Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide

Architecture Briefs

by David Bergman

Written for students and practitioners in the fields of architecture and interior design, our new Architecture Brief Sustainable Design provides a concise overview of all the techniques available for reducing the energy footprint of structures and spaces. With clear, simple language and a practical "can-do" approach, author David Bergman covers everything from the profession's ethical responsibility, to design structures and spaces that sustain our natural resources, to specific considerations such as rainwater harvesting, graywater recycling, passive heating techniques, solar orientation, green roofs, wind energy, daylighting, indoor air quality, material evaluation and specification, and how to work with green building certification programs.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Sustainability, Design

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2011

Reviews

[Stefan Nistor]

An informative, eye opening and relevant book. Although some of the systems and processes in designing a sustainable building have advanced it’s still a very good start and introduction to the topic. We must not only tweak our designs but change the questions we ask to arrive at different answers. Lots to think about!

[Jeff]

Although I am not an architect, I found this book to be a great overview of the various sustainable building practices and technologies that are available today and in the near future. It is a great source for anyone trying to understand how either new construction or renovations to existing structures can incorporate sustainable design.

[Bori]

It is a really helpful book about green buildings, I was not disappointed by it. The writer is clear and straightforward and is not afraid from including his own opinion, but even if he does he stats that it is only his opinion. To sum it up it is a really useful book,a good starting point for those who want to know more about the topic or if they are studying in the industry.

[Yakym Yermak]

It was my first book about Sustainability design, I don't have an architectural degree and have no experience in construction. And despite that, I liked it so much! Everything is simply described and interesting. The book gave me a lot of insights, that I will certainly use before the building my own house.

[Eric Osborne]

This is a quick, highly readable overview of the basic topics in sustainable design. Any of these topics would require a good deal more research in order to meaningfully incorporate into an architectural practice, but I would recommend this book as a primer for a young architecture student or a non-architect curious about the environmental impact of their home or office.

[Danny Breen]

Incredible insight and very digestible

[Ryan T]

Good for my purposes