Book review: Building a Sustainable Home: Practical Green Design Choices for Your Health, Wealth, and Soul
by Melissa Rappaport Schifman
The point at which current methods of housing construction are no longer sustainable is clearly in view—it’s actually been within sight for some time. In this book Melissa Rappaport Schifman describes her actual experiences in designing her own home to be sustainable. The author demonstrates in this practical project that sustainability is not only attainable, it actually is so from tangible financial, health, and general sense of well being perspectives.
Don’t be put off by the extremely left brain technical considerations addressed in their minute detail—each step of the hard slog through mind numbing arcane and seemingly arbitrary technical minutiae is accompanied by a sense of higher purpose throughout. On the other hand, those with a knack for calculations will be in green eyeshades heaven. The calculations are based on the requirements of LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a voluntary rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998 that certifies the sustainability of new and planned buildings. The narrative of pursuing LEED points is actually entertaining (as in “will they qualify for this point or not”).
Schifman presents a bottom line target that is clear: 100% energy from renewable sources; 0% of toxic chemicals released to air, water, or land (which is an industry, more so than residential, action item); 100% of waste is recycled or composted (the only way to be financially sustainable for food, clothing, and transportation); and we need to vote with our wallets to support businesses that are more sustainable. The author points out that we have the tech and the knowledge—and this could be the moonshot of our time.
We should do all we can through voting and communicating with elected officials to demand housing that is both affordable and sustainable—don’t let anyone convince you this is not attainable. The alternative is the continuation of rampant uncontrolled development that benefits no one but unsustainable profit takers.