Building Your Own Home: A Comprehensive Guide for Owner-builders

Revised and updated new edition of the popular and best selling handbook for all owner-builders. Home builders can contribute in many ways to reduce the use of products and processes that convert solid and liquid carbon containing materials into gaseous carbon. Everyone is now aware of the advantages of correctly oriented, well insulated houses with sensible ventilation and comfort systems. In this revised edition of the best selling complete guide to building your own home, George Wilkie updates and adds a new section on energy and environmental efficiency. An increasing key factor in building homes now is the environmental efficiency of the building function and its materials. The aim in many local authorities is to mitigate against factors that reduce the quality of the natural environment.

George Wilkie has wide experience in architectural practice, design education, town planning, urban design, and building administration. His academic work includes developing, directing, and lecturing courses in land economics, building construction, architecture, interior design, property management, heritage conservation and intervention, and professional practice. Currently he is working in the complex field of urban design, developing plans and recommending actions to improve the public spaces ad public life of our cities and to promote and foster excellence in the education and professional practice of urban designers.