Monday, October 29, 2012

Book Review: Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House


BOOK REVIEW: 
Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House 
by Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner
280 pages 

Green remodeling is a hot topic nowadays, but too often the focus is primarily on substituting new green products for conventional ones. But being green is much more than that! 

To truly reduce our shared impact on the earth (and be smart about costs), we need to step back and explore how we can green the project not just the products.


That's why I was so delighted to find Natural Remodeling, which lays out a step-by-step process for "bringing your home into harmony with nature." The benefits of this approach, the authors say, include increased satisfaction, more opportunities to green economically, and a restored connection to the living world.


From the outset, it's clear something different is going on here. An early page describes why, contrary to common thinking, renovating a current home is usually more green than building a new green one, because it leverages the natural resources already used, existing community connections, and more.