I've just finished looking through the new David Report bulletin called "I shop therefore I am" and I highly recommend taking a few moments to read through it. It might just make you a little more aware of your responsibilities as a consumer.

"Shopping has turned into a lifestyle. We consume as leisure and a way to pass time. But at the same time many are realizing that the power of consumption is stopping us from finding true and sincere happiness; and that shopping often works as a substitute for something that we´re missing in life. At what point does the accumulation of material goods become less fulfilling and more stressful and overwhelming... Our consumption grows in the same pace as our economic growth. Studies shows that in hundred years we consume eight times as much per capita as today. Can our globe take such a strain? The power of consumption is being questioned and there´s a change in attitude and way of life. We don´t want to be consuming goofs, we want to be considered aware and responsible. It is all about WHAT we buy and WHAT we choose to invest in, the world we live in will be the result of those choices."

[posted by katie]

With so many intriguing details, this book leaves you with wanting more. Each section does an excellent job of focusing on particular issues concerning sustainable architecture, and there's a wide variety of building and design ideas to jump start your creativity. I kept wanting to see more of each home- more interior shots, more close ups on building materials, floorplans, etc.- but thorough exhaustive overviews is not what this book is about. Instead it zooms in on particular topics, highlighting how each home showcases the subject at hand. There's quite a few homes that shine- way too many to name.

"Sustainable Environments focuses on the type of architectural details in distinctive, sustainable residential spaces. It includes sections on components such as cooling or shading devices, building techniques that create minimal impact on the land, active systems, and the use of new sustainable materials as well as those that are salvaged or recyclable."

[posted by katie]

The reviews are a little mixed on this one, but once again, the cover beckons...

"What makes a sustainable house a sustainable home? NEW SUSTAINABLE HOMES will address that question by presenting a wide range of projects where the architect and client have made a conscientious effort to incorporate sustainability into the design of the home and construction materials used in its execution. The result is a home that is less toxic to live in, is cheaper to operate, and often gives back to the environment rather than taking away. Also, and this is the most important consideration for many, it is a great looking, highly livable home that not only retains its value but has been shown to increase in value more quickly than more conventionally conceived houses because of cheaper operating expenses."

NEW SUSTAINABLE HOMES will show readers will learn about the many materials and techniques that make up today's sustainable house, including:
1) the use of pervious concrete on driveways that allows water to seep through to the water table below.
2) using bio–fiber panels in lieu of plywood for interior finishing
3) using organic, green roofs that improve insulation, absorb sound and manage storm–water runoff
4) solar water heating systems
5) use of high thermal performance windows
6) photovoltaic electrical systems

[posted by katie]

For anyone even slightly interested in the concept, this book will shed some light on what goes into getting a green roof. This case study of a green roof garden commissioned by the American Society of Landscape Architects gives a thorough explanation of the construction and design process, and I do have to say that it makes a green roof more approachable, if not for the detailed facts, then for the multitude of pictures and diagrams that give visual aid to some of us that are less than familiar with the technical aspects.

[posted by katie]

Just in case you haven't been hit over the head enough about sustainability and the environment, here's another book that's perfect for guiding us all towards greener choices.

"In The Lazy Environmentalist, Josh Dorfman—host of the Sirius Satellite Radio program of the same name—provides comprehensive guidance to fashion-forward consumers who are as concerned about the long-term health of our planet as they are about the design of their bathroom fixtures. Covering topics that range from clothing to electronic gadgetry, home decor to recreation, and gardening to financial investment, Dorfman lets us know which trends to watch and which eco-conscious products—cars, toothbrushes, cell phones, pet accessories—to buy. Green, it turns out, can be an extremely stylish color."[posted by katie]

This is such a beautiful book. There's over thirty-five homes in fifteen different countries featured as well as six different climactic zones- so if you're even a tiny bit interested in sustainable design, it's worth a look.

by Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne. [posted by katie]