Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Whether because of changing lifestyles or simply because houses are becoming outdated, millions of North Americans are renovating their homes every year, spending more money annually on renovation than on new-home construction.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 like 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% 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 creates buildings that are more affordable to build, 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 for architects and remodeling contractors.

David Johnston was named one of the top 50 remodelers in the U.S. in 1990. He developed the first green remodeling program in the U.S. and is creating a national green certification program for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Kim Master is a green building consultant. Both are from Boulder, Colorado.

Average Customer Rating:

words from reformed contractor	Customer Rating:
Great book, covers vast majority of important topics, and written by ex-contractor with real-world experience and building knowledge. Def recommend.

Green Builders	Customer Rating:
As a recent Interior Design graduate I was looking for books to remodel the interiors of homes in a "green", sustainable way. I ordered this book but upon inspection found it to be more suited for an owner/builder. I ordered "Good Green Homes", by Jennifer Roberts as well and found it to be similar in that it would appeal more to owner/builders/architects.

For the "Green" remodler

Customer Rating:

A good reference book for any contractor new to green building. Explains the basics of indoor air pollution and how to choose different building materials that are both "green" and healthy. Broken down into different sections, i.e., the kitchen and bathroom for example makes it an easy to follow guide. The check-lists at the end of each chapter offer an easy way to make sure you've considered everything with the project. Dan Stih, author of Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health.

decent but commercial and expensive

Customer Rating:

this book was well written and fairly clear, even to me as a building novice. i was fairly disappointed, though, at how many of the green approaches seemed to focus on expensive, high-tech commercial green materials. i was hoping for a lot more on how to integrate traditional and very basic do-it-yourself techniques such as recycling used materials, mud plastering, simple greywater systems, and so on into existing buildings. in the end, i could hardly use any of the information in this book because i couldn't afford the materials. if you have the money, though, and are hoping for a very polished and professional look, you will probably enjoy this book.

Good book but could be condensed	Customer Rating:
I read the book from start to finish but found myself skipping over many passages of repeated information. Although the information provided was useful, the same exact info. is rehashed many times in the same chapter and throughout the book. The book format may have something to do with that with it's many recaps and review. Good basic introduction to the green industry with much information.