Good Green Homes Book Review

Jennifer Roberts is a freelance writer and editor who specialize in topics regarding energy efficiency and environmental consumer products. Her first book Good Green Homes, published by Gibbs Smith in 2003, is an attempt to purge readers of any quirky associations they may have about green homes and convince them that they are actually about “creating better homes that are easier on the environment, less expensive over the long term, and more delightful to come home to” (9). Roberts takes on an informal feel good approach, that is supposed to be appealing and handy for “homeowners, remodelers, renters, architects, builders, and interior designers” alike who are somewhat interested but are unsure of what it means to go green (5).

I picked up this book because the description and layout of it alluded to being some sort of guide. While I found the book a fairly substantial introductory piece, I was left somewhat disappointed. Roberts is successful at convincing her readers of her last promise and but is only partially successful at explaining her first and second points. Many of her suggestions provided insubstantial explanations of the material and lacked evidence as to why it was a superior choice. Good Green Homes merely suggests ideas but does go into detail. In addition, the recommendations are not practical to all financial situations.  Ultimately, it functions as a conversations starter or a picture book of sorts to draw inspiration from or a coffee table read for someone who simply wants to scan over the material.