Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home: A Sourcebook for Stylish, Eco-conscious Living

Remodelista editor Guralnick (Remodelista: The Organized Home) and Gardenista editor Winston demonstrate how style and sustainability can coexist in this excellent guide to setting up a planet-friendly home. The authors start with the 10 rules of their “low-impact manifesto” (among them, “make use of what you have” and steer clear of plastic) and a rundown of “7 Easy Habit Shifts,” including using rags instead of paper towels and conserving water by collecting shower runoff for plants. Then comes a globe-trotting tour of 12 low-impact homes: a homestead in the Catskills is made entirely from trees that lived on the property; a hemp compound in Pidley, England, is “net-zero”; a stone farmhouse in Ontario was redone using green renovation techniques; and a cottage in Germany is almost self-sufficient thanks to its well-planned garden. In the latter half of the book are recommendations for eco-conscious alternatives to everyday items (think a clothes-drying rack rather than an appliance), plus DIY guides to cleaning solutions and household decor. This lovely, practical collection will be just right for green-minded designers. (Sept.)