Natural Building Companion (eBook)

A Comprehensive Guide to Integrative Design and Construction

Ace McArleton, Jacob Deva Racusin (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2012
416 Seiten
Chelsea Green Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-60358-340-4 (ISBN)

Infos

Natural buildings not only bring satisfaction to their makers and joy to their occupants, they also leave the gentlest footprint on the environment. In this complete reference to natural building philosophy, design, and technique, Jacob Deva Racusin and Ace McArleton walk builders through planning and construction, offering step-by-step instructions on:siting and site analysischoosing materialsintegrating basic structural considerations into a designstrategies for heating/cooling efficiency and moisture managementplanning for acousticsdeveloping an integrative designnavigating budgeting, code compliance, and project managementcreating the foundation, wall system, roof, and floorsselecting and making plasters and paintsevaluating options for mechanical and utility systemsprotecting against fire and insectsintegrating structures within landscape, climate, and human communities...and moreApplicable to building in climates that are cold and wet, hot and dry, or somewhere in-between, The Natural Building Companion provides the tools necessary to understand basic principles of building science, including structural and thermal engineering, and hydrodynamics. This guide offers thorough, up-to-date, and advanced installation details and performance characteristics of straw-bale, straw-clay, woodchip-clay, and cellulose wall systems, as well as earthen and stone wall systems and a variety of framing, roofing, flooring, mechanical system, and finishing options. This fully-illustrated volume informs professionals making the transition from conventional building, homeowners embarking on their own construction, or green builders who want comprehensive guidance on natural-building options. A State-of-the-Art Resource for Natural Builders The Natural Building Companion is a part of The Yestermorrow Design/Build Library and includes an instructional DVD.

Inhalt

Part 1: The context for natural building

1. A brief history of natural building in the Northeast

2. Ecology

3. Beyond the building: siting and landscape design

4. Soil and stone: geology and mineralogy

5. Flora and fauna

Part 2: Building science and performance

6. Structure and natural building

7. Heat and natural building

8. Moisture and natural building

9. Fire, insects, and acoustics

Part 3: Natural building practices

10. Design

11. Before construction

12. Foundations for natural buildings

13. Framing for natural buildings

14. Insulative wall systems: straw bale

15. Insulative wall systems: straw-clay, woodchip-clay, and cellulose

16. Natural mass-wall systems: earth and stone

17. Natural plastering

18. Roofs for natural buildings

19. Floors for natural buildings

20. Natural finishes

21. Mechanicals and utilities for natural buildings

Rezensionen

lt;p>Choice-

"Natural building is broader in its approach and scope than green building," state Racusin and McArleton (both, Yestermorrow Design/Build School instructors) in The Natural Building Companion. The volume's 21 chapters, which cover topics ranging from soil and acoustics to straw bale and energy electricity, are divided into three parts: ‘The Context for Natural Building,’ ‘Building Science and Performance,’ and ‘Natural Building Practices.’ The natural techniques described all speak to broader concerns about better, healthier ways of building, intended to eliminate volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing; and to create living environments that are designed and built as if climate mattered. These approaches also aim to reduce buildings' reliance on expensive and energy-consuming mechanical systems for maintaining comfortable living conditions. On a more detailed level, the authors delve into product ingredients, e.g., lime in mortars. They even supply recipes for finishes. Their view is that designing and building shelter to meet a wide range of human needs and local environmental conditions need not be a luxury. An additional bonus is an instructional DVD that allows readers to visualize many of the techniques the authors discuss. This book is an excellent hands-on companion to any and all books on architecture. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers.

Library Journal-

Builders and educators Racusin and McArleton bring all considerations of green construction to light. Their writing is articulate and their explanations are in-depth, but they provide little how-to. Chapters encompass a wide variety of natural construction methods and materials. The planning sections really shine. Verdict: This guide stands out for the wealth of information it provides on green construction basics and planning. A solid addition to building collections.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.5.2012
• Zusatzinfo: Full-color illustrations throughout
• Verlagsort: White River Junction
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Freizeit / Hobby ► Hausbau / Einrichten / Renovieren
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Freizeit / Hobby ► Heimwerken / Do it yourself
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Gesundheit / Leben / Psychologie
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Architektur
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Bauwesen
• Schlagworte: Architecture • building solutions • Ecological • Ecology • Green Building • renewable energy • Renewal • Sustainable
• ISBN-10: 1-60358-340-8 / 1603583408
• ISBN-13: 978-1-60358-340-4 / 9781603583404