Green Building Books & DVDs

Books 

Green from the Ground Up: Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction (Builder's Guide) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by David Johnston (Author), Scott Gibson (Author)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Taunton (April 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 156158973X
ISBN-13: 978-1561589739

Green construction is the building trend of the decade. In direct response to the growing demand for sustainable, healthy, and energy-efficient homes, David Johnston and Scott Gibson present the most forward-thinking theories and the best proven methods of new and remodeled green construction. They begin with down-to-earth explanations of green building basics and move on to site planning, materials selection, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality -- detailing along the way every step in design and construction, from framing to finishes.

A must-have reference for contractors who want to remain competitive, Green from the Ground Up is also a remarkable resource for homeowners who require the clearest and most thorough green building information available.

Wonderful, Comprehensive Guide for the rest of us, March 5, 2009 By A Bucket
"This book breaks down the different components going into residential building construction. It gives ideas and suggestions while being cautious not to sound to "Granola-or-Bust." I really enjoyed the well thought out approaches to explain why these new (and not so new) approaches are not only more environmentally friendly, but just make sense and are therefore inherently more efficient.

My wife and I are currently designing our own modern ZEH (Zero Energy Home) and this a perfect start towards planning and implementing Green and Efficient practices into our Dream House."

Architects Approve!, March 12, 2009 By R. Andrews

"Well done reference book for not only professionals but home owners as well. Our architectural/ engineering office was very impressed with the well researched information. It is presented in a clear easy way for the home owner to understand yet a great guide for professionals in the building fields. "

Green Reference Book Better Than Most, December 31, 2008 By Avrim Topel, Author of Green Beginnings The Story of How We Built Our Green & Sustainable Home

"Green From The Ground Up is one of several green home-building reference books available that present categorically organized information. Products and information are presented clearly and illustrations help the reader further understand the subject matter. What makes this reference book better than most is the authors' attempt to present information in a time-line that mimics the actual construction sequence. Having just completed building our own LEED Silver home, we found the products and systems listed to be contemporary, up to date and accurately described. We recommend this book as a reference book with two thumbs up. "

Green from the Ground Up, December 21, 2008 By Debi N. , Wickenburg, AZ

"As an owner/builder for a new home construction I have been researching and attending seminars for the past year + to learn about "green building". This book brings it all together. We are giving it to each of the subcontractors we are using. "

"A refreshing and comprehensive step-by-step course in green building, packed with both solid building science and commonsense solutions."
-- Helen English, executive director of the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

"Green from the Ground Up overflows with details and practical content that is hard to find anywhere else--an essential resource for any building professional that will be a valuable reference tool for years to come."
-- Brian Gitt, CEO of Build It Green

Green Remodeling : Changing the World One Room at a Time (Paperback)

by David Johnston (Author) 
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: New Society Publishers (September 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0865714983
ISBN-13: 978-0865714984

 

Green Remodeling is a comprehensive guide. It first points out the advantages of remodeling. Buildings are responsible for 40% of worldwide energy flow and material use; so how you remodel can make a difference. Upgrading furnaces, cabinets and toilets means less fossil fuel pollution, reduced resource depletion, and fewer health risks. Green remodeling is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and more affordable to create, operate and maintain.

The book then discusses simple green renovation solutions for homeowners, focusing on key aspects of the building including foundations, framing, plumbing, windows, heating and finishes. Room by room, it outlines the intricate connections that make the house work as a system. For example, how new windows may affect the structure and mechanical systems of the rooms below, the health of the family, and the future of old-growth forests. Then, in an easy-to-read format complete with checklists, personal stories, expert insights and an extensive resource list, it covers easy ways to save energy, conserve natural resources, and protect the health of loved ones. Addressing all climates, this is a perfect resource for conventional homeowners, as well as architects and remodeling contractors.

 words from reformed contractor, November 1, 2007 by L. Rovero

"Great book, covers vast majority of important topics, and written by ex-contractor with real-world experience and building knowledge. Def recommend. "

 For the "Green" remodler, August 17, 2007 By Daniel Stih, Author of Healthy Living Spaces

"A good reference book for any contractor new to green building.

Explains the basics of indoor air pollution and how to choose different building materials that are both "green" and healthy. Broken down into different sections, i.e., the kitchen and bathroom for example makes it an easy to follow guide. The check-lists at the end of each chapter offer an easy way to make sure you've considered everything with the project."

 A+ Informative jumping off point for people interested in environmental and social responsibility., August 10, 2005 By atomic1824 Burlington, VT 

"I didn't read it cover to cover but it was not the type of book to be read like that. All in all I'd say it does a good job covering what is a pretty broad topic; there are so many "green" strategies out there and it is hard to discuss them all. I thought it did a good job on the three or so different main categories and it connected them back to the common denominator. Save, protect, and preserve natural resources. It covers site and land usage, energy and water conservation, and interior and exterior material usage. The author took the difficult path of trying to sell `green' building as potentially cost effective, whereas in reality I think it is important to realize that capital costs will definitely be higher and it is hard to predict/confirm short term viable pay-backs. Once you put a value on your conscience and the long term big picture it makes obvious sense, reasonable pay-backs are definitely attainable but they come from diligent work and coordinated evaluation and integration. "
 

Building Green in a Black and White World (Paperback)

by David Johnston (Author) 
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Home Builder Press (January 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0867185074
ISBN-13: 978-0867185072

Building Green in a Black and White World transforms the rising interest in living in green homes into practical ways to satisfy the environmentally conscious homebuyer. Drawing on over 30 years in the building industry, David Johnston provides a guide for both builders and buyers to everything from the home design process through to green substitutes for products ranging from foundations to roofs, along with case studies of successful green companies and useful resources.

 Incredible resource for building smart!, May 16, 2001 By Susan New Buffalo, MI

"I sat down with this book and read it in one sitting. This is an enormous amount of research and practical experience in one volume. It's appropriate not only for builders that want to go "green", but for environmentally conscious folks looking to build. The book is filled with loads of information on making the "right" choices in building, and most of these choices do not cost more, in fact, many save money in years to come. As a novice, I found the information to be easy to understand, and have come away with a real plan on the building of my next house. Having read this book, it's hard to understand how anyone could not choose to build green. It's just plain smart! I think every builder looking for a competitive edge, should read this book, it's filled with marketing & sales strategies. In Building Green, David Johnston shares a lifetime of experience in the business of building environmentally smart. "

 Building Green in a Black and White World, March 13, 2000 By A customer

"I've known the author David Johnson for years. He knows more about Green construction than anyone else I know. David knows what works and what doesn't, because he's tried things himself and collected thousands of stories from builders, homeowners and city officials who've put to the test all manner of building techniques, materials, installations and standards.

In some ways, this book is David's life story about his personal evolution as an environmental builder from the "passive solar" 70's to the green 90's. This book summarizes all his collected knowledge in a well-organized manner. You can use it as a reference to find specifically what you want to know, or you can read it all the way through and enjoy the story as well as the meaty content.

If you're a builder looking for a new niche or already doing green construction, this book can reallly help you. The book is loaded with information aabout the market for green construction and the values that underlie people's desire4s for indoor air quality, energy effiency, durability and planetary respect. It also has nuts and boolts information about what really works when handled by average subs. "

 Building Green in a Black and White World, March 10, 2000

"I've known the author David Johnston for years. He knows more about green construction than anyone else I know. David knows what works and doesn't work, because he's tried things himself and collected thousands of stories from builders, homeowners and city officials who've put to the test all manner of building techniques, materials, installations and standards.

In some ways, this book is David's life story about his personal evolution as an environmental builder from the "passive solar" 70's to the "green" 90's. This book summarizes all his collected knowledge in a well-organized manner. You can use it as a reference to find specifically what you want to know, or you can read it all the way through and enjoy the story, as well as the meaty content.

If you're a builder looking for a new niche or already doing green construction, this book can really help you. The book is loaded with information about the market for green construction and the values that underlie peoples' desires for indoor air quality, energy effiency, durability and planetary respect. It also has nuts and bolts information about what really works when handled by average subs. As a builder who works in environmentally friendly ways, I mostly work with clients who hold similar values. This book will be very useful to loan as a reference to potential clients.

If you're a homeowner thinking of remodeling or new construction, this book will really help you. It is full of case histories and lessons learned. It gives lots of real world, practical examples of green materials and specifications. It is a nuts and bolts book that explains options, things to consider and logical choices.

The author also provides a rich compendium of state-of-the-art resources in the Appendicies. At least as valuable as the book itself, the Appendicies provide comprehensive, annotated lists of experts in Green Building, Municipal and Homebuilder sponsored Green Builder Programs, Green construction standards and state-of-the-art Green construction information(with how-to-contact details).

As a environmental builder for more than 20 years, I highly recommend this book. As a concerned citizen of planet Earth, I highly recommend this book. Everyone and anyone could read and enjoy this book; anyone concerned with construction or remodeling projects really MUST READ this book!"

DVDs

Green Building: Your Edge in the Home Building Marketplace (DVD-ROM)

by David Johnston (Author), Marc Richmond (Author), R. David Bierman (Author)
DVD-ROM: 4 DVDs
Publisher: What's Working; DVD edition (April 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0977194418
ISBN-13: 978-0977194414

This video version of David Johnston's acclaimed seminar provides practical information about building in ways that are energy-conscious, healthy and environmentally responsible. Covers: energy efficiency, resource conservation, indoor air quality, and mold and moisture management.

Upcoming Book:

Getting to Zero Energy Homes

by David Johnston (Author), Scott Gibson (Author)
Due out Spring 2010