Buildings and construction are a major contributor to the climate and biodiversity emergency. They account for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It is more important than ever for architects to design responsibly and create low-carbon, low-energy buildings for a sustainable future. 101 Rules of Thumb sets out the essential elements of low-energy architecture in a fresh, intuitive way. Where ever-changing technology and complex legislation can cloud the designer’s thought-process, this book equips you with the fundamentals you need to minimise CO2 emissions, design for low-energy use and work with, not against, the forces of nature. With reliable, simple rules of thumb, each page focuses on a single piece of guidance along with a clear hand-drawn illustration. The emphasis is on passive low-energy principles, and the rules of thumb cover all the design fundamentals from site and location to orientation and form, peppered with ideas to help the designer think outside the box, drawing inspiration from traditional methods, photoperiodic plants, and the black-tailed prairie dog. An extended, fully updated narrative bibliography explores the sources in detail and provides a valuable springboard for further study. Applicable throughout the world in any climate region, 101 Rules of Thumb is a global primer to be dipped into at any time as a quick means of re-focusing on what’s important when designing a new or retrofitted low-energy building. The rules cover:
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Site and location
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Orientation and form
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The low-energy building envelope
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Carbon free heating, cooling and lighting
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Passive low-energy principles.
Dedication and Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1 : Working with Site and Location
Chapter 2 : Manipulating Orientation and Form
Chapter 3 : The Low-energy Building Envelope
Chapter 4 : Energy and the Internal Environment
Chapter 5 : Rules and Strategies for Different Climatic Regions
Notes, Observations and References - A Narrative Bibliography
Top Ten Reads
Bibliography
Web-Based Resources
Index
