The links below have general info. See more product-specific links in the page of house specs.
Enough Anticonsumerism Campaign. An information-packed leaflet from the UK on the social and environmental effects of consumerism.
How Much Is Enough? The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth by Alan Durning (New York: Norton and Worldwatch Institute, 1992). Introduction to the environmental damage created by the consumer class.
Living More with Less by Doris Janzen Longacre (Scottdale, Penn.: Herald Press, 1980). Possibly the only book of "simple living" tips clearly inspired by a concern for social justice. From a Mennonite perspective.
No-Nonsense Guide to Globalization by Wayne Ellwood (London: New Internationalist, 2002). Clear, concise introduction with lots of helpful charts and graphs.
The Poverty of Affluence: A Psychological Portrait of the American Way of Life by Paul Wachtel (Philadelphia, Penn.: New Society Publishers, 1989). Idea-packed examination of the psychological and social effects of our obsession with growth and consumption.
The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul (New York: Vintage, 1964). A relentlessly thorough examination of the dehumanization brought by standardization and the mindless pursuit of efficiency.
This Ugly Civilization by Ralph Borsodi (1929; read it online). An early and fierce critique of industrialization and consumerism: "It is the factory ... which has transformed man from a self-helpful into a self-helpless individual and which has changed mankind from a race of participators in life to a race of spectators of it."
The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture by Wendell Berry (San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1977). Essays on the cultural and spiritual effects of specialization and our separation from the land. If you like this one, also check out What Are People For?
Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (New York: Penguin, 1992). Popular introduction to values-based money management and freedom from empty jobs. There's also a web site.
Ductless mini-split AC explained in an EREC brief
Super-efficient air conditioners identified by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE)
Energy Star models and buying tips
Most energy-efficient appliances of 2001, chosen by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Super-efficient appliances identified by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE)
Measure your phantom load (the surprising amount of power you use when you think everything is turned off)
Tankless water heaters explained in a slightly old EREC brief
Learn from experienced alternative builders in these discussion groups
The Breaktime Forum at Fine Homebuilding has helpful professionals who are open to new ideas
The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy covers local incentives and major federal programs
If you build an Energy Star labeled home, you could get a special mortgage rate
Environmental Building News newsletter, directory of material providers, product reviews, and more
Oikos directory of green building products
The Austin, TX, Green Building Program offers lots of info on a slightly confusing site; check the fact sheets for quick introductions to topics
Lots of books and videos on alternative building are available from Dirt Cheap Builder
The Natural Building Colloquium discusses philosophies and systems
The Sustainable Building Sourcebook covers the basics of passive solar design
Case studies of solar homes around the nation; from the Dept. of Energy
Home Power magazine has lots of info on photovoltaic, wind, hydro, and other home-grown energy
Protect trees on your site with this info from the South Carolina Forestry Commission
Basic info on masonry heaters, including a directory of builders (from the Masonry Heater Association)
An extensive guide to residential wood heating from Natural Resources Canada
More info on heating with wood from Woodheat.org
Radiant floor heating basics from an EREC brief
Extensive natural building gallery--lots of photos of straw bale and some cob homes, with links to more photos
Another collection of photos of mostly cob homes
Lots of cob photos from Becky Bee
Check out the cob interior details at this contractor site
See a cob house being built
Nice photos and details about a straw bale house built mostly by a woman and her teenage sons
Lots of information, including the budget, for an owner-built straw bale house
A bigger straw bale house, load-bearing
This energy-efficient house maintains the more typical American lifestyle with less energy use
An evaluation of a passive solar house that uses rock storage and thermosiphoning to move heated air from a sunspace
A big solar house built using insulated concrete forms and a radiant floor system
Lots of photos and a detailed description of the constuction of a SIPs Habitat for Humanity house
Great summary from Oikos on ventilation options
Info on indoor air quality from the Healthy House Institute
Article from Home Energy Magazine on ventilation options
Home Energy Magazine again on "Finding the Whole-House Fan that Fits"
An EREC brief on energy recovery ventilators
Introduction to several natural building systems, including cob, straw bale, adobe, and light clay
A comprehensive directory of links and publications on low-tech wall systems, including straw bale, cordwood, stone, log, adobe, rammed earth, and papercrete
A brief description of insulating concrete forms (ICFs) from the California Energy Commission
An introduction to structural insulated panels (SIPs) from the Austin, TX, Green Building Program
Lots of detailed info on SIPs, geared toward builders
A project that combined ICFs and SIPs
Info on earthen plasters and clay paints from The Last Straw and Natural Home