Green Building : Jetson Green

Green Made Easy [Giveaway]

We're giving away a copy of this book to one commenter below, so make sure to comment with a valid email before midnight on Friday, June 19, 2009.*

Chris Prelitz, a sustainability pioneer, is the author of a new book called Green Made Easy: The Everyday Guide for Transitioning to a Green Lifestyle.  He lives in a solar-powered home, which often generates more energy than it requires, and had a green flip featured on the Discovery Channel's Greenovate.  As a seasoned sustainability consultant and head of a design-build firm, Chris provides twenty-years of life experience in this easy-to-read book.

Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget [Giveaway]

We're giving away a copy of this book to one commenter below, so make sure to comment with a valid email before midnight on Friday, June 19, 2009.*

Josh Dorfman, green entrepreneur and television host of The Lazy Environmentalist (now showing on the Sundance Channel), is also the author of the newly released book The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget: Save Money. Save Time, Save the Planet.  In his second book, Josh sets out to create environmental change with easy, stylish, and affordable solutions. 

The Thoreau You Don't Know [Giveaway]

We're giving away a copy of this book to one commenter below, so make sure to comment with a valid email before midnight on Friday, May 22, 2009.*

In terms of non-architectural books, this is probably the most interesting book I've read in a long time.  In The Thoreau You Don't Know: What the Prophet of Environmentalism Really Meant, Robert Sullivan thoroughly and cleverly tells the real story of Henry David Thorough.  It's a different story than the one we've all become accustomed to hearing.  But it's fascinating and compelling.  And if you've ever thought of invoking the name of Thoreau in support of this or that environmental cause, give it a read before doing so. 

Prefab Green Book [Giveaway]

We're giving away a copy of this book to one commenter below, so make sure to comment with a valid email before midnight on Friday, May 15, 2009.*

Prefab Green by Michelle Kaufmann is one-hundred and seventy-six pages of mixed images and information certain to please anyone interested in this burgeoning industry.  Gibbs Smith, the architectural publishing powerhouse, released the book in January of this year, and if you're looking for insider expertise on prefab construction, I suggesting picking up a copy. 

True Green Home Book [Giveaway]

We're giving a copy of this book away to one lucky commenter below, so make sure to comment before midnight on Sunday, March 15, 2009.*

Just about a week ago, National Geographic released a new book called True Green Home: 100 Inspirational Ideas for Creating a Green Environment at Home.  The book features, of course, 100 green ideas, as well as 10 company case studies and a resource index with links and a glossary.  Oddly, I guess our site was good enough to get a free review copy of the book, but not quite good enough to get listed in the links section.  But that's okay, we're still riding a high from being listed in The Gort Cloud ... Anyway, True Green Home packages basic green concepts in a nice way -- it's particularly helpful for starters and anyone looking for inspiration. 

Understanding The Gort Cloud

We're always happy to receive green books in the mail, but what surprised us the most about The Gort Cloud was the fact that we're in it.  Jetson Green is, apparently, a "trendspotter" in The Gort Cloud.  And after looking at it more closely, I'm guessing several of our readers and their companies have been named in it, too.  What is it?  The Gort Cloud is "the invisible force powering today's most visible green brands" where "millions of people [connect] to green information through a vast, interconnected community." 

More Mobile: Portable Architecture for Today [Giveaway]

We're giving a copy of this book away to one lucky commenter below, so make sure to say something before midnight on Friday, November 14, 2008.*

If you're a prefab enthusiast or in any way interested in portable architecture, you should read More Mobile: Portable Architecture for Today.  More Mobile is an expansion of the ideas presented in the original book called Mobile: The Art of Portable Architecture.  Both were edited by the venerable and very popular Jennifer Siegal, founder of Office of Mobile Design, and I suggest you sit down and take some time to enjoy this second iteration. 

The Rammed Earth House [Giveaway]

If you're even slightly interested in natural building, earth construction, or green design, you should probably read The Rammed Earth House by David Easton.  We're giving away our copy provided by Chelsea Green, so leave a comment before midnight Friday, October 17, if you'd like to be entered for the giveaway.*  Chock full of helpful and colorful photos by Cynthia Wright, The Rammed Earth House is a fantastic read.  Easton and Wright founded Rammed Earth Works (REW Associates) and over the past thirty years, they've designed and built more than 200 residential and commercial rammed earth structures around the world.  With all this experience in a form of construction that dates back to prehistoric times, Easton enunciates the case for earth building and rammed earth houses rather cleverly:  they're quiet, comfortable, sturdy, durable, timeless, natural, and locally made. 

Choosing Green: Homebuyer's Guide to Good Green Homes [Giveaway]

Jerry Yudelson, renown green building expert, was kind enough to send us a copy of one of his latest books, and as is the tradition on this website, we're giving the book away to one lucky commenter below.  Just leave a comment before midnight on Monday, September 22 to be considered for the giveaway.*  The book is called Choosing Green: The Homebuyer's Guide to Good Green Homes and is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.  It is what it's called: a homebuyer's guide.  If you're a homeowner or are thinking of becoming one (even in this market!), you should give this a read and get educated.  Yudelson will walk you through some of the following concepts:

Get Ready for Hot, Flat, and Crowded

So the big day is September 8, 2008 -- the day Mr. Thomas Friedman's next book goes on sale.  It's called Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--And How It Can Renew America.  I have a feeling it's going to be good, too, but I can't pinpoint why.  Maybe it's because Friedman does a lot of research and assesses that research with a fresh perspective.  Maybe it's because he says new stuff -- he's not necessarily regurgitating what we hear everyday.  Maybe it's because he takes a strong position.  Whatever it is, I have a stack of great books that I've been trying to get through, but this one will likely make it to the nightstand.