Sustainable House

by Michael Mobbs

Remarkable and comprehensive, this essential guide provides advice and step-by-step instructions on achieving an environmentally friendly home. Fully revised and updated, this new edition provides tips for working with councils, builders, and engineers while renovating not only kitchens, bathrooms, gardens, and waste systems but also water and energy supplies. Covering the latest revolutions that have occurred in sustainable housing, this problem-solving manual includes an honest assessment of the technologies and materials suggested.

Genres: Sustainability, Nonfiction, Reference, Australia

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2010

Reviews

[Daisy (Natasha) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Def does the job.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent source of information. Essential reading for anyone planning a home. Very Sydney-specific but still applicable. A little one-sided in his derision of experts (engineers, architects, planners, builders, plumbers, council, etc).

[Bradley White · Rating 1 out of 5]

Published in 1998 it documents the experience of creating a sustainable house in a heritage listed building in inner Sydney (54 Myrtle St,Chippendale, New South Wales). A house generating its own electricity and hot water, collecting rain water, and processing all waste water on site. This at a time where sustainability was still a novelty (it was 'opened' by the then premier Bob Carr).

The book is full of data and collected by the homeowners but the interpretation and conclusions drawn are hardly rigorous.

Over all, it is a tedious read and could have been much shorter. Twenty five years later much of what was new is now commonplace (not to detract from the author's achievements).

You can tour the house sustainablehouse.com.au, if your are interested.

[Keri Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book for anyone interested in urban sustainable living! I bought the author's original book on his experiment when I was in Australia in 1999, and got this update when I went back in 2012. Amazing information that should inspire anyone who thinks true sustainability isn't possible in an urbanized setting, in the context of a single-family home. Very detailed information on what has worked, what didn't, and what he will be continuing to try and improve for the future. US cities should reexamine their building code requirements for sustainability as well as safety, and then maybe something like this could have a chance here. Making a global difference one home at a time! :)

[Poornima]

Just browsed through.
Would be a good resource for those owning a house, and wanting to make it sustainable. The author spent a fortune in making his house in Sydney very sustainable - waterlines unplugged from the council, waste water treated in-house, and not only generating power but supplying some back into the main line. Not something a lot of us would be up for, but all the things that could be done..phew!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, user-friendly book for anyone taking on a building or renovation project that respects the environment and respects sustainability.

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book with some good lessons learned.