The Green Self-build Book: How to Design and Build Your Own Eco-home - Softcover

Jon Broome

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1903998735 ISBN 13: 9781903998731

Publisher: Green Books (UK), 2007

Synopsis

Build your home the 'green' way to reduce running costs, be more self-sufficient and create a more comfortable home.

Whether you want a turf roof, solar-powered hot water, or a super-insulated house, this book demonstrates that green is the way forward. Written by award-winning architect Jon Broome, The Green Self-Build Book provides an accessible overview of the different methods of sustainable and eco-friendly construction techniques.

Covering the essential elements of design and the self-build process, this practical book includes information on sustainable foundations, floor finishes and insulation. Jon also shares insights on how to build for comfort and health. Inspiring case studies of green building projects using earth, straw, steel and timber are also included.

Packed with attractive colour photos throughout, this is an essential resource for anyone who is planning a self-build project or involved in housing.

About this title

About the Author

Jon Broome is an architect who has self-built two houses. He was for many years Director of Architype, a London-based architectural practice working on housing, education, health and community buildings with specialist expertise in low energy design, timber-frame construction and sustainable building. He is co-author of The Self-Build Book and contributor to Housing & the Environment, published by the Chartered Institute of Housing. He lives in London, where he runs his own consultancy specialising in sustainable construction.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Green Self-Build Book

How to Design and Build Your Own Eco-Home

By Jon Broome

Green Books Ltd

Copyright © 2008 Jon Broome
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-903998-73-1

Contents

1 Why self-build, and why build green?, 
2 Who has successfully built a green self-build house?, 
3 Designing a good house, 
4 How can you encourage others to think green?, 
5 Environmental issues and the site, 
6 Building for longevity, 
7 Reducing energy in use, 
8 Reducing environmental impacts, 
9 Reducing harmful impacts on health, 
10 Reducing waste, 
11 Reducing water consumption, 
12 Environmentally preferred forms of construction, 
13 Designing a sustainable garden, 
14 Why we should build green for the future, 
15 How to specify green, 
16 Useful links, references and contacts, 
Index, 

CHAPTER 1

Why self-build, and why build green?

Building your own home can be a very satisfying thing to do, and many people have gained a great sense of achievement from doing it. At the same time you can ensure that your home does not make unsustainable impacts on the environment. Homes currently consume around 30% of all the energy used in the UK, and this figure is rising. However, a home which does not rely on fossil fuel is perfectly feasible using current technology. At the same time, more and more people are becoming aware of the limitations of the mass housing market and are looking for homes which are well designed, better equipped, and more energyefficient than the market provides.

What this book contains

The book describes examples of people who have successfully carried out green self-build projects, and shows what they have achieved. The examples include different forms of construction appropriate for self-builders: timber construction for speed and adaptability, steel for lightness and strength, straw for low embodied energy, earth-sheltered for storing energy, and cob for low cost. The book goes on to outline:

• the issues that you should consider when you design a house, including the need for a house to be capable of adapting to changing needs and expectation in the future

• sustainable methods of construction which are preferred for the walls, roof and floors and other principal elements of a house, together with the issues that have to be addressed to reduce the impact on the environment of building and occupying houses

• sources of materials and components which are suitable for low-environmental-impact construction

• the policy implications of a wider commitment to a more sustainable development process

What building your own home has to offer

My main aim is to inspire you to build for yourself. Organizing the designing and building of your own house is within the reach of us all. It is enjoyable and can have great economic, practical and social benefits. You can feel the satisfaction of making something really useful, and experience the excitement of dreaming about what your house will be like, how it will be laid out, what you are going to put in it and what it will be like to live in. You will see it slowly taking shape and will imagine the next steps in your mind and have a vision of the finished house. A handmade house is a pleasure to live in, and you will know every corner intimately. You will be able to afford a bigger, better house, arranged to suit your particular needs and desires, and you will be able to reduce your housing costs.

More and more people are becoming aware of the limitations of the mass housing ma

Edition details

• Publisher: Green Books (UK)
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1903998735
• ISBN 13: 9781903998731
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288