Passive Solar Buildings

This companion to Passive Cooling and Solar Building Architecture (volumes 8 and 9)describes developments in passive solar technology that will save time, energy, and resources in planning for the buildings of the future. It is filled with tips and useful research for architects and designers and includes three substantial chapters on general modeling."Passive solar heating works. Properly designed and constructed, it is cost-effective, practical, comfortable, and aesthetic." Balcomb's introductory remarks set the tone for the rest of the contributions, which describe the considerable record of achievements in passive solar heating. Balcomb summarizes and evaluates the era between 1976 and 1983 when most of the major developments took place and highlights the design features that have contributed to effective buildings.Three chapters cover modeling passive systems (applicable to both heating and cooling), and six chapters focus on the application of passive solar heating, with emphasis on components, analytical results for specific systems, test modules, subsystem integration into buildings, performance monitoring and results, and design tools.J. Douglas Balcomb is a Principal Engineer with the Solar Energy Research Institute.

Describes developments in passive solar technology that will save time, energy, and resources in planning for the buildings of the future.

Booknews

This companion to Passive cooling and Solar building architecture covers passive solar heating of residential and commercial buildings. The information is primarily analytical and quantitative. About half the volume is devoted to quantitative methods for modeling, simulation, and design analysis of passive buildings; the other half summarizes the quantitative results of testing and monitoring of models and buildings. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

J. Douglas Balcomb is a Principal Engineer with the Solar Energy Research Institute.