Booknotes
The ABCs of going green
by Jerry Yudelson (New Society Publishers, 2007)
This slim (218 pages) paperback addresses environmental site planning, energy-efficient building design, water conservation, carbon dioxide emission reduction, use of recycled and locally sourced materials, and healthy buildings in language that is clear, concise, and highly informative.
Yudelson, an engineer with an MBA, starts with brief essays placing green buildings in historic context, tracing the history of sustainability, defining green buildings, and outlining how to promote sustainability. As he explains in the preface, the book is intended for “the intelligent reader, who may not be actively engaged in architecture or building engineering, but who needs a quick introduction to the rationale for green buildings and the language of the field.”
The heart of A to Z, though, are the succinct yet thorough definitions of 108 sustainability-related terms and topics, starting with Architecture 2030 and moving through to Zero Net-Energy Buildings. These entries are alphabetically ordered and laced with bullet points and photographs for readability.
Topics in this book encompasses philosophy (e.g., Biophilia Hypothesis, Question Authority), structural concerns (e.g., green roofing, on-site sewage storage), products (e.g., carpets, paints), energy (e.g., wind power, renewable energy), building siting (e.g., brownfields, sustainable sites), and the certification process, among others.
While the alphabetical organization of the book makes for short sections – most are two or three pages – it can be a little confusing as it separates related topics. For instance, lighting, daylighting, and LEDs are in three different sections. For ordering information, see www.newsociety.com/bookid/3973
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