Pretty Good House: A Guide to Creating Better Homes [9781641551656]

Overview

The essential framework for homeowners to build or renovate a high-performance home without breaking the bank.

Pretty Good House provides a refreshing, practical approach to building and renovating, moving past the idea of the "perfect" certified home to focus on solutions that are achievable and budget-aware.

Written by four industry experts, this book presents a framework that prioritizes the needs of the inhabitants and the environment while acknowledging the practical constraints and financial limits most homeowners face.

This guide is your essential reference for thinking through critical construction issues. It is not just a "how-to," but a powerful "why-to" that empowers you to make informed decisions about your home as a system.

• Maximize Cost Savings: Discover proven, real-world strategies for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing material waste, and using smart design choices (like simple, compact house shapes) that significantly minimize both construction costs and long-term utility bills.
• Focus on Value: The book defines what it means to create a home that meets high-performance standards without the unnecessary complexity or hefty price tag. Learn to prioritize features like air sealing, proper insulation, and durable materials that offer the best return on investment.
• Empowering Homeowners: Whether you're hiring a contractor or tackling major work yourself, this book gives you the technical understanding of weather protection, air leakage, and vapor control to ensure your building process is durable, safe, healthy, and efficiently managed within your budget.

Join the movement toward creating homes that are not just livable and kind to the Earth, but also financially sound and realistically attainable for everyone.

Key Features:

• Practical Guidelines for Real Life: This book emphasizes the importance of creating homes that are not only efficient and sustainable but also attainable. Maines provides clear guidelines to help homeowners navigate their options, ensuring that every choice made contributes to a more functional and environmentally friendly living space.
• Focus on High Performance: Pretty Good House defines what it means to create a home that meets high-performance standards without the hefty price tag. You'll discover strategies for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and selecting materials that benefit both your wallet and the planet.
• Tailored Solutions: Recognizing that every homeowner has unique circumstances, the book encourages you to work within your financial and practical limits. Whether you're constructing a new home or renovating an existing one, Maines’ insights will guide you toward solutions that align with your values and budget.
• Empowering Homeowners: By blending sustainability with smart design, Pretty Good House empowers you to make informed decisions that reflect your lifestyle and environmental commitment. The book serves as a practical resource for anyone looking to improve their home's performance without compromising on comfort or style.