Green House: Building the Energy Efficient Home presents an innovative use of a composite system between concrete in various forms and recycled light-gage steel. This "total" alternative approach can be modified to use concrete and steel to varying degrees, concrete walls and conventional floors, and others. The use of wood may be totally eliminated as a structural material and its use minimized in the construction. This follows the philosophy of saving natural resources and also using a building system that is attractive, beneficial and cost-effective (ABC). This ABC strategy provides an entire package to the practicing architect, engineer and contractor to better understand the construction of an alternative house and to appreciate its advantages over the present available systems.

This book is mainly based on the personal experiences, both good and bad, and with the motivation to make concrete a more widely used material for construction. It should serve as a guide to assist those who may consider using concrete in residential home construction. Its main purpose is to assist home buyers to change their thinking not only by having a clearer understanding of why concrete works better as a material for their home, but also to demonstrate how they can make it a better investment with lower maintenance and energy costs. This book should serve as a handy reference for architects, engineers and contractors, since there is no concise and easy-to-read stylebook of its kind at the present time.