Pretty Good House: A Guide to Creating Better Homes (Taunton Press)
“In no time at all, Pretty Good House became the nonstandard building standard, and it has become shorthand in the building-Science world for a well- thought-out, carefully crafted house, designed to maximize performance and comfort within a budget.
We now have the knowledge, the building Science coupled with deep hands- on experience, to build much better houses. It is incumbent on those of us designing, building, or owning houses to make them better—more efficient, more resilient, and healthier—even as we strive to make them more comfortable, and beautiful. This book attempts to help us get there. “ – Excerpt from Pretty Good House
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pretty Good House: A Guide to Creating Better Homes (Taunton Press) provides a framework and set of guidelines for building or renovating a high-performance home that focuses on its inhabitants and the environment―but keeps in mind that few people have pockets deep enough to achieve a “perfect” solution. The essential idea is for homeowners to work within their financial and practical constraints both to meet their own needs and do as much for the planet as possible.
A Pretty Good House is:
• Simple and durable, but also well designed
• Insulated and air-sealed
• As big as it needs to be but no bigger
• Above all, it is cost conscious, healthy, responsible, and resilient
Pretty Good House is authored by two architects (Chris Briley and Emily Mottram), a designer (Michael Maines), and a building contractor (Dan Kolbert), all living and working in the Southern half of Maine.
Pretty Good House is not a “how-to” book as much as a “why-to.” You will not find step-by-step instructions or prescriptions on building a Pretty Good House. Instead, you’ll find a guide to thinking through the critical issues of Weather protection, air leakage, insulation and comfort, and vapor control. Each chapter ends with a list of issues to consider.
Unlike certification programs, Pretty Good House has no requirements, no checklists, and no plaques. Instead, it offers a way to think through home design and building to ensure that all the important questions are answered before the ground has been broken.
Pretty Good House grew out of a monthly building Science discussion group that met monthly in Portland for a decade before being interrupted by COVID. Hundreds of people have contributed to its development in one way or another.
ABOUT TAUNTON PRESS
Established in 1975, The Taunton Press provides high-quality, high-value information to special interest enthusiasts – those who have made a commitment in time and space to learning about and practicing their craft and expressing their creative imaginations.
AUTHORS
Dan Kolbert, owner, Kolbert Building
Dan Kolbert has worked in the trades since 1986. Since starting his own company 20 years ago, he has homed in on energy efficient, thoughtfully built and renovated homes. He has written for several trade magazines, worked on many educational programs, and is the moderator of the building Science discussion group where PGH originated. He is co-author of the book, Pretty Good House.
Instagram @kolbertbuilding | LinkedIn
Emily Mottram, principal, Mottram Architecture
Emily Mottram is the founder and principal of Mottram Architecture, a boutique practice specializing in new homes and renovations that are beautiful, functional, comfortable, healthy, and durable.
Mottram received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Penn State University and is a Registered Architect in Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.
An educator at heart, Mottram also teaches building Science and sustainable design at a local community college and has served as a consultant for projects in a secondary school trade program. She hosts the monthly podcast E3: Energy and Efficiency with Emily and co-hosts the live-streamed BS* + Beer Show, a monthly building Science show, and is a co-author of the book, Pretty Good House. She is a Certified Passive House Consultant.
Instagram @mottramarch | LinkedIn
Chris Briley, principal, Briburn Architecture for Life
Chris Briley is a principal architect at BRIBURN where he practices “architecture for life” specializing in sustainable design. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant. He is also a coauthor of the book, Pretty Good House, a cohost of the Green Architects’ Lounge podcast, an enthusiastic participant of the Building Science Discussion Group in Portland, and a founding board member of PassivhausMAINE. Briley is passionate about sustainability and is known for his expertise in high performance buildings. He is a frequent speaker at sustainable building conferences in Maine and throughout New England.
Instagram @briburn_architecture | LinkedIn
Michael Maines, principal, Maines Design
Michael Maines has worked as a furnituremaker, carpenter, building contractor, building Science consultant and operations manager at a panelized building fabricator, but since founding Maines Design in 2014 he has focused on working closely with clients to design homes and renovations that are healthy, efficient, resilient and comfortable. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant, frequent contributor to Fine Homebuilding Magazine, the Editorial Advisor for Green Building Advisor, co founder and co-host of The BS*+Beer Show (*building Science) and co-author of the book, Pretty Good House. He is based in Palermo, Maine.
Instagram @michaelmaines | LinkedIn
Connect with the Pretty Good House team:
Official Site: www.prettygoodhouse.org
Instagram @prettygoodhouse
The BS & Beer Show Podcast: https://www.thebsandbeershow.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
