The argument for low-cost, zero-energy, zero-waste architecture has never been timelier, while the mainstream has largely abandoned or neglected this agenda: in the UK the recent mandatory zero-carbon performance targets for new homes have been postponed or forgotten at a time when thousands of new homes will be built, and there is already a shortage of electric generating capacity. This book offers a forceful challenge to the current addiction to...

When searching for genuinely sustainable building design and technology - designs that go beyond conventional sustainability to be truly restorative - we often find that nature got there first. Over 3.5 billion years of natural history have evolved innumerable examples of forms, systems, and processes that can be applied to modern green design. Aimed at architects, urban designers and product designers, this new edition of 'Biomimicry in Architecture'...

"Biophilia is the theory that people possess an inherent affinity for nature, which developed during the long course of human evolution. In recent years, studies have revealed that this inclination continues to be a vital component to human health and well-being. Given the pace and scale of construction today and the adversarial, dominative relationship with nature expressed by much building development, the integration of nature with our built environments...

Sustainability is taking root at the forefront of architects' design philosophies. 1. The currents, a ten-storey residential tower and new home to the Great Canadian Theatre Company, is a green development from the partnership of Peter Busby and windmill developments in Ottawa. 2. Engineer Andre Dupras built his house in the Laurentians to accommodate a gymnasium for his wife, a former performer with the Cirque de Soleil. The home features many sustainable...

"The bear from Maxwell Eaton's Bear Goes Sugaring returns in this fascinating follow-up, and this time, she's going to build a house entirely from scratch! To do so, she'll need time, careful planning, sturdy materials, and a whole lot of help from. . . most of her friends. Readers will see a house built before their very eyes as they are guided through detailed descriptions of each step in the construction process, from site selection, to chopping...

"This STEM-based set of True Books introduces students to the engineering innovations that can help us reach more environmentally friendly goals"-- "Envision a brighter future with this STEM-based subset of True Books.Small changes over the years - from smarter light bulbs to energy-efficient appliances - have made our homes more environmentally friendly. In recent years we have learned how to make alternative energies and Earth-friendly building...

Japan is equally as well known for its ecologically-sensitive traditional homes as it is for cutting-edge, green technology. "Eco Living Japan" presents 19 contemporary Japanese houses which exemplify the most recent trends in sustainable design in Japan. This is wabi-sabi for the 21st century! With over 250 photos, drawings, plans and lively, informative text, this sustainable architecture book offers a picture of green living in contemporary Japan...

"The green building movement has produced hundreds of "how-to" books and websites that are filled with tips about green building and what homeowners should do to go green. While helpful and informative, when it comes to making actual purchasing and installation decisions, these books do not make it any easier for a homeowner to prioritize against a budget. The Sustainable Home serves this need, as it is written by a sustainability advisor and financial...

Upending the environmentalist viewpoint that urban areas are "anti-green," New Yorker staff writer David Owen argues that sustainability is achieved in areas like New York City, while open space, backyard compost heaps, locavorism and high-tech gadgetry like solar panels and triple-paned windows are formulas for wasteful sprawl and green-washed consumerism.