(n)habit, located at 2309 12th Avenue South in Nashville, is described as "an eco-friendly supply store for home decorating and remodeling," and offers many resources for home owners. Their products range from basic building materials like flooring or siding, to paints, outdoor items, and kitchens. Co-owner and designer, Rachel Martin, holds a masters degree in architecture and has extensive experience designing environmentally sustainable and LEED certified buildings. Martin offers many resources to help homeowners such as demonstrations and lectures, and admits there are so many references available, it's hard to find books that are authoritative and complete. They do have a number of books in their own lending library at (n)habit, which are available for their customers to borrow.
Rachel's suggestions are:
Shades of Green: A (mostly) practical A-Z for the Reluctant Environmentalist, by Paul Waddington
"This is a very simple book, and that's what I think makes it so great. The book is set up with topics in alphabetical order. With each topic (cars, furniture, strawberries, etc.), “shades” of green are provided, discussing the varying degrees of sustainability that can be followed. Shades range from Deep Green to Not Even a Little Bit Green. It provides a great way to put what you're currently doing into perspective."
The Little Green Book: 365 Ways to Love the Planet, by Joseph Provey and Owen Lockwood
"Another great but simple book. There are so many books out there touting how they simplify going green or are the ultimate guide to being green. This book is one of many, but instead of a long and hard-to-get-through list, this book divides it up into 365 ways (a green thing a day, keeps climate change away, perhaps?). Each topic is short, sweet, and to the point."
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
"This is such a great book. It's great for either a novice or someone well versed in sustainability. They have done a lot to bring up topics that consider sustainability in addition to the economy. It provides discussion on green options, not just 'in a perfect world,' which many books about environmentalism lack."
Green from the Ground Up: Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction, by David Johnston and Scott Gibson
"This book is particularly applicable to what we do at (n)habit. Again, a book that is great for a beginner (with topics like Green Building Basics) or a novice (with information on how to build a well-insulated foundation). The other great thing about this book is all the visual information in the form of building details, diagrams, and construction photos."
LEED For Homes Reference Guide, by The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
"There is a lot of technical information in this book. Although technical, it is the most practical for anyone not in the green building industry to read through in terms of green building. Even if you are not planning on building a LEED Home or doing a LEED renovation anytime soon, it provides a great framework to base decisions off of. We used this reference guide to help inform the selection of many materials we carry at (n)habit."
(n)habit is a terrific resource for anyone wanting to build a greener home. Check out their website and blog for more information, or see Rachel to borrow a book to learn more about greening your home!
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