Ecotone Publishing, the First Book Publishing Company for "Green" Building Titles, Aims to Transform the Design and Construction Industries

Kansas City, MO July 12, 2004 -– Consumer demand for buildings that are more energy and resource efficient, cheaper to build, and healthier has driven architects and engineers to design environmentally-friendly "green" buildings. According the U.S. Green Building Council, the green building industry is the fastest segment of the $941.6 billion U. S. construction industry. Founded and operated by green building experts, Ecotone Publishing LLC aims to meet the growing demand for authoritative yet accessible books on sustainable design and green architecture.

An "ecotone" is defined as a biologically rich transition zone between two or more dissimilar ecosystems, and is a perfect metaphor to describe this new publishing venture. Like a true ecotone, Ecotone Publishing will focus on exploring the relationship between the built and natural environments with a goal of improving the human condition within the context of a healthier and more diverse natural environment. Ecotone is the industry's first book publisher to focus solely on green architecture and design.

"Green buildings offer the single greatest potential for saving energy and reducing environment impact as we house a growing world population," said Jason F. Mclennan, founder of Ecotone and a Principal at BNIM Architects. "Ecotone publications will truly support green buildings from the ground up. Our commitment to the environment and to a sustainable future is the driving force behind every action we undertake."

Unlike most book publishers that offer a variety of titles and have very little expertise in green design methodology, construction techniques and material selection, Ecotone will only publish books that explore the relationship between the built and natural environments. All manuscripts will be evaluated and edited by green building experts. As a result, industry professionals and novices won't need to browse through unrelated book titles (such as gardening or financial planning, which turn up in a search online for green design books) to find the sustainable building books to serve their needs.

First Two Books Released
The first of two books released by Ecotone today is The Philosophy of Sustainable Design. Author McLennan outlines the major ideas and issues that have emerged in the growing movement of green architecture and sustainable design over the last 30 years.

"This book is intended as a starting point for anyone involved in the building industry on a journey to learn how he or she can build more responsibly," McLennan says. "The book is rooted in practical knowledge but rather than being a 'how-to book' asks individuals to understand how the philosophy of sustainable design can affect their own work. Part Sustainable Design 101 and part manifesto this book lays the groundwork and philosophical basis for more technical study."

The book will later be joined by a Student and Teacher Study Guide in 2005/2006, making it the first official green architecture textbook in the industry. Draft versions of this guide are currently being tested at the University of Kansas School of Architecture. A pilot program is being launched by Ecotone to involve architecture schools around the country in the development of the study guide.

The Dumb Architect's Guide to Glazing Selection, the second book released by Ecotone, is the first in a series of technical books on green architecture that will use creative techniques to teach technical subjects-patterned after other popular "how-to" guides. It will serve as an excellent introduction for architects wanting to make intelligent decisions on how to pick glazing for their building designs in order to improve environmental performance, save money and increase comfort. The Dumb Architect's Guide to Glazing Selection intends to demystify the complex process of choosing the correct glazing for a project to improve environmental performance. Other books will follow in this series, such as the Dumb Architect's Guides to commissioning, daylighting, passive solar design and material selection.

As supporters of the environmental movement, Ecotone LLC will donate a minimum of 10% of its profits to environmental and social organizations and will publish all of its books on recycled content paper.

About Jason F. McLennan
Jason F. McLennan, founder and CEO of Ecotone, is a nationally recognized leader in the Sustainable Design Movement. He is also the founder and Director of Elements, the sustainable design consulting division of BNIM Architects, where he works with architects, engineers and design professionals to improve energy and resource efficiency. Mr. McLennan is an adjunct professor at the University of Kansas and has lectured on sustainability across the U.S. and Canada. His work has been published in several journals, conference proceedings and books. McLennan is a former board member of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment and the technical board for the US Green Building Council's LEED rating system.

About Ecotone
Founded and operated by green building experts, Ecotone Publishing LLC is the industry's first book publisher to focus solely on green architecture and design. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., the company is dedicated to meeting the growing demand for authoritative yet accessible books on sustainable design, materials selection and building techniques. For more information on Ecotone Publishing, please visit the website at www.ecotonedesign.com or call 816-363-3304.

Press Contact:
Ronald Schmidt
Rosswood Communications
408-371-2801



This article can be reprinted as long as the author's
name and website address are provided.

Do You Have An Article You'd Like To Submit?