Product Description

Subjects covered in detail include: solar power, ecological heating options, energy conservation, insulation, how to make our buildings airtight, choosing eco-building products, healthy homes and how to avoid sick building syndrome, green roofing, painting and decoration, buying an eco-home, grants, waste management and water saving, sustainable garden design and management. There are also reviews on current trends and direction of the green building movement in the UK with hundreds of contacts and further reading suggestions. The Green Building Bible cannot fail to inform and educate homeowners about the opportunities available for improving the quality of their home for their family, the community and the wider environment. Dozens of green building experts have contributed material. The books also include a wealth of information on green products and a directory of green building professionals and product suppliers in the UK giving the reader direct access to a wide range of experts with the knowledge and experience necessary to advise or offer guidance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #232066 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-31
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 468 pages

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
Welcome to this, the second edition of the Green Building Bible. Almost a year in the making, this ground-breaking publication builds upon the achievements of the first edition. My primary goal for this edition was to ensure it was inclusive and covered the whole green building movement. I am pleased to say that I think these goals have largely been achieved and after reading the book I’m confident that you will agree.
This book is testament to the fact that there are many desperately concerned individuals out there that have little confidence in the way most of our current homes and offices are designed and built and they see no future in the ‘business as usual’ approach most of the industry wishes to pursue. Whilst no single person knows exactly what needs to be done to rectify the damage that we are collectively inflicting upon the planet, it is clear from within these pages that there are many things we can do to address the problems. The construction industry is a very conservative beast and it is clear that there are many existing vested interests who are resistant to change. Let’s hope that those who read this book will join the campaign to persuade them otherwise.
In compiling this book I hope that I have provided you, the reader, with in-depth and adequately referenced information regarding the many avenues available that you may wish to follow - whether you are just a concerned householder with a family that you care for or an industry leader requiring a briefing on the state of play of this rapidly maturing ‘green building’ sector. I am not claiming that this book contains all of the answers but I am confident that this is the best attempt to date.
This book provides not only a snapshot of the current state of play in the green building movement but also works as an encouraging, practical and immediately useful hands-on tool for newcomers to the subject, as well as those already in the industry. I wish to add a personal thank you to all those who have contributed to and supported the production of this edition, especially to my wife Sally who is really the backbone of much of my work. Without her expert and dedicated managerial skills, this edition would not have been achieved.
I would also like to offer my personal thanks to the many authors that have provided the core data for this book. I have taken advantage of the great desire for co-operation that exists within the green building industry. This has enabled me to bring together such a diverse range of architects, builders, scientists, manufacturers, product distributors, installers, and end users. It is this diversity and willingness to share that always fuels my willingness to keep publishing this kind of information. This book now takes its place alongside my other publication, Building for a Future magazine, in charting the continued development of the green building industry in the UK.
Publishers are a much maligned breed but my personal active involvement in this sector for over 15 years, coupled with my hands-on background for many years as a time-served carpenter and joiner and house builder have acted as a catalyst for engagement with all of the major green building organisations that are individually delivering the green building message within and around the industry. This engagement has allowed me to combine, for the first time and in one publication, a gauge of the current state of play of the industry.
Throughout this book, in our other publications and on our web site, you will find a wealth of information, ideas and products to help you play your part in balancing the burden that we and our buildings are placing on the environment. As each year passes by, the opportunities to make a difference are increasing and there are now a growing number of government and local authority initiatives and grants for projects or technology that will improve the environmental performance of buildings.
I am already planning the third edition of The Green Building Bible. If you wish to be involved contact me. If there is a particular subject that you think we have overlooked or one which you would like to see featured, contact me. If you have any comment on this issue, any projects you would like included or are involved with any initiative or organisation that should be included in the future edition, contact me.
There is a profile of all of the authors that have contributed to this book on page 280.

Keith Hall - Publishing Editor

About the Author
Keith Hall
Keith completed a three year apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery way back in 1974! In the early ‘80s he formed his own building business that included general building, renovation and new housing. In 1988 he became concerned about environmental issues, particularly the use of unsustainable tropical timber. From that concern he launched a magazine called Building for a Future and founded the Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) in an effort to promote the concept of green and sustainable building. In 1990 he established the Green Building Press, a business dedicated to promoting and providing information about eco and healthy building. He is Editor of Building for a Future magazine and the Green Building Bible. He has designed and built many sustainable building projects.

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"

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

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.