About this item

The best-selling and highly regarded reference to sustainable construction gets an update! It's refreshed with a completely revised introduction, a bright new cover, and extensive online resource tie-ins. This groundbreaking book doesn't just tell you about "green" house-building techniques: it actually shows you, with more than 1,200 step-by-step photographs that follow the actual erection of an alternative building from site selection to final-touch interior details. Readers will get a clear sense of the real world challenges as Snell and Callahan create a lovely country cottage using four methods: straw bale, cob, cordwood, and modified stick-frame. Along with sidebars throughout, there's a thorough discussion of the fundamentals of building construction, alternative approaches, and designing a beautiful yet environmentally responsible home.