Pretty Good House: A Guide to Creating Better Homes

by Daniel Kolbert, Emily Mottram, Michael Maines

Pretty Good House provides a framework and set of guidelines for building or renovating a high-performance home that focus both on its inhabitants and the environment—but keeps in mind that few people have pockets deep enough to achieve a "perfect" solution. The essential idea is for homeowners to work within their financial and practical constraints both to meet their own needs and do as much for the planet as possible.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Reference, Design, Construction, Home Improvement

252 pages, Hardcover

First published July 26, 2022

Reviews

[Kyle Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I’m a registered architect who is ~15 years into my career, which is relevant here.) This book is an incredible, accessible primer in the technical & practical aspects of green home design. They make complex things seem easy, which is the mark of a great teacher. It feels like 15 years of education in ~9 hours (or however quickly you read)!

[David Devine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more specifics. This is a general book, but it is kind of like trying to teach cooking by generally explaining the contents of the grocery store. It is a good collection of all the high level topics you would need to consider and the relevant questions. How to answer them is left to your regional professional builder/designer. It is a quick read, so I would still recommend reading it, but it will only kick off your learning journey on these topics.

[Micah McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a builder and remodeler building science is one of my favorite topics. This book is very readable to anyone interested in any aspect of the science behind home construction. While most of the information is geared to northern, colder climates, it is not solely for those. I'm in the hot humid south and still found this quite useful. Highly recommend!

[Trevor O'Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read about how to make better houses - full of good ideas and professional wisdom. Will definitely be seeking to integrate more of the lessons within into my own work in the future.

[Pete Markos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! Will certainly read again.

[Clurtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview book on green principles, though much of the focus is really paid towards northern homes in colder or more temperate climates. I would have appreciated at least deeper expose on southern homes that deal with very hot and humid summers.

I really appreciated the level of detail this book goes into on all the technology and techniques to constructing a green home. I also appreciate the more practical approach to building as opposed to passive house’s unbendingly unfriendly to the US standards (regardless of the PRIUS body’s existence).

While all of this info is readily available for free online, it’s require someone devote hours to watchings videos and reading blogs. This book on the other hand requires only a few hours to become knowledge enough to speak end to end with a builder. I highly suggest accompanying all the chapters with relevant videos from Matt Rissinger on Youtube, who often builds alongside PGH architects.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very informative and interesting book but so hard for me to read as so much of it was challenging for me to fully comprehend. I have an interest in eco-houses but I am not a builder and this book is very much oriented towards people who are builders or are interested in (and capable of) building their own eco-house. Very useful for getting at least a passing acquaintance with some of the nitty-gritty but it was like pulling nails to get myself to sit down and read it.

[Eileen]

No star rating because I skimmed rather than reading straight through. I was disappointed at the (large) size of the houses. I expected them to be more modest and perhaps even small, embracing not just building techniques but a less-is-more philosophy. Perhaps amongst the rich these houses do seem so, but not to me.

[Vida · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are renovating, adding an addition or building a new house, this book provides much useful information that you didn't even know you need. It also has great photography and I appreciate the straightforward architectural style of the featured homes.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of current thinking in green building.

[Sam Gechter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best summaries of all the things to think about in building a home or renovating one, at a level of detail that you can actually make it through.

[Mary Lynn]

Great for people building a new house or undertaking a large addition or renovation.

[Patrick Ryss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading if you have ever though about buying or building a home.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sustainable design and build, each home unique to the landscape and climate of its geography. Good work all around.