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Summary: The Natural House decribes 14 natural building techniques.
Review: When people ask me what, The Natural House is about, I say "It's about creating sustainable shelter. That is, it's about creating a dream home that is healthy, kind to Mother Earth, nourishing to the soul, and easy on the pocket book-not an environmental and economic nightmare." The Natural House: A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-efficient, Environmental Homes is really three books nestled comfortably within the covers of one. The "first book" (the first ten chapters) outlines key principles of sustainable design, and then describes 14 natural building techniques including log, stone, cob, cordwood, adobe, rammed earth, straw bales, papercrete, earthbags, bamboo, cast earth, light straw-clay, rammed earth tires, and hybrid homes. You'd have to read at least 14 books and dozens of articles to obtain this information! Each chapter in this part of the book describes the history of the natural building technology under discussion. In these chapters, you'll also learn about foundations, walls, windows, floors, roofs, and more-enough information to get a good feel for the building technique. Throughout this section, I strive to be as objective as possible. Even though I'm a strong proponent of natural building and live in a natural home, I won't overromanticize natural building or lead you astray with hype. Some of this is hard work! To help you avoid making costly errors, I'll point out potential pitfalls and errors that could cost you thousands of dollars. In keeping with my dedication to offering an honest appraisal of natural building, each chapter ends with a list of the pros and cons of the technique under discussion and a frank discussion of construction costs. This "first book" isn't intended to provide you with enough information to build a home. Rather, it provides an overview of each natural building technology, so you can decide if it is appropriate for your location, lifestyle, and personal taste. The "second book," the last six chapters of the book, shows the way to create truly sustainable shelter. It covers site selection and green building materials-products you use to finish your home, materials and finishes that are healthy and gentle on the environment. It also explores passive heating and cooling techniques that make your life more comfortable and could save enormous sums of money-perhaps even creating energy independence. (Imagine not having a monthly utility bill!) You'll also learn how to generate electricity from wind energy, sunlight, and flowing water. One of the chapters in this section even teaches the basics of rain water collection and ecologically sound ways of treating waste water that allow you to capture moisture and nutrients in waste for growing plants-steps that help you achieve independence and an environmentally sustainable way of life. The "third book" is a comprehensive resource guide. Located at the end of the book, the resource guide lists books, magazines, articles, videos, builders, and suppliers that can provide a wealth of additional information. I've also published a Web site, the address of which is printed in the book, that provides links and lists of workshop providers. Combined, the Resource Guide and the Web site are designed to provide you with information on the building technologies you want to explore further. You don't have to be an engineer or a builder or designer to read this book. I've tried to explain everything in ways that are understandable to all-even if your only experience with a hammer has been pounding in nails to hang up your diplomas. I hope you enjoy the book and read it cover to cover. More important, I hope you'll join in the growing numbers of people who are helping to create a sustainable world one household at a time.
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