This book is not just for the technical specialist, as it also provides a general grounding in environmental design. Importantly, it demonstrates that understanding our environment, rather than fighting it, will help us to live sustainably in our rapidly warming world.
Overheating in buildings is commonplace. This book describes how we can keep cool without conventional air-conditioning: improving comfort and productivity while reducing energy costs and carbon emissions. It provides architects, engineers and policy makers with a 'how-to' guide to the application of natural cooling in new and existing buildings. It demonstrates, through reference to numerous examples, that natural cooling is viable in most climates around the world.
This completely revised and expanded second edition includes:
- An overview of natural cooling past and present.
- Guidance on the principles and strategies that can be adopted.
- A review of the applicability of different strategies.
- Explanation of simplified tools for performance assessment.
- A review of components and controls.
- A detailed evaluation of case studies from the USA, Europe, India and China.
This book is not just for the technical specialist, as it also provides a general grounding in how to avoid or minimise air-conditioning. Importantly, it demonstrates that understanding our environment, rather than fighting it, will help us to live sustainably in our rapidly warming world.
"Natural cooling is one of the most important aspects to tackle while designing, and surely one of the trickiest to master. Through a well-calibrated collection of theoretical principles and practical recommendations, all supported by a set of thoroughly analysed and presented case studies, this volume provides a reference book for the many professionals who, in response to global trends, are just approaching the matter, as well as for those in search for a deeper understanding of natural cooling principles and their possible practical applications." - Mario Cucinella, Architect, Hon FAIA, Int. Fellow RIBA (Founder MCA Bologna and New York)
"This book brings together a uniquely comprehensive body of history, architectural science and contemporary practice that will stand as a primary source in the foreseeable future. The understanding of the specificity of climate lies at the heart of the book, serving as one of the foundations for natural cooling design. At the other pole of environmental design, human comfort is an essential parameter. Between these poles the book presents a systematic and comprehensive methodology for design that embraces precedent, science and technology. -Dean Hawkes Emeritus Professor, Welsh School of Architecture & Darwin College, Cambridge
