I knew of David Gottfried, the author of Greening My Life: A Green Building Pioneer Takes on His Most Challenging Project, from his work as co-founder of the U.S. Green Building Council and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system.
Rating the greenness of one’s life seemed interesting so I bought the book.
Book Review
In his first book, Greed to Green Mr. Gottfried shared his journey from greedy real estate developer to green building trailblazer. In Greening My Life, he takes on greening himself.
Green buildings achieve LEED certification by earning points in various categories like energy efficiency. Mr. Gottfried employed a similar approach to creating a system for assessing the greenness of his life.
- Relationship
- Home
- Work
- Health
- Reflection
- Stewardship
Readers will find candid snapshots throughout the book as Gottfried shares his self-evaluations efforts to improve the greenness of his life. Meet his wife Sara and perhaps pick up a few relationship tips along the way. Follow the family’s green home remodel odyssey and learn the consequences of not saying when soon enough. Observe Gottfried as he grapples with finding a balance between money, meaningful work, and having a life.
People with type “A” personalities take heart. Gottfried shows it is possible to live a healthy, happy, well balanced life.
The Bottom Line
David Gottfried co-founded the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993 and the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) in 1998. He is the CEO of Regenerative Ventures.
Greening one’s life is perhaps easier when one has Gottfried’s financial resources and green connections. Yet he did do the heavy lifting and was willing to share his struggles and successes with all of us. That is big.
Green building enthusiasts and those looking to improve their life balance will enjoy reading Greening My Life.
Related Posts
- Greed To Green – Book Review
- The Happiness Project – Book Review
- U.S. Green Building Council and LEED Rating System
- What is Green Building and Why is it Important?
- Zugunruhe – Book Review
Resources
- David Gottfried
- Regenerative Ventures
- U.S. Green Building Council
- World Green Building Council
