Product Description

This fourth edition of the UK's best selling eco-building book has been fully updated and revised to build upon the success of previous editions. Just about every conceivable subject in the green building arena has been included and discussed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22061 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 2 pages

Review
With Energy Performance Certificates, the Code for Sustainable homes and the new BREEAM standards having been introduced in the last year, the fourth edition of The Green Building Bible is once again the right book at the right time. The book comes in two volumes with this first one taking the reader through the whole sustainability field in a way which allows you to dip in and out according to the varying interests and competence of the readership. Those new to the area will find a structured and interesting guide through the issues, while more experienced practitioners will find a thorough reference source of the goals, current directions and practical solutions to the challenge of sustainable living. The book is structured as a series of articles by experienced and knowledgeable contributors on a comprehensive range of related topics. The reader can work through the whole series or dip in and out in the order which suits their individual interests or requirements. Whether you are an environmentally aware home-owner looking for ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint or a national building company looking to understand current thinking and comply with the latest standards, this book will lead you to the information you need. Starting with the primary facts of green or ecologically aware living and examining the goals to which we must aspire in order to ensure the healthy futures of ourselves and the planet, the book goes on to outline the trends and directions in the building industry while alerting the reader to the dangers of greenwash solutions. Specific technologies, materials and building methods are discussed and though not always in great detail, the missing extra information required is usually to be found in the more detailed technical references provided by Volume Two. The Green Building Bible goes on to show how the green credentials of existing homes can be improved and further into the execution of new-build ecohome projects. There is even a section for environmentally aware industrialists to use as reference in bettering the energy consumption and environmental impact of their operations. Finally there is a section giving references to a large range of organisations, trade contacts, training providers and inspirational places to visit. In short, at under a tenner you are unlikely to find a more relevant and well researched text book on a technical subject. Additionally the volume has the benefit of useful yet non-intrusive advertisements to show where the products being discussed can be sourced. There should be a copy in every architect s, local authority s, and builder s offices in the country. --Martin Anderson MBEng

The Green building bible Volume 1 (4th Edition), in its own words, contains Essential information to help you make your home, building and outdoor areas less harmful to the environment, the community and your family . As a catchall phase for this publication, I think the description is spot on . This 4th Edition Volume 1 publication contains a huge amount of information about nearly every aspect of constructing a green building, be it residential or commercial. The content of the book has been split up into nine separate chapters with each chapter containing a number of subjects relevant to that section. These chapters and subjects range from designing for good health, reducing water and power consumption, natural finishes (paints and stains etc) to material selection, construction methods and renewable energy sources. Each of these subjects is discussed at length by a different author. I was expecting the style and persona of the book to seem choppy or disjointed because of this, however the subjects and chapters gel together well. --Martin Anderson MBEng

The Green building bible Volume 1 (4th Edition), in its own words, contains Essential information to help you make your home, building and outdoor areas less harmful to the environment, the community and your family . As a catchall phase for this publication, I think the description is spot on . This 4th Edition Volume 1 publication contains a huge amount of information about nearly every aspect of constructing a green building, be it residential or commercial. The content of the book has been split up into nine separate chapters with each chapter containing a number of subjects relevant to that section. These chapters and subjects range from designing for good health, reducing water and power consumption, natural finishes (paints and stains etc) to material selection, construction methods and renewable energy sources. Each of these subjects is discussed at length by a different author. I was expecting the style and persona of the book to seem choppy or disjointed because of this, however the subjects and chapters gel together well. The main advantage of having multiple authors, is a far greater knowledge and experience base is available, which when dealing with a subject as vast as green building is no bad thing. Generally this publication would be a must have for anyone planning a self build. Even if you have no real green ambitions, understanding things like the importance of air tightness, controlled ventilation, choice of heating system and so on, will almost definitely lead to a final building that will perform better and more efficiently than if these issues had not been considered at all in the process. If you are planning a green build of some sort, the information, could prove invaluable. Of great interest personally is the section on materials and building techniques. This is perhaps one of the most fundamental choices to be made early on in any build or design. What sort of building fabric do I want? There are a lot of aspects to consider when making this decision, and it is not something that is easily changed at a later date. Types of heating systems, what energy sources are driving these systems, occupancy characteristics, location and orientation, use of passive solar gain, super insulation and air tightness are to name but a few of the issues that need to be considered when making this sort of a decision. Having read the majority of Volume 1, I have a much better understanding of how the choice of building fabric can have a profound effect on many of the other seemingly unrelated issues, and of course, vice versa. I am a newly qualified Code for Sustainable Homes assessor and there is a lot of information out there regarding green building techniques and renewable energy sources that is not particularly easy to understand or digest and which can be skewed by champions of these techniques or technologies. The Green Building Bible provides general impartial commentary on many of these issues, weighing the pros and cons of these systems against given locations, building types and end user expectations enabling people like myself and my client, or you as a self builder to make more informed choices --Lewis Taylor

Key players in environmental design open the bible and look at the world as a whole. Subjects such as How can we all play a part in building an eco society... are dived into causing ripples across the ignorant waters of the blind uninterested consumer. I won t unveil what lies beneath, only that the information provided is concise, easy to understand and to the point! The information accumulated is used to influence and support the aims of the book efficiently, and helps direct the reader to what they can do to make a difference. The bible looks at how environmental design is evolving architecture, and how climate change is forcing the government to introduce new legislation, legislation which means well even if at times it doesn t make the impact it is needed to! GBB looks at a variety of subjects from encouraging wildlife and constructing natural swimming pools through to finer details such as air tightness and insulation. From traditional, almost lost, methods such as thatch which is reviewed and reawakened as one of the most sustainable roofing materials ever devised, to modern methods such as Thermally decoupled passivhaus standard windows the bible provides the answers! The information provided in the bible is easy to understand for everyone from the construction professional to the unknowledgeable user wanting to do their part. Every aspect of the materials and construction process is viewed and unbiased conclusions are made. Volume 1 buries far enough under the surface to help you make your decisions without overloading you with technical in-depth information. Sketches, diagrams and photos help you understand how certain methods work and are formatted in such a way that the text and graphics flow together to give you all the information at your fingertips instantly. Recognisable projects such as The Woodland House and The Kingspan Off-Site House help the reader associate methods and materials to existing projects giving them the confidence to use or avoid the system depending on the post-construction analysis and personal requirements. Volume 1 provides up-to-date information on what is happening in the environmental construction industry, now in its fourth edition it is still an invaluable resource to any eco-library and one that should never be put back on the shelf, but kept at the side of your desk, in easy reach for when you need it! At the end of each section are references, further reading and suppliers/services. The book provides numerous tips and ideas from looking at what you want to achieve to how to achieve your aims and how to finance the projects. At the back are pages of useful contacts, training providers and my personal favourite and new holiday planner, inspirational ideas! My final word is this, you have read other sustainability books, and may been left dazed and confused, now read the bible and let your eyes be opened by the light! This book is now being used as a key text for my MSc degree. Very impressed! --Dai Evans ACIAT

From the Publisher
The Green Building Press is an independent publishing business run by people who are committed to sustainable living. It was established in 1990 to encourage and promote sustainable and environmentally responsible construction with the aim of delivering this information to as wide an audience as possible. Its website (which includes masses of free information) and publications help people create healthy and ecological homes and buildings. Its publications include the quarterly magazine, `Green Building' (formerly Building for a Future), the `Green Building Bible' and `GreenPro', the online eco building database. At the free web forum anyone can ask questions about any aspect of eco building. The information is presented in a user-friendly manner to appeal to both professionals and the general public. The business model also follows the same philosophy and all work is to a strict environmental policy. The offices are in a building renovated to high environmental standards on a farm managed for timber and wildlife. All in-house energy requirements are provided from renewables (wind, sun and water).

From the Author
As in previous editions, My aim as Editor has been to ensure that we compile a comprehensive snapshot of the `green building' movement in the UK. With the help of many other willing and dedicated green building professionals and enthusiasts, I am confident this has been achieved within this edition. I am confident that this book will serve well as your first point of reference in your trip towards greening your living and working spaces.

We have to learn how to live sustainably and we have to learn quickly. We have to remodel our living environments in such a way as to drastically reduce our burden on the planet. As each year passes by, not only do the opportunities to make a difference decrease but the repair task will actually get harder. However, every cloud has a silver lining. If fossil fuels continue to get more expensive then it will help focus the minds of those among us that weigh every decision they make against financial paybacks. Alternative energy generation methods such as PV and windpower will increasingly look more cost-effective. It could soon even become prudent to grow your own fruit and vegetables, generate your own electricity or cut your own logs for the fire.

There are no easy answers and many different paths ahead, but in this book (and its companion, Volume 2) you will find encouraging, practical and immediately useful hands-on information from both long-term green building professionals and enthusiastic newcomers to the movement. The fundamentals chapter will quickly introduce you to the main issues and what needs to be achieved. The `trends and direction' chapter brings you a snapshot of the deep green and the mainstream green agendas - yes, to confuse you, they are different! Following these chapters the book goes on into the details of each particular subject one by one.

This is a big book and we have covered just about every subject area in some detail to help get you up to speed. However, to be sure you are not left wanting, we have included many references and suggestions for further reading and contacts, either at the end of each story, or in the appendices at the back of the book. We have tried to leave no stone unturned in this edition. If it is not in here then it is not green building!

Have you got Volume 2? If not, then I suggest that you get a copy. It goes beyond the introductions and gives you, in an easy to understand format, the science behind low energy and green building. The book includes detailed examinations and explanations of siting, building form, fabric, renewable technologies, environmental factors, lighting strategies, heating and cooling systems, energy management, monitoring and lots more.

Customer Reviews

Helpful and up to date with useful contacts
I am a great fan of the Green Building Bible and have seen it evolve over the years from one to two volumes with the latest incarnation being the recent fourth edition; Vols 1 and 2. Both of the volumes of the 3rd edition were runners up in the RIBA International Book Award in 2007. It has continued to grow in breadth and depth with the latest edition containing even more information to make this edition the best value and most detailed books on this subject available to date. In Vol 1 the numerous articles are written by a diverse array of authors but all come together in a way that brings a refreshing honesty which I greatly appreciate with all the current hype and "greenwash" that tends to increase when an issue, such as the environment, becomes mainstream. I have seen more and more books published on green building and the majority of these are little more than expensive coffee table offerings with colourful pictures, scant detail and promoting new technologies and materials that are not even appropriate for the majority of our buildings. The Green Building Bible is different. It offers masses of information on every conceivable aspect of eco building from the very low impact approach to the higher tech approaches but it does include any drawbacks of a system where appropriate. This honesty is not surprising though as the publisher has been involved with promoting sustainable building since the 1980's and only produces these books and a regular magazine on the same subject. I was also pleased to discover that the publisher too is genuinely committed to the sustainable approach in both business and lifestyle. Volume 1 is a general introduction to the subject with information on virtually all aspects of designing and constructing a sustainable and low energy building. Though this book includes adverts these compliment the content and are usefully bundled between Topics to ease finding contacts. As green building is still on the fringe, albeit becoming more mainstream, such contacts are very useful if embarking on a project. I is reassuring to see that the publisher has a strict advertising policy that is set out with the list of advertisers at the back of the book. The policy is clear and has gives confidence to know businesses in the books have been strictly scrutinised to ensure no one is conned into purchasing "greenwash"

Comprehensive and good value
I am studying Building Surveying and have an interest in Sustainable Construction. This book is not like many environmental construction books that want to tell you exclusively about building houses out of mud or offering a solution so expensive they will never be widely adopted. It does include these options but is extremely practical, thorough and unagendered in its approach and content, enabling you to relate sustanability to general construction. So much so that I have used it with great success to incorporate sustainability discussions inside general construction assignments at Uni. A great resource at a great price.

Every building practitioner should read it
It is really nice book which help much these days specially for those who cares about the environment... :).