Whole Building Handbook

<p>The Whole Building Handbook is a compendium of all the issues and strategies that architects need to understand to design and construct sustainable buildings for a sustainable society. The authors move beyond the current definition of sustainability in architecture which tends to focus on energy-efficiency to include guidance for architecture that promotes social cohesion personal health renewable energy sources water and waste recycling systems permaculture energy conservation - and crucially buildings in relation to their place. </p> <p>The authors offer a holistic approach to sustainable architecture and authoritative technical advice on: <br>* How to design and construct healthy buildings through choosing suitable materials healthy service systems and designing a healthy and comfortable indoor climate including solutions for avoiding problems with moisture radon and noise as well as how to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. <br>* How to design and construct buildings that use resources efficiently where heating and cooling needs and electricity use is minimized and water-saving technologies and garbage recycling technologies are used. <br>* How to 'close' organic waste sewage heat and energy cycles. For example how to design a sewage system that recycles nutrients. <br>* Includes a section on adaptation of buildings to local conditions looking at how a site must be studied with respect to nature climate and community structure as well as human activities. </p> <p>The result is a comprehensive thoroughly illustrated and carefully structured textbook and reference.</p>