazine

Review of the Previous Edition. "It's great to read a book with a no-nonsense message" --The Architectural Review

Review
'Ecohouses are not luxuries, but necessities, critical to the survival of the biosphere. This book will help you make the transition.'
George Monbiot, author and columnist

'ecohouse is an invaluable and in depth resource for anybody wishing to get to grips with the issues of sustainability and domestic design. If you plan to build homes for the future, you really should be reading this book.'
Oliver Heath,
Blustin Heath Design

"Sue Roaf never fails to impress with her inexhaustible energy, forthright opinion and attention to detail. Ecohouse has become a classic in the green building genre. This book, the third edition, builds on the strengths of the two previous issues and keeps the subjects covered pretty well all up-to-date. Ecohouse is an all-encompassing tome so sit back and don't be prepared to dash through every subject that green building embraces. Don't expect to be short changed either. It has been written as an 'international' book, with a quarter of the book dedicated to case studies, mostly from abroad, although the underlying philosophy from them all could be usefully adapted to UK buildings. However, Roaf has ensured a formulaic methodology to string them all together. This ensures that the book has appeal to an international audience and reflects Roaf's background in academia, which naturally sees the whole world as a shared space.

The book deals with the design and building pf actual houses. The new edition has been expanded to include advise on powering ecohouses using various forms of renewable energy (PV, wind, micro hydro, biomass, and ground source heat pumps. It also includes more on water conservation plus an introduction to low impact-materials, such as lime, hemp and earth, with construction approaches. There are several case studies from across the globe that demonstrate sustainable design action in practice.

In the introduction to the third edition Roaf sets the scene by outlining the changes across the world since the second edition was published in 2003. A lot has happened to prove that climate change is a reality and now taken seriously by politicians around the world. She refers to four events, in particular, and the consequences of these; the European Heat wave of 2003; the power failures in the USA in 2003; the New Orleans flooding in 2005 caused by Hurricane Katrina; and the inexorable rise of oil and gas prices.

A vital read or update for anyone who wants to get to grips with the issues of sustainability and domestic design." - Green Buildings Magasine - autumn 07

About the Author
By Sue Roaf, PhD, Architectural Consultant and Visiting Professor at Arizona State University, US and The Open University, UK

Customer Reviews

Good introduction to eco-friendly building technology from around the world
This is quite an inspiring book. It reviews many different types of environmentally low-impact homes, both traditional and modern in different climates around the world. It discusses building forms, materials, ventilation, various types of renewable energy, and water conservation. I actually found the most interesting chapter to be on lime and low-energy masonry. It's well presented and all fairly clear and understandable. There are lots of graphs, pictures, diagrams and tables, but few horrible equations. I wonder what an architect working in the UK would make of it, as a lot of the examples are in foreign countries with different climates and different building regulations. It doesn't really address such problems as complying with LRegs and SAPs. I'm guessing a professional will need to have read some duller books before being able to put the theory into practice. Maybe that's an unfair criticism because I see it has good reviews from architectural magazines. I suspect the book is aimed more towards students, and for them it would be an excellent introduction. I suppose it may also be useful for people interested in refurbishing their homes to make them greener (if they have a lot of money).