SBIC - Books Written by Our Members

SBIC Member Publications

Green Remodeling

Changing the World One Room at a Time

by David Johnston and Kim Master

Whether because of changing lifestyles or simply because houses are becoming outdated, millions of North Americans are renovating their homes every year, spending more money annually on renovation than on new home construction. But renovations can be fraught with unintended consequences such as indoor air pollution. How do you remodel in a healthy, environmentally friendly way?

Green Remodeling is a comprehensive guide. It first points out the advantages of remodeling. Buildings are responsible for 40 percent 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.

$23.96 plus shipping, available from New Society Publishers.

Did you know that
David Johnston is one of SBIC's primary Green Building Guidelines© Seminar instructors?

To learn more about David and our other instructors, click here.

Building Green in a Black and White World

by David Johnston

SBIC founder and member David Johnston has crafted a practical, easy-to-read, and well-illustrated book that provides designers, builders, and real estate professionals with solid information on the state of sustainable residential construction today. Subtitled "A Guide to Selling the Homes Your Customers Want," Building Green in a Black and White World makes the connection between consumer demand for healthy, energy- and resource-efficient homes, and a better understanding on the part of the home building industry of how to meet that demand.

$45.00 plus shipping, available from Home Builder Press, 1-800-223-2665 or www.builderbooks.com, where NAHB member and other discounts may apply. You may also check your local bookstore.

Daylighting: Performance and Design (2nd edition)

by Gregg D. Ander, Southern California Edison

From evaluation to implementation, Daylighting Performance and Design is a veritable catalog of daylighting strategies, building materials, and methods of construction. With hands-on guidance, step-by-step instructions, and concise information, this resource stands alone in the field of architectural design. Real-world execution of design concepts are illustrated by a wide range of case studies. Unlike other books that get bogged down in overly complex detail and laborious language, this handbook is a highly visual resource with clear information and straight-to-the-solution examples. From saving energy and money to increasing productivity in schools and offices, all aspects of the latest advances in theory, calculations, and execution techniques are available here. Busy professionals can find explanations at a glance with more than 175 striking illustrations and many visual examples.

$70.40, available from Amazon.com, www.amazon.com.

eco-structure

Published by Spiderweb, Inc.

eco-structure magazine is dedicated to improving the environmental performance of buildings and their surroundings. By focusing on particular green residential and commercial projects, as well as gaining “perspectives” from industry leaders, this bimonthly publication strives to improve the built industry through education and design. Established in 2003, this up-and-coming magazine illustrates that green is beautiful.

Visit www.cdsreportnow.com/renew/now?ECO for a free subscription.

*Environmental Design + Construction

Published by BNP Media

Environmental Design + Construction (EDC) is the only magazine that exclusively covers the rapidly growing green building industry. Through concise, insightful, and solution-driven editorials, this bimonthly magazine reports on the innovative products, strategies, and technologies that are driving the industry's success. Covering such topics as resource and energy efficiency, alternative and renewable energy sources, indoor air quality, and life cycle assessment, EDC motivates and educates commercial and residential building teams, including architects, interior designers, facility managers, engineers, contractors, and building owners.

Visit www.submag.com/sub/jl for a free subscription.

*Recipient of SBIC's 2004 Best Sustainable Practice Award for Special Achievement in Communications—click here to read more.

Sun Plans

by *Sun Plans, Inc.

Sorry, but we are sold out of our previous book and are in the processing of publishing a new book to be released in the end of 2005. Meanwhile, please consider ordering our Sun Plans House Plans Portfolio which has most of our house plans shown on the web site. Study Plans, Construction Review Sets, Blueprints, Erasable Vellums, and CAD files are available for most homes. The last three come with Custom Energy Recommendations, which adapt the home to the location you plan to build based on climate data, latitude, and how you plan to site the house—south wall due south or somewhat off of south to accommodate views or terrain.

"The designs have originated from Internet-based custom design for clients throughout the country and are based on the passive solar guidelines promoted by SBIC for over 15 years."

—Debbie Coleman

President, Sun Plans Inc.

*Recipient of SBIC's 2002 Best Sustainable Practice Award for Residential Buildings—click here to read more.

Environmental Building News

Published by BuildingGreen, Inc.

Environmental Building News (EBN) is a monthly newsletter featuring comprehensive, practical information on a wide range of topics related to sustainable building—from energy efficiency and recycled-content materials to land-use planning and indoor air quality.

Broad in its coverage, yet specific and practical in its content, EBN keeps its readers on the cutting edge of green building. When you subscribe, you get reliable, up-to-date information on the diverse and complex issues relating to the impact of buildings on the environment—and what to do about it.

EBN is independently published, carries no advertising, and is not sponsored by any industry or related corporation. This ensures editorial freedom and avoids any hint of bias. EBN's objectivity has earned the newsletter the unusual distinction of being widely respected by both environmental activists and industry groups.

To subscribe to Environmental Building News, visit http://www.buildinggreen.com/ecommerce/cat.jsp?s=19. Subscription prices vary.

*Recipient of SBIC's 2003 Best Sustainable Practice Award for Special Achievement in Communications—click here to read more.

Green Building Products

by *BuildingGreen, Inc.

Here's a comprehensive directory of green building products for home building and remodeling featuring more than 1,400 descriptive listings for products from ag-fiber panels to zero-VOC paints. All phases of residential construction are covered, from sitework to flooring to renewable energy. Products are grouped by function, and each chapter begins with a discussion of key environmental considerations and what to look for in a green product.

"This book makes it easy to find the information and product advice you need, and it's a must for anyone--builder, designer, architect or homeowner--who wants to know the unbiased, and unembellished truth about what's really 'green'," says by Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House.

Visit www.buildinggreen.com/ecommerce/gbp.cfm to order your copy of Green Building Products.

GreenSpec Directory

5th edition

by *BuildingGreen, Inc.

The 5th edition of GreenSpec Directory includes information on more than 1,850 green building products carefully screened by the editors of Environmental Building News. Directory listings cover more than 250 categories—from access flooring to zero-VOC paints. Included are product descriptions, environmental characteristics and considerations, and manufacturer contact information with Internet addresses.

More than 200 listings have been added since the last edition, and about 100 products have been removed—either because they have been discontinued, because the manufacturing has changed (reduced recycled content, for example), or the GreenSpec criteria have been tightened so the lowest-performing products no longer qualify.

Organized according to the 16-division CSI MasterFormat™ system, the GreenSpec Directory also includes guideline specifications language that can help architects and specifiers develop green project specifications.

For more information about the GreenSpec product line, visit Building Green, Inc. at http://www.buildinggreen.com/ecommerce/cat.jsp?s=11

Build Like a Pro: Insulate and Weatherize

by Bruce Harley

In this complete do-it-yourself guide to home insulation and weatherization, engineer Bruce Harley offers solutions that will make your home more comfortable in all seasons. Using his troubleshooting advice, you’ll be able to identify the hidden energy wasters and moisture problems that can do serious damage in your home. Clear explanations, hundreds of photos, and detailed illustrations will guide you step by step through the process of upgrading both structures and systems. Implementing even a few of these sensible solutions can result in real savings in your energy bills.

$19.95 plus shipping, available from The Taunton Press, 1-800-888-8286 or http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070649.asp

Brick Revisited

This 12-page brochure published by the Brick Industry Association (a Founding Member of SBIC) answers the question, "just how green is it?" The brochure contains information on materials, manufacturing, and the use of brick, as well as how these issues relate to environmental concerns.

$4.50 each or $3.00 for orders of 10 or more. This publication is FREE for SBIC members. To order, call 703-620-0010, e-mail brickinfo@bia.org, or contact SBIC. Click here to download an electronic version.

Ecological Design and Building Schools

The only directory of its kind, this comprehensive, illustrated guide features an annotated listing of schools and educational centers offering programs in "green" building design and construction. Included also are a 20-year overview of sustainable design educational initiatives, tables comparing school programs, and selected listings of curriculum resources, related organizations, textbooks, and individual instructors.

$19.95, available from New Village Press

The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design, 2nd Edition

The practical reference guide on the integration of sustainable, high performance design covers major sustainability issues on an introductory level. Newly updated, this edition emphasizes the project process, cost implications, case studies, and lessons learned from HOK's wide range of project experiences. You'll find:
Coverage of issues and design strategies related to site planning and design, energy and water conservation, materials selection and specification, and interior environmental quality; Concise checklists of issues to consider at each stage of the design process, accompanied by detailed how-to guidance; New chapters on post occupancy evaluations and greening your practice; A detailed glossary of terms.

Visit http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471696137.html to order your copy of The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design, 2nd Edition.

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SOFTWARE

Energy-10^TM Version 1.8 CD-Rom and User Manual

Responding to the growing interest in "net zero" buildings Energy-10^TM Version 1.8 models Photovoltaic and Solar Domestic Hot Water technologies . . . Order it today!

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