If you're one
of those people who skim a book from back to front before you
actually read it, you'll come upon the phrase that lets you know
whether this book is for you. Author Lori Ryker dedicated Off
the Grid to "those individuals who are building great visions
of a less resource-reliant life."
Architect and teacher Ryker excels at presenting clear, concise
explanations on all things sustainable, from the advent of modern
man's meeting with technology to the inevitable effects we're
witnessing now through climate change, a polluted atmosphere and a
general lack of place. Off the Grid, published in 2005, was
a simple, yet comprehensive look at how we got where we are.
In 2007 she followed with Off the Grid Homes: Case Studies for
Sustainable Living, in which she explores in greater detail
contemporary architectural projects that use alternative strategies
to conserve and even generate energy. Both books are infused with a
spirit and passion usually lacking in books about sustainable
design.
Ryker leaves nothing to question. In Off the Grid, her
introduction tells why we're taking this journey with her-in case
we don't already know. She then leads us through the centuries to
show how western civilization became dependent on fossil fuels. She
calls Off the Grid a "think" book for those who want to
learn the basics of off-the-grid energy. She explains the
difference between being connected to the "grid intertie," an
almost-invisible grid of infrastructure that binds us together, and
being "off the grid"-independently from larger municipal systems.
We can take responsibility for our future choices now, she says,
using modern technologies that lessen our impact on the
environment.
In both books,
concepts, techniques and design considerations used in off-the-grid
homes are covered. Among those are the relationship between
passive and active systems, the selection of energy systems,
understanding our environment and where we live, and understanding
appropriate energy sources those environments. Ryker addresses the
practicalities of building components, such as insulation,
financing, legal issues and maintenance. It would have been easy to
bog down in the technicalities of these topics, but she avoids that
by skillfully blending short blocks of elegantly written text with
artful photos.
The majority of both books is dedicated to individual projects,
in which Ryker walks us through examples of grid-intertied and
off-the-grid homes. They range from cabins and studios of less than
1,000 square feet to large rural straw-bale homes. The homes span
the globe-one in Venice, Calif., one in Canada, another in New
South Wales, Australia. Each contains a project description with
size, technology, use of energy and materials of interest, plus
more pages of handsome architectural photography showing the finer
points of each. Sections, plans and elevations help make the
sometimes complex home designs comprehensible.
Ryker provides useful information at the end of each book, with
"projects at a glance" that chart highlights and sustainable
features of each home and a list of resources for each.
Jean Dodd, AIA, LEED AP, is an
architect with BNIM Architects in Kansas City, MO.
