Towards Zero Energy Architecture

Today, more than ever, architects must re-engage the forces of the sun to respond to the profound challenges of global warming and climate change. Towards Zero- Energy Architecture is a much needed call for the design professions to redefine architecture to help alleviate ecological problems. This book explores the theories, practices and principles of new approaches to solar architecture that foster both design excellence and low-energy use. Solar architecture is more than the sum of passive strategies, technological systems and ecological engineering. An architecture shaped by the sun responds to climate, place and site, and expresses an aesthetic based on the form-giving attributes of these environmental forces. To illustrate this, the author analyses ten awardwinning buildings from around the world, focusing on the details of the design strategy, the impact of local climate and the importance of seasonal changes in sunlight and wind strength. She further shows how new technology enables architects to achieve greater performance standards, while at the same time generating an environmental aesthetic. As well as its significance to architecture, this approach to building provides a critical means of integrating sustainability in our daily lives.