The nature of green building

The Nature of Green Building attempts to evaluate some of the fundamental ideas behind 'eco' houses. It looks at the origins of much of the received wisdom and considers which derive from scientific analysis and which from cultural ideals, which are well-founded and which less so. And whilst there is some criticism of the Green Movement's general ignorance of its own cultural history it is, on the whole, sympathetic and seeks to rescue some valuable historical precedents from oblivion, particularly concerning buildings, that they may be useful again today. Ultimately The Nature of Green Building seeks to redefine our understanding of what the Green Movement actually is, as opposed to what it is generally assumed to be. In this way, it is hoped that the Green Movement may rediscover the whole spectrum of influence it once proudly wielded, rather than remaining confined in the narrow fields of science and economics.