Sustainable Building Essentials Series – serie

Hempcrete is a versatile, energy-efficient natural insulation material, useful for walls, roofs, and floors. Made from the inner stem of the hemp plant mixed with a lime-based binder, it is a very strong, lightweight and breathable alternative to manufactured insulations. Essential Hempcrete Construction is a fully-illustrated practical guide to this affordable, renewable method, from procurement to finishing. This indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine whether hempcrete is the right choice for your project. It covers: Material specifications, testing and building code references and climate data Detail drawings for design reference Tool lists, and complete step-by-step instructions for mixing and placing hempcrete Finishing and maintenance techniques Budgeting and labor estimates Additional resources Essential Hempcrete Construction is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Essentials Series. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information are key to success. Get the Essentials!Chris Magwood is a sustainable builder and designer specializing in green and natural building techniques, the co-founder and co-director of the Endeavour Centre, and the author of several books on sustainable building including Making Better Buildings, More Straw Bale Building, and Straw Bale Details.

Build High-performance, Low-impact Walls with Light Straw Clay Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Light Straw Clay Construction is the first fully illustrated, step-by-step guide to using light straw clay—a durable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly wall material. Learn how to create beautiful, code-compliant walls that combine centuries-old wisdom with modern high-performance building science.What You'll Learn Sustainable, Low-carbon Construction: Uses straw "waste" mixed with clay for a high-insulation, low-impact material that reduces embodied energy.Thermally Efficient and Moisture-resistant: Naturally regulates indoor humidity, buffers temperature swings, and improves comfort year-round.Durable and Code-compliant: Proven long-lasting in historical and modern buildings, meeting US building codes for safety and performance.Step-by-step Guidance: Illustrated instructions for mixing, installation, and variations such as slip-chip, plus detail drawings for stud, timber, pole framing, Larsen trusses, and retrofits.Project Planning Made Simple: Material selection, quantity estimation, budgeting, sourcing, and best practices for a successful build.Finishing and Maintenance: Learn techniques to ensure long-term durability, aesthetics, and minimal upkeep.Written by Lydia Doleman, licensed contractor and natural building expert, this guide combines hands-on experience, practical instruction, and building science to give DIYers and professionals the confidence to use light straw clay in a variety of construction and renovation projects.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for practical, illustrated guidance on natural building techniques, sustainable wall systems, and high-performance construction

Design Your Dream Sustainable Home with Confidence Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Sustainable Home Design is the complete guide to envisioning, planning, and designing a high-performance, environmentally friendly home. Learn how to turn your ideas into a practical, buildable plan while maximizing energy efficiency, durability, and comfort.What You'll Learn Clarify Your Vision: Define goals, priorities, and pathways to bring your sustainable home project to life.Smart Decision-making: Use a criteria matrix to compare materials, systems, and design options for optimal performance and environmental impact.Integrated Team Approach: Work effectively with architects, designers, engineers, and code officials to keep your project on track.High-performance Building Science: Understand the fundamentals of thermal comfort, energy efficiency, moisture management, and durability to inform design choices.Practical Planning Tools: Streamline logistics, material sourcing, budgeting, and construction protocols to turn vision into reality.Material and System Guidance: One-page summaries and ratings of popular sustainable building materials and systems help you make informed, confident decisions.Written by Chris Magwood, a leading sustainable building expert, this guide blends practical methods, design strategies, and building science for both DIY homebuilders and professionals. Whether designing from scratch or improving existing plans, this handbook gives you the confidence and tools to create a truly sustainable home.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for practical, illustrated guidance on natural building techniques, high-performance walls, and sustainable construction systems.

Build Strong, Sustainable, and Beautiful Rammed Earth Homes Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Rammed Earth Construction is the complete step-by-step guide to designing and building durable, high-performance rammed earth structures. Learn how this ancient method creates homes that are naturally comfortable, resilient, and environmentally friendly.What You'll Learn Structurally Strong Walls: Rammed earth walls provide exceptional strength, stability, and longevity with minimal maintenance.Sustainable and Low-carbon: Use locally sourced materials and reduce your environmental footprint compared to fired-brick or concrete construction.Natural Thermal Regulation: Rammed earth walls store and release heat to naturally stabilize indoor temperatures year-round.Durable and Low-maintenance: Fire and pest resistant with a long lifespan, rammed earth offers a practical and aesthetically striking building solution.Design and Construction Mastery: Step-by-step guidance on formwork, mix design, compacting, finishing, and cold-climate adaptations.Plan, Budget, and Build Confidently: Tools, labor estimates, and code references make projects safer and more efficient for builders, designers, and DIYers.Written by Tim J. Krahn, P. Eng., a registered professional engineer with decades of experience in natural building, Tim has engineered over twenty rammed-earth projects in Canada, including the first net-zero municipal building in Ontario. His expertise ensures that this guide blends practical construction methods with rigorous building science.Transform your approach to sustainable construction with practical, science-based strategies that create strong, resilient, energy-efficient, and beautiful homes. With step-by-step visuals, actionable insights, and real-world examples, Essential Rammed Earth Construction equips builders, architects, and DIYers to confidently achieve high-performance results.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for comprehensive guidance on foundations, walls, insulation, mechanical systems, finishes, and more—everything you need to create durable, efficient, and sustainable homes.

Create Beautiful, Durable Finishes with Natural Plasters That Last for Generations Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials Series, Essential Natural Plasters is the definitive hands-on guide to working with clay, lime, and gypsum plasters for healthy, high-performance interior and exterior finishes. Learn how to create breathable, low-impact surfaces that regulate moisture naturally and deliver timeless beauty.What You'll Learn Healthy, High-Performance Finishes: Use breathable plaster systems that manage moisture, improve indoor air quality, and contribute to long-lasting buildings.Materials and Recipes That Work: Source site soils, sands, fibers, and binders, and learn proven recipes for clay, lime, gypsum, and specialty plasters.Interior and Exterior Applications: Apply plasters in dry and wet environments, including durable exterior finishes and specialty plasters such as tadelakt for bathrooms.Substrate Preparation Made Clear: Prepare surfaces ranging from straw bale and cob to lath and drywall for reliable adhesion and durability.Step-by-Step Techniques: Learn how to set up a safe, efficient worksite and master mixing, testing, tinting, repairing, and applying plasters with confidence.Expert Recipes and Real-World Insight: Access coveted plaster formulas and techniques from leading practitioners across North America and Europe.Richly illustrated and deeply researched, this guide functions as both a practical how-to manual and a trusted reference for ongoing projects. It is ideal for owner-builders, natural builders, designers, and professionals seeking beautiful, durable, and low-impact finishes.Written by Michael Henry and Tina Therrien, respected practitioners with decades of hands-on experience, Essential Natural Plasters distills hard-won knowledge, experimentation, and best practices into a clear, accessible resource.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials Series for highly illustrated, step-by-step guidance on natural materials, resilient construction methods, and high-performance building systems.

Secure Your Water Supply with a Custom Rainwater Harvesting System Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Rainwater Harvesting is the complete guide to designing, building, and maintaining rainwater systems for any home, acreage, or farm. Learn how to turn rainfall into a reliable, sustainable water source—even in arid or extreme climates.What You'll Learn Water Security and Independence: Harvest and manage rainwater to supplement or replace municipal or well water for your home or property.Smart Planning and Conservation: Assess demand, optimize water use, and plan for droughts or extreme rainfall.Custom System Design: Determine the right gutters, conveyance, tanks, pumps, and filtration methods for your site.Water Quality Management: Pre-filtration, filtration, and disinfection strategies ensure safe, reliable water.Step-by-step Installation Guidance: Detailed, practical instructions for DIYers, tradespeople, and sustainability practitioners.Maintenance and Longevity: Learn methods to keep your system efficient, reliable, and long-lasting.Written by Rob and Michelle Avis, engineers and permaculture designers with decades of experience, this guide combines practical know-how, technical rigor, and site-specific strategies for designing rainwater systems anywhere in the world.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for illustrated, hands-on guidance on sustainable building systems, high-performance homes, and environmentally responsible construction.

Create Sustainable, Beautiful, and Energy-efficient Green RoofsPart of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Green Roof Construction is the complete step-by-step guide to designing and installing living roofs on houses and small buildings. Learn how green roofs protect your home, improve energy efficiency, and support the environment—all while adding beauty and value.What You'll Learn Long-lasting Roof Protection: Green roofs shield waterproofing layers from UV exposure and temperature extremes, extending roof lifespan.Energy Efficiency and Comfort: Reduce heating and cooling needs with natural insulation and thermal buffering.Stormwater Management and Urban Benefits: Absorb rain, reduce runoff, and help mitigate urban heat islands.Biodiversity and Food Production: Support pollinators, create habitat, and grow edible plants when desired.Design and Construction Mastery: Step-by-step guidance on planning, material selection, load assessment, roof prep, planting, and detailing for safe installation.Plan, Budget, and Build Confidently: Navigate building codes, site constraints, and professional consultations to ensure a durable, compliant roof.Written by Leslie Doyle, a certified LiveRoof Installer and accredited Green Roof Professional, this guide combines hands-on experience and up to date techniques, giving DIY builders and professionals the confidence to create functional, sustainable, and visually striking green roofs.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for practical, illustrated guidance on natural building systems, high-performance envelopes, and sustainable construction techniques.

The Complete Guide to Safe, Durable, and Beautiful Cob BuildingsPart of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Cob Construction delivers the most up-to-date design, engineering, and building guidance for one of the world's most enduring and expressive natural materials: cob. Learn how to build structurally sound, comfortable, low-carbon homes using clay, sand, and straw—with full support for permitting and modern building science.What You'll Learn Strong, Code-informed Cob Walls: Modern engineering and extensive testing ensure resilient structures with reliable fire and seismic performance.Healthy, Low-carbon Construction: Cob uses natural, minimally processed materials for a dramatically reduced environmental footprint.Thermal Comfort and Moisture Management: Properly designed cob walls regulate humidity, buffer temperature swings, and support healthy indoor air.Beautiful Sculptural Design Possibilities: Create curved forms, niches, and expressive details unique to hand-shaped, site-made architecture.Hands-on Building Mastery: Mix design, testing, manual/mechanical mixing, wall building, foundations, connections, finishes, and more.Permits, Codes and Budgeting: Navigate the new Cob Construction Appendix, plan projects efficiently, and ensure smooth approval processes.Written by leading experts Anthony Dente, PE, Michael G. Smith, and Massey Burke, this book combines rigorous engineering, building science, and decades of hands-on natural building experience. Whether you're a designer, engineer, contractor, or owner-builder, this guide provides the essential knowledge needed to build safe, durable, and climate-positive cob structures.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for practical, illustrated guidance on natural materials, high-performance envelopes, and sustainable building systems.

Hempcrete is a versatile, energy-efficient natural insulation material, useful for walls, roofs, and floors. Made from the inner stem of the hemp plant mixed with a lime-based binder, it is a very strong, lightweight and breathable alternative to manufactured insulations. Essential Hempcrete Construction is a fully-illustrated practical guide to this affordable, renewable method, from procurement to finishing.This indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine whether hempcrete is the right choice for your project. It covers:Material specifications, testing and building code references and climate data Detail drawings for design reference Tool lists, and complete step-by-step instructions for mixing and placing hempcrete Finishing and maintenance techniques Budgeting and labor estimates Additional resourcesEssential Hempcrete Construction is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Essentials Series. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information are key to success. Get the Essentials!Chris Magwood is a sustainable builder and designer specializing in green and natural building techniques, the co-founder and co-director of the Endeavour Centre, and the author of several books on sustainable building including Making Better Buildings, More Straw Bale Building, and Straw Bale Details.

Prefabricated straw bale wall panels combine the performance and low environmental impact of traditional straw bale with reduced labor and more consistent results. These structural insulated panels (SIPs) are built offsite and transported to the job site, or built onsite and "tipped up" into position. Essential Prefabricated Straw Bale Construction is a fully illustrated practical guide to this affordable, scalable method. This indispensable manual includes a complete introduction to the use of prefabricated bale walls, packed with all the information you need to determine whether they are the right choice for your project. It covers: Specifications, engineering details and building code references Comprehensive step-by-step instructions and detail drawings Finishing and maintenance techniques Budgeting and labor estimates Additional resources Essential Prefabricated Straw Bale Construction is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Series. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information are key to success. Get the Essentials!Chris Magwood is a sustainable builder and designer specializing in green and natural building techniques, the co-founder and co-director of the Endeavour Centre, and the author of several books on sustainable building including Making Better Buildings, More Straw Bale Building and Straw Bale Details.

Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings. Jacob Deva Racusin is a sustainable and natural building designer, builder, and educator.He is co-author of The Natural Building Companion, contributor to The Art of Natural Building, and Systems Director of New Frameworks Construction. A Building Performance Institute-certified Envelope Professional and Building Analyst, Jacob is the program director of the Building Science and Net Zero Design Certificate Program at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School. He and his family live in a two thousand square foot high-performance, natural home in the mountains of northern Vermont, where they run a small-scale Permaculture-inspired homestead.

Build Beautiful, Durable, and Low-impact Homes with Cordwood Construction Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Cordwood Building is the complete guide to using log-ends set in insulating mortar for versatile, economical, and environmentally friendly construction. Learn how to create structurally sound, aesthetically unique homes with minimal environmental impact.What You'll Learn Durable and Low-maintenance Walls: Proven longevity, fire and pest resistance, and excellent thermal mass for naturally regulated indoor temperatures.Material Selection and Preparation: Choose wood species, log lengths, seasoning, and mortar types for optimal performance.Step-by-step Building Techniques: Detailed, illustrated guidance for wall construction, window and door installation, chinking, pointing, plastering, and finishing.Design Flexibility: Decorative features, special designs, and integration into modern or traditional building projects.Budgeting and Planning: Estimates, code compliance, and building science guidance for safe, high-performance construction.Rigorous yet Accessible: Ideal for homeowners, builders, designers, and natural building enthusiasts.Written by Rob Roy, a world-renowned expert in cordwood construction, this guide combines decades of hands-on experience, workshops, and best practices for both DIYers and professional builders.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for highly illustrated, step-by-step guidance on natural and sustainable building techniques that deliver durable, high-performance results.

Build Strong, Affordable, and Resilient Structures with Earthbag Construction Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials Series, Essential Earthbag Construction is the complete step-by-step guide to building durable, low-impact structures using simple tools and locally available materials. Learn how to create earthquake-resistant, fire-resistant buildings—from homes to root cellars—at a fraction of the cost of conventional construction.What You'll Learn Economical, Low-Impact Building: Use locally sourced earthen fills and minimal industrial materials to reduce cost and environmental impact.Strength and Resilience: Design earthbag walls that are naturally fire-resistant, pest-resistant, and well-suited to seismic and extreme climate conditions.Material Choices That Matter: Compare gravel, earth, clay, and lightweight insulating fills such as perlite, rice hulls, and volcanic stone.Step-by-Step Building Guidance: Clear, illustrated instructions for efficient bag filling, stacking, tamping, and reinforcement.Flexible Design Options: Build straight-walled structures, domes, and arches with proven stability and performance.Foundations, Finishes, and Longevity: Learn foundation options, finishing techniques, and maintenance best practices for long-lasting results.With more than 75 photos and illustrations, this guide balances practical building science with hands-on instruction, making it ideal for DIY builders, designers, and professionals alike.Written by Kelly Hart, a pioneering earthbag builder and widely recognized authority on natural construction, this book draws on decades of real-world experience, research, and teaching to make earthbag building accessible and achievable.Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials Series for highly illustrated, practical guidance on natural materials, resilient construction methods, and high-performance building systems.