Sustainable architecture

principles, paradigms, and case studies

de James Steele

Sustainable Architecture shows the intimate connection between ecologically responsible building design and sustainable development in countries around the globe, especially the Third World. The book makes an eloquent case for "sustainable architecture" - architecture that meets the needs of this generation without shortchanging those to come. The author uses case studies from Los Angeles to Bangladesh to show builders and planners how to work with limited energy resources, take advantage of the wisdom of traditional local building techniques, make informed decisions about environmentally safe building materials, analyze energy consumption of traditional vs. modern construction, shape current urban planning policy, make the best use of technological advances in energy conservation, and teach a new generation of students a new way of building. The answer, says the author, is not to give up technological advances, but to use the best of them, to combine them with the best traditional methods, and to test every building, every community plan, by "green" principles. The book shows architects and their clients what they can do to help solve environmental problems. It includes the latest facts and statistics on comparative costs of environmentally safe vs. environmentally destructive materials ... covers the newest techniques for energy-efficient building materials and design ... offers workable, economically feasible "green" alternatives. Sustainable Architecture makes a unique contribution to our global community and our future - a future that can be more abundant and prosperous for all of us.