Eco-Homes: People, Place and Politics - Sustainable Architecture for All?

As a civilization, we are now very aware of what steps we need to take in order to have any hope of mitigating climate change. Yet worldwide, humans still have made shockingly little substantial progress towards that goal, despite overwhelming evidence of its necessity. This includes the need for sustainable eco-housing—arguably the most essential change required for human survival—although the knowledge and technology needed for good eco-houses already exists. With __Eco-Homes__, environmental geographer Jenny Pickerill comprehensively explores eco-housing from both a social and a political perspective. Featuring over thirty case studies on eco-housing from Britain, Spain, Thailand, Argentina, and the United States, __Eco-Homes__ takes a novel approach to examining why radical changes to our homes—such as making them more temporary, using natural materials, or relying on manual heating and ventilation—necessitates significant social changes in how we live. It isn’t technology or politics holding us back from fighting climate change, Pickerill argues, but deeply-rooted cultural and social understandings of how we live and what we expect from our houses. With an international perspective and a crucial message, __Eco-Homes__ provides clear policy suggestions during an important era of environmental solutions. Eco-Homes examines the ways in which radical change to our houses (such as potentially making them more temporary, using natural materials, or relying on manual heating and ventilation systems) requires social changes in how we live. It is widely understood that good, affordable eco-housing needs to be at the heart of any attempt to mitigate or adapt to climate change. This is the first book to comprehensively explore eco-housing from a geographical, social and political perspective. It starts from the premise that we already know how to build good eco-houses and we already have the technology to retrofit existing housing. Despite this, relatively few eco-houses are being built. Featuring over thirty case studies of eco-housing in Britain, Spain, Thailand, Argentina and the United States, Eco-Homes examines the ways in which radical changes to our houses - such as making them more temporary, using natural materials, or relying on manual heating and ventilation systems - require changes in how we live. As such, it argues, it is not lack of technology or political will that is holding us back from responding to climate change, but deep-rooted cultural and social understandings of our way of life and what we expect our houses to do for us It Is Widely Understood That Good, Affordable Eco-housing Needs To Be At The Heart Of Any Attempt To Mitigate Or Adapt To Climate Change. This Is The First Book To Comprehensively Explore Eco-housing From A Geographical, Social And Political Perspective. It Starts From The Premise That We Already Know How To Build Good Eco-houses And We Already Have The Technology To Retrofit Existing Housing. Despite This, Relatively Few Eco-houses Are Being Built. Featuring Over Thirty Case Studies Of Eco-housing In Britain, Spain, Thailand, Argentina And The United States, Eco-homes Examines The Ways In Which Radical Changes To Our Houses Such As Making Them More Temporary, Using Natural Materials, Or Relying On Manual Heating And Ventilation Systems Require Changes In How We Live. As Such, It Argues, It Is Not Lack Of Technology Or Political Will That Is Holding Us Back From Responding To Climate Change, But Deep-rooted Cultural And Social Understandings Of Our Way Of Life And What We Expect Our Houses To Do For Us.-back Cover. Introduction -- Eco -- Home -- History -- Place -- Affordability -- Comfort -- Gender -- Mobilisation -- Community -- Future. Jenny Pickerill. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "It is widely understood that good, affordable eco-housing needs to be at the heart of any attempt to mitigate or adapt to climate change. This is the first book to comprehensively explore eco-housing from a geographical, social and political perspective. It starts from the premise that we already know how to build good eco-houses and we already have the technology to retrofit existing housing. Despite this, relatively few eco-houses are being built. Featuring over thirty case studies, from Britain, Spain, Thailand, Argentina and the United States, Eco-Homes examines the ways in which radical changes to our houses-such as making them more temporary, using natural materials, or relying on manual heating and ventilation systems-require changes in how we live. As such, it argues, it is not lack of technology or political will that is holding us back from responding to climate change, but deep-rooted cultural and social understandings of our way of life and what we expect our houses to do for us."--Page 4 of cover.