150 Best Eco House Ideas
by Marta Serrats
(Harper Design, 2010)

With hundreds of beautiful pictures of modern and prefab houses, architecture and design writer Marta Serrats has put together a printed tour of environmentally conscious home ideas. More than 60 individual houses are featured in 150 Best Eco House Ideas, with sites from Japan to Norway to the Green Mountains of Vermont.

The book is divided into ideas on passive energy strategies, which refer to maximizing a home’s location on a site; insulation and the thermal inertia of materials; and active energy strategies, meaning the use of technology for heating and cooling systems. There are also sections on “Prefab Constructions” and “Innovative Ideas.” Many suggestions will be familiar to the reader, such as the use of compact fluorescent bulbs or optimizing window placement. Others, especially those in the innovative section, come from further out: chairs constructed entirely from rolls of paper, or thermal insulation made from timber and bubble wrap. 

The 150 ideas of the title range from a short phrase to a few sentences, and many small architectural drawings are placed alongside the photos. While the book can be scant on written details, it is an eye-opening education on the many inspired, environmentally friendly homes being constructed around the world. The heft and style of 150 Best Eco House Ideas make it a perfect table topper, and modern home enthusiasts and conservationists alike will enjoy the beautiful images and creative concepts of the book. 
Reviewed by Allison Knab