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As a mechnical engineer working on energy efficient buildings, this book enabled me to step back view buildings from an architectural point of view. Although there are newer books with more update information this book is a good package delivering the basics. It is easy to read and understand and delivers relevant basic knowledge.
There are lots of good ideas for saving energy and good practices for building orientation and construction. I picked this book up to study for my Architect's License Exam and found it to be a very well rounded book. Otherwise good author, good info. A good editor could have taken care of that. Very informative and easy to read. There are also plans on how to build a small sun machine for testing your models. Highly recommended. My only disappointment were the numerous typos.
I have found that the appendices and bibliography are very helpful for graduate students - further study. Among other reference text, I also found that Allen/Iano's "Studio Companion" as a supplement is helpful for further visualizing the HVAC systems and their direct application to building design thinking. The biggest problem with using this book in a undergraduate lecture course for design students is that the studio instructors can no longer say that the students "said they didn't get" both the sustainability issues and technical information needed to have a strong basic understanding to apply to design thinking. The "key ideas" section at the end of each chapter helps the students study for my quizzes too. A very clear and concise presentation of the basic material (as stated in the title) for all architecture, construction science, and interior design undergraduate students.
Now they will be forced to invent other reasons for why students are not required to fully integrate by 4th year studio and beyond - and still develop strong conceptual ideas. The three tier conceptual approach, presented at the beginning, really helps the students understand the structure of the presentation. At the beginning of the semester, an undergraqduate ID student ask me what the relevance of the story about Easter Island had for her. The major technical weakness/omission is that it is missing one good chapter dedicated to water - hence the 4 star instead of 5 star rating in my opinion. By the time we arrived at the chpaters on "Lighting", she told me she got it.
Any owner of a pith helmet with attached solar-powered fan will love this book. This is the place to start if you need LEEDs certification. I have only met one such person, the author. However, this book represents the most rigorous process for sustainable design that I have encountered.
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