Book Review of Practical Green Remodeling from The Oregonian

There was a nice review of my book on The Oregonian's web site yesterday. I thought I would post a copy of it here.

More green remodeling tips coming soon!

Book review: 'Practical Green Remodeling' makes you think

Published: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 7:00 AM

Bridget A. Otto, The Oregonian

Right off the bat, author Barry Katz says his book, "Practical Green Remodeling: Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes," is not a how-to book. It's more a book about ideas and reasons for making sound and wise changes to your home.

More importantly, Katz approaches the subject of green and sustainable building by explaining that nothing is clear-cut. For instance, for the question about whether a house can be green without using green materials, the answer is both yes and no. He explains that there are shades of green and no house or building that is absolutely green.

"Ironically, the greenest thing is no building at all," he writes.

In each chapter, Katz offers a summary of his thoughts under the heading Green View. In the chapter on material selection he lists questions you should ask about each material that goes into remodeling your home. The questions are intended to help you to winnow out what shouldn't be used and make an informed decision, which can be truly helpful when you think about the sea of materials available.

In the chapter "Green Inside and Out," the summary reads in part:

"Advocates of healthy eating will tell you that the foods that are best for you are the ones containing the fewest ingredients. The same advice can be applied to furniture and fabrics for the home. ... Most synthetic fabrics contain dozens of ingredients, many of which are not even identified on the label. Wool has one ingredient."

See what I mean? He gets you thinking.

Katz also addresses the value-added component of making sustainable renovations. Throughout the book, his tone is more that of an informed friend than a preachy advocate. The softbound book is loaded with photographs, charts and diagrams to help explain each topic.