I recently reviewed two killer off grid home books at RiverWired. Both are so good, I’m going to recommend them as perfect holiday gifts for an eco-friendly pal (or maybe as a gift to yourself).

The books:

Both by Lori Ryker; both delightful; both major eye candy for home lovers. Check out the full reviews:

• Off the Grid
• Off the Grid Homes

[images via Amazon]

I found a great new book at the library last week -  The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil -Fuel Habit by Stephen & Rebekah Hren.

I’m not all the way through this book yet, but already I can tell you it’s worth far more than the $23 it’ll cost you. (Awesome price!). Of course you can always be like me and get this book at the library, but if you own your house, it’d be a good bookshelf book.

What’s inside: 

This book covers 36 remodeling projects that can help you go greener at home (as if you didn’t guess that from the title). The huge benefit of this book is how super user friendly it is. Here are some main points…

• Handy chart at the start which shows general costs and time involved in said project, the skills you need to pull the project off, energy saved if you do the project, and the chart even points out if the project is renter friendly (rare in green project books).
• In the actual project guides throughout the book, all the background is explained (i.e. why you should consider the project), and there’s a more in-depth discussion of tools, time, and skills needed.
• Great how-to diagrams, photos, and illustrations. Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly handy or crafty, there are projects you can do in this book.
• Plenty of listed resources for other green building books, websites, and DVDs.

Examples of projects included:

• Batch solar water heater
• Outdoor cob oven
• Install a 5-V metal roof
• Storm windows
• Insulation of existing fridge
• Simple box cooker
• And of course many more

I really like this book so far and think it’s a great green home manual no matter your building or green skill level.  Learn more at the Chelsea Green Bookstore. 

[image via Chelsea Green]

I’ve seen this home around forever, but don’t think I’ve blogged it here. It’s really cool though; worth a post for sure.

Now, can you guess what it does, without reading further? Of course, if you’ve seen this you’d know, so I’m talking to the folks who’ve missed this sweet house.

Did you guess?

It rotates! Plus it’s green.

DOPE UPDATE: So, I just realized that one, I said, “Hey guess what this house does?” Then I realized that my title, “Rotating Solar Torch of A House” may have given that away (duh). Lordy. Still it’s too funny to edit. I’ll leave it all.

The solar-collecting array on top actually follows the sun, thus maximizing solar capture. Pretty slick. Some bloggers have noted that it’s a little extreme. I sort of like it though. I love how it looks like a torch you could hold.

Look at this long props list: Gizmodo via Azure Magazine via Tree Hugger via Sci Fi Tech (good stuff) You can visit any of these sites to see many more pictures of this see-though, moving, solar home.