Reviews
"Meg Calkin states that materials used in construction of the built environment are damaging the world's ecosystems at an alarming rate. Her book, Materials for Sustainable Sites, is a timely and comprehensive response to the public's growing desire to think, buy and build sustainably. The book title accurately identifies its purpose and value to landscape architects, architects, civil engineers, urban designers and construction management. It provides a guide to professionals who are unsure how to incorporate more sustainable design, techniques and materials into their practice. this book is destined to become an indispensable resource." - Landscape and Urban Planning Journal, 2009
"...a text specifically targeted to the site applications but which can be referred to in selecting construction materials. It is divided into two parts; the first is ostensibly devoted to honing a technique for specifying materials responsibly, and resources available to help that approach; the second explores nine different materials, steps being taken to reduce their ecological footprints, and notes to consider when specifying these fundamentals" - GreenSource.com, September 2009
"...Calkins makes complex matters understandable even for nonexperts. In each section that I sampled, I came away pleased by how much Calkins was able to convey, and how clearly. Materials for Sustainable Sites is an instructive and frequently enlightening book. It deserves a place on the new urbanist bookshelf..." - New Urban News, March 2009
"This book, for the profession of landscape architecture is highly important in identifying the consequences of poorly chosen materials on human health. So read this book, and use it as a guide. Even more importantly, lend it to others and teach the world the importance of the practice of being sustainable." - larcexchange.com, February 11th, 2009
"Minimizing environmental and human health impacts of site construction materials is the focus of Materials for Sustainable Sites." - Construction Specifier, December 2008
"This book is a serious reference manual. Nearly every page has diagrams, tables of definitions and comparisons, and lists of guidelines. The timing of this book's publication is ideal, being aligned with the launch of the Sustainable Sites Initiative, to which Calkins has contributed expertise. Materials for Sustainable Sites will be the constant companion of landscape architects and related professionals who want both inspiration and credible information about the sustainable palette of our art." - Landscape Architecture, April 2009
"Weightly tome offering a comprehensive guide to evaluating selecting and using sustainable construction materials." - Grand Designs, April 2009
"...provides detailed information for architects and builders on materials and products that use resources efficiently, minimize embodied energy and carbon, avoid harming human or environmental health at any phase of their life cycle, and assist with sustainable site design strategies." - Book News; 12/08
"When it comes time to choose materials for those home and garden projects, there's now a wonderful green guide. This guidebook is indispensable for anyone planning construction projects. It is destined to become a classic." - bellaonline.com; 11/08
In this book, Calkins (architecture and planning, Ball State Univ.) focuses on the environmental and human health impact of construction materials during their manufacture, transport, installation, use, and disposal, and guides the reader in evaluating, selecting, and using these materials. The work contains 13 chapters, each ending with a list of pertinent references. The first chapter offers a definition of materials for sustainable sites. The following three chapters cover various topics including evaluating the environmental impact of materials and designing with reclaimed, reprocessed, and recycled materials. The remaining nine chapters address in detail such materials as concrete, earthen materials, brick masonry,... - T. Z. Kattamis, University of Connecticut, CHOICE, March 2009
