Eco House: Practical Ideas for a Greener, Healthier Dwelling

As an increase in environmental awareness creates a surplus of green—and "green"—products, confusion persists, particularly about ecologically friendly homes. Luckily, Duran's focus covers both big rooms and small details, so those looking for a tiny shift, and those who want a total home makeover (even homeowners in the actual building process) will benefit from this handsome guide. The gamut is wide: composting, tile coatings, solar cookers, climate control, even building materials like adobe, brick, wood, stone, and beyond. There's even info on how to clean using as few chemicals as possible. What's so enlightening about the book is that it combats "greenwashing" and marketing spin by presenting the complexities of the materials; none are all-good or all-bad ("If you use bamboo...make sure that it comes from forests with controlled felling and replanting processes"). This strength may also be a weakness, as readers must now do more research into their bamboo, which may not be easy for everyone. But those inspired enough to read this will likely be up for the fact-finding challenge. While not a definitive tome on all things green, this is a great starting point to the natural life. Illus. (Dec.)