Prefabulous & Almost Off the Grid

Prefabulous + Sustainable author Sheri Koones profiles more than 30 Almost Off the Grid homes that are some of the most innovative and eco friendly in the US, showing a path towards energy independence.; The Prefabulous books are actually used by people to build homes, because they are filled with practical, easy to follow information. Sheri breaks down the details of each prefab home and includes useful and easy to understand explanations for the reader such as: the energy rating, the square feet, the architect, the green aspects of the home, and more.; Both prefab homes and green living have become increasingly popular and important topics for the modern homeowner, as they look for information about economical and energy efficient homes and buildings.; All of the houses featured in the book include floor plans, interior photographs and exterior images that allow the reader to better understand the scale, texture, and design of the houses.; The book's focus on the cost of green building is particularly relevant in these economic times, when energy costs are continuing to rise.

Prefabrication offers a simple path to the green home of your dreams, and in her latest book, Prefabulous author Sheri Koones highlights the many ways of using prefabrication to create almost-off-the-grid homes—houses that are not only environmentally friendly but often operate at nearly zero annual energy cost. Taking energy from the grid when necessary and returning any excess energy produced, almost-off-the-grid homes function on a fraction of the energy required by most houses, and additionally are more comfortable, healthier, quieter inside, and far cheaper to operate. As energy costs continue to rise, the almost-off-the-grid house proves its worth. Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid profiles more than 30 of the most energy-efficient homes in the United States, and this hardworking guide reveals how homeowners can achieve similar results with floor plans, the latest, most efficient technologies, and multiple images of the exterior and interior of each home. Praise for Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid: Recipient of the 2013 Robert Bruss Gold Book Award from the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) “You can build a high quality, environmentally friendly and efficient home at a reasonable price with a look and feel of a traditional home. Advancements like those used in our house and the other houses in this book will transform the homebuilding industry.” —Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey and administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency “The time has come to throw out the old stereotypes and to embrace prefab building techniques as the way of the future—and the best approach for today. For anyone wanting to create a house that’s sustainable in every sense of the word, this book is an excellent place to start.” —Sarah Susanka, architect and author of The Not So Big House series “I'm passionate about prefab because I know that it can spark an incredibly positive change in the building industry and dramatically reduce costs and construction duration. Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid is an enlightening guide on using prefab to create your own affordable, energy-efficient home.” —Bruce Ratner, chairman and chief executive of the Forest City Ratner Companies “Sheri Koones highlights the many ways of using prefabrication to create almost-off-the-grid homes that are not only environmentally friendly but often operate at nearly...