The Northwest Green Home Primer

By Kathleen O'Brien and Kathleen Smith

Targeted for lay people, to show that anyone can make 'green home' decisions, even on a budget.

Seattle Downtown Examiner

Everyone can make green home decisions on a budget with this inspiring, information-packed guide. Whether you are building, remodeling, buying, or just curious, here are real-world strategies for getting the greenest results from your budget, with hundreds of ideas for a home that is built to last, comfortable and healthy, money- and time-saving in the long term, and kind to the planet.

What shade of green is right for you, your resources, schedule, and setting, and how can you achieve it? What questions should you ask? What approaches and resources are best for the Northwest? From your home's exterior to its operating systems within, from siting to interior design, this is the basic training that has given many the confidence to proceed.

Award-winning sustainable design and building consultant and teacher Kathleen O'Brien and architectural designer and sustainability consultant Kathleen Smith offer their "top picks" for each phase. Their perspective is both down-to-earth and cutting edge. They've also each faced their own green home challenges in a single family house and a duplex, and other case studies show affordable energy-efficient green homes both old and new.

Brimming with ideas, clear and logical, with tips, checklists, and resources for green home planning, construction, remodeling, and maintenance, extensively illustrated with photos and diagrams, this is the essential green home manual for novice and professional alike.

Book preview

Media reviews

"The tone of the book is targeted for lay people, to show that anyone can make 'green home' decisions, even on a budget. The book provides guidance and resources for people buying, building, or remodeling a green home, providing a unique perspective that includes an in-depth description of the process of getting a green home."

—Carolyn Hamilton Proctor, Seattle Downtown Examiner

About the authors

Kathleen O'Brien

Kathleen O'Brien is a nationally recognized expert in the field of sustainable design, construction, and development. A prolific writer — and a highly sought-after guest speaker on green building issues — she has published over one hundred articles on topics related to her field.

Read more about Kathleen O'Brien

Kathleen Smith

Kathleen Smith is a project architect, sustainability/LEED consultant, and project manager with over 13 years of professional experience. She is an experienced and sought after speaker and teacher on sustainable design, and is a faculty member with the U.S. Green Building Council.

Read more about Kathleen Smith