Sustainable Building Essentials

Down and dirty—a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

Build economical and resilient earthbag structures using simple tools and techniques. Earthbag construction- building with polypropylene bags usually filled with earthen materials- is a versatile, easy-to-master, low-impact, and highly durable form of building, suitable for structures from houses to root cellars. Containing over 75 photos and illustrations, Essential Earthbag Construction is a practical guide to this affordable method of building. Going well beyond the scope of other sources, this indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine if it's the right choice for your project, and to start building. Distilling decades of experience, research, and best practices, it covers: • Material specifications, performance, and when and where to use it • Pros and cons of different fills from gravel, to earth and clay, to insulative perlite, rice hulls, and volcanic stone • Illustrated, step-by-step guidance for efficient bag filling and installation • Details for various designs, including domes and arches • Foundation options and seismic and stability considerations • Finishing and maintenance techniques • Tools and materials • Additional resources. Essential Earthbag Construction presents the practical guidance and best practices for both the DIYer and professional to design and build high-quality earthbag structures.

For the do it yourself builder, an "essential guide . . . to install and maintain a beautiful and ecological compliment to your home or office" (Kelly Hart, author of Essential Earthbag Construction). Essential Green Roof Construction is a comprehensive, in-depth guide to building simple green roofs for houses and small buildings. Packed with detailed photos, illustrations, case studies, and code compliance advice, it offers clear step-by-step instructions necessary to create your own living roof on a new build or as a retrofit. This book includes: • The benefits of a green roof • The basics of planning and design • Assessing site conditions such as aspect, slope, and loads • Navigating building codes and working with building officials • Material options, including professional grade and economical or local alternatives • Planting suggestions for different roof climates and conditions, including food production • When to call on professionals to ensure safety and integrity • Step-by-step guidance for safe roof installation and detailing • Annual green roof maintenance. Where common sense meets beauty-a green roof is a system of layers that work together to support plant life, insulate homes, and make the world a greener place. Essential Green Roof Construction will give you the knowledge and confidence to install your own green roof. "Impressive . . . and, importantly, easy for the average person to understand." -Stephen Hill, associate professor, School of the Environment, Trent University "Well-written, well-researched, and full of clear and informative drawings and photos." -Lloyd Kahn, editor-in-chief, Shelter Publications, author, Shelter and The Half-Acre Homestead "An excellent resource for both DIY and design professionals." -Tim Krahn, P. Eng. Building Alternatives Inc., author, Essential Rammed Earth Construction

Design your own sustainable home Many people dream of building a beautiful, environmentally friendly home. But until now there has been no systematic guide to help potential builders work through the complete process of imagining, planning, designing, and building their ideal, sustainable home. Essential Sustainable Home Design walks potential homebuilders through the process starting with key concepts, principles, and a project vision that will guide the house to completion. Coverage includes: • How to clarify your ideas and create a practical pathway to achieving your dream • A criteria matrix to guide design, material, and systems decisions • Creating a strong, integrated design team and working with professionals and code officials to keep the project on track from start to finish. • Key building science concepts that make for a high-performance, durable building • Primer on building logistics, material sourcing, and protocols to ensure that the initial vision for the project comes to fruition. • One-page summaries and ratings of popular sustainable building materials and system options. Ideal for owner-builders and sustainable building contractors working with clients aiming to design and build a sustainable home.

Natural plasters made of clay, lime, and other materials mixed with sand are beautiful building finishes. Fun to work with, low-impact, and allowing infinite creativity, they are high performance and provide proven, centuries-long durability.Yet until now there's been no resource that has pulled together the best North American plaster recipes and how-to into one place. Essential Natural Plasters covers it all: Sourcing and selecting materials, including site-soils Clay, lime, and gypsum plasters as well as fibers and amendments Interior and exterior use and specialty plasters such as tadelakt for bathrooms Preparing substrates, from straw bales and cob to lath and sheetrock How to set-up a safe, efficient worksite Mixing, testing, tinting, and applying plasters and plaster repair Coveted recipes from leading plasterers in Ontario, Vermont, New Mexico, France, and New Zealand. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, Essential Natural Plasters is the must-have resource for owner-builders and professionals alike.Michael Henry plastered his way across Ontario for a decade. His research, attention to detail, and mad-scientist plaster experiments have made him a noted expert and teacher in the field. Michael lives in Peterborough, Ontario with his wife and two children. He shares his knowledge at thesustainablehome.net.Tina Therrien started plastering in 1997 with Camel's Back Construction, Ontario's first straw bale company. A founding member of the Ontario Natural Building Coalition, she is co-author of More Straw Bale Building and operates Shelter By Hand, a timber framing company, in Low, Quebec, where she lives with her partner and daughter.

Light straw clay - straw mixed with clay slip - is a code compliant high-performance, low-impact building material with excellent insulation and moisture handling qualities. This highly illustrated step-by-step guide to light straw clay for stud, timber, pole, and other framing styles covers material specifications and best use, mixing and installation, retrofits, code compliance, and finishing and maintenance.

Cordwood building-log-ends set in insulated mortar-is a versatile, economical, low-impact, and beautiful building method. Its durability and performance has been proven in beautiful, centuries-old buildings in North America and Europe. Yet until now, there has been no trusted, practical guide to cordwood construction using the material in a wide variety of construction projects. Distilling decades of experience and best practices, Essential Cordwood Building is the first fully illustrated, step-by-step guide to cordwood building. Ideal for the DIYer and professional designer and builder alike, it covers: • Wood species selection, log-end length, and seasoning • Cement, lime putty, and cob mortar options • Wall cavity insulation options • Budgeting and estimating • Highly illustrated, step-by-step building techniques • Window and door frame installation, pointing and chinking, finishing, and plastering • Special designs and decorative features • Code references, compliance, building science, and best practices • Troubleshooting and maintenance. Essential Cordwood Building is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Essentials Series. Series editors Chris Magwood and Jen Feigin have scoured the world of sustainable building to bring you the techniques and systems that deliver measurable benefits in terms of greater efficiency and reduced environmental impacts. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers, and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where high performance and low impact are key goals. Get the essentials!

Design a rainwater harvesting system for any home in any climate. Water is a crucial resource increasingly under stress. Yet rainfall, even in arid climates, can make up a sizable portion of any home, acreage, or farm's water requirements if harvested and utilized with care. The key is appropriate planning and high-quality site- and climate-specific design. Essential Rainwater Harvesting is a comprehensive manual for designing, building, and maintaining water harvesting systems for the warm and cold climates of the world. Presenting design considerations and approaches for the most common household rainwater supply scenarios – primary, supplemental, and off-grid supply – this step-by-step approach covers: • Considerations for full-property water security • Demand planning and conservation strategies • Supply calculations and design implications for extreme rainfall and drought • Materials selection and water quality • System and site assessment • Sizing and design of gutters, conveyance, tanks, and pumps • Pre-filtration, filtration, and disinfection options • System maintenance and upkeep This practical resource provides DIYers, trades, and rainwater practitioners with the essential tools, methods, and technical know-how to design, build, and maintain rainwater harvesting systems anywhere. Rob Avis, P.Eng and Michelle Avis, P.Eng own and operate Adaptive Habitat, a leading edge property design firm for resilient homes, acreages, and farms and Verge Permaculture, a globally recognized award-winning education business. They have over 20 years of combined experience in project management, ecological design, and sustainable technologies, which they share at vergepermaculture.ca from their suburban house and yard that they've transformed into a model of cold climate urban permaculture in Calgary, Alberta.

Everything you need to know to build with rammed earth in warm and cold climates. Rammed earth - sand, gravel, and clay or lime/cement binder packed into forms - is a low-energy, high-performance building method, yielding beautiful, sustainable results. It's thermally stable and can be insulated, can actively modulate humidity, provides a healthy indoor environment, and allows site materials to be used for major structural and building envelope elements. Essential Rammed Earth Construction covers design, building science, tools, and step-by-step building methods for any climate, with a special emphasis on building in cold climates of the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. Coverage includes: • Overview of earthen building • Appropriate use of rammed earth walls • Stabilized versus raw rammed earth • Design considerations, including structural, insulation, and building envelope details • Special considerations for cold and freeze-thaw climates • Construction drawings, with step-by-step building instructions • Tools and labor covering industrial methods, low-tech techniques, formwork options, mix design, budgets, and schedules • Codes, inspections, and permits. This guide is an essential resource for experienced builders, DIY home owners, designers, engineers, and architects interested in learning about rammed earth construction.

Hempcrete is a versatile, energy-efficient natural insulation material, useful for walls, roofs, and floors. Made from the inner stem of the hemp plant mixed with a lime-based binder, it is a very strong, lightweight and breathable alternative to manufactured insulations. Essential Hempcrete Construction is a fully-illustrated practical guide to this affordable, renewable method, from procurement to finishing. This indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine whether hempcrete is the right choice for your project. It covers: • Material specifications, testing and building code references and climate data • Detail drawings for design reference • Tool lists, and complete step-by-step instructions for mixing and placing hempcrete • Finishing and maintenance techniques • Budgeting and labor estimates • Additional resources… Essential Hempcrete Construction is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Essentials Series. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information are key to success. Get the Essentials! Chris Magwood is a sustainable builder and designer specializing in green and natural building techniques, the co-founder and co-director of the Endeavour Centre, and the author of several books on sustainable building including Making Better Buildings, More Straw Bale Building, and Straw Bale Details.

Prefabricated straw bale wall panels combine the performance and low environmental impact of traditional straw bale with reduced labor and more consistent results. These structural insulated panels (SIPs) are built offsite and transported to the job site, or built onsite and "tipped up" into position. Essential Prefabricated Straw Bale Construction is a fully illustrated practical guide to this affordable, scalable method. This indispensable manual includes a complete introduction to the use of prefabricated bale walls, packed with all the information you need to determine whether they are the right choice for your project. It covers: Specifications, engineering details and building code references; Comprehensive step-by-step instructions and detail drawings Finishing and maintenance techniques; Budgeting and labor estimates; Additional resources. Essential Prefabricated Straw Bale Construction is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Series. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information are key to success. Get the Essentials!

From wastestream to mainstream, a practical guide to composting toilet systems. Composting toilets are a key feature for local resilience, money saving, water conservation, resource recovery, septic system replacement, and an improved bathroom experience in rural and urban buildings. Essential Composting Toilets is a streamlined manual that takes a practical, how-to approach to composting toilet system selection, design, installation, and operation, while meeting universal health and safety objectives. Drawing from existing regulations and research, this book dispels myths and provides tools to assess various systems. It includes: Easily-understood drawings, plans, and photos Coverage of all main composting toilet systems Selection criteria including site considerations, urine separation pros/cons, renovations/new builds, ventilation, servicing, and composting details Design and installation details. Offering a professional approach accessible to DIYers, homeowners, designers, building consultants, water conservation advocates, and regulators, Essential Composting Toilets provides key information for redesigning toilet systems anywhere in the world.