The Whole Building Handbook

by Bokalders, Varis; Block, Maria

• ISBN13: 9781844075232
• ISBN10: 1844075230
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781136543272
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-02-28
• Publisher: Routledge
• More Book Details

Summary

This book 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. The authors offer a holistic approach to sustainable architecture and authoritative technical advice, on: * 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. * 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. * How to "close" organic waste, sewage, heat and energy cycles. For example, how to design a sewage system that recycles nutrients. * 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. The result is a comprehensive, thoroughly illustrated and carefully structured textbook and reference.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Our Common Future

Prospects for an Economic Growth that is Socially and Environmentally Sustainable

Prospects for an Economic Growth that is Socially Sustainable: The Evidence

Prospects for an Economic Growth that is Environmentally Sustainable: The Evidence

Case Study: Decoupling Economic Growth from Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Achieve Sustainable (Deep) Cuts

What Purposeful Policy Mechanisms are Needed to Achieve Decoupling of Economic Growth from Environmental Pressures?

Conclusion: The Race To Sustainability

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.