Prefabulous + Sustainable by Sheri Koones Book Review

We received this beautiful coffee table book by Sheri Koones.  But unlike most coffee table books that are only pretty pictures, this book holds its own with pictures, plans and information on "building and customizing an affordable, energy-efficient home".

Sheri helps dispel the myth that a prefab home can just be a rectangular, minimalistic box.  Her new book showcases 25 homes in North America and details clearly why each house is green. As you read further into the book the houses become more sustainably built.  She has a green gradient at the top of the page that starts our light green and slowly transitions into dark green as she details each houses sustainable qualities.  

The houses in the green section tend to have more simple green ideas that can be implemented into anyone's home.  Using Energy-Star rated appliaces, paint with no VOC paint, use natural ventilation, install solar panels, have low volume sink and shower heads, use of dual flush toilets and landscaping native plants.  Its really about making better choices and being conscious about how we use our resources.  As the book gets greener we start to see more inherent structural and building choices that would have to be made during construction such as the use of denim insulation.

Sheri details in the beginning of her book and mentions throughout the variety of reasons a home prefabricated in a warehouse is more sustainable. She explains that in this controlled environment timber and all the materials are not subjected to weather issues such as warping or moisture issues one would find with a site built home.  She also mentions, in an on-site situation, there tends to be more waste produced and less effort to recycle that waste.  In the warehouse lumber can be re-engineered to use somewhere else within the house or sent back to the manufacturer for recycling. 

Siting of the home is one of the most important aspects after buying the land on which to build.  Working with a knowledgeable architect is very important to the process.  Unfortunately, in this day and age of cookie cutter homes, siting for sun exposure and view take a back seat to developers needs. So if prefab homes bring back better siting then I am certainly on board. 

While browsing through the book, some of the houses rival high end homes in the best neighborhoods.  It was really a matter of picking materials that suites each families aesthetic needs while balancing those choices with sustainable options. 

One of the things that was not detailed in the book are costs related to building these types of homes.  I would love to see an actual breakdown of cost per square foot with a on-site built home vs a prefab home.

At the price point, I think this book is a steal, with not only the plans and descriptions but the index at the end details the Architect, Contractor, Builder, Landscaper, Interior Designer, etc. used on each project.  There are names and web address for most of these companies.  Sheri has done her research and created a wealth of knowledge for her readers. For any home buyer or builder to be this is really a must have for your collection.

Do you have any questions for Sheri?  Please send us with those questions and we will try to get them answered for you!