Building Science Series

Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

Design-Tech is an indispensable, holistic approach to architectural technology that shows you in hundreds of drawings and tables the why as well as the how of building science, providing you with a comprehensive overview. In this expanded edition, measurements and examples are listed in both metric and imperial units to reflect the global reality of architectural practice. The authors also address digital fabrication, construction documentation, ultra-high-rise structures, and zoning codes. And there's more in-depth coverage of structural design and greater emphasis on environmental forces. Numerous case studies demonstrate real-world design implications for each topic, so that you can integrate technical material with design sensibilities. Short chapters explain each topic from first principles in easy-to-reference formats, focusing on what you need to know both at the drawing board and in future discussions with engineers, contractors, and consultants. This new edition incorporates material from continuing curricular experimentation in the SCI-TECH sequence at Iowa State University, which has been recognized with awards and funding from the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

This popular textbook covers how the built environment and the management of energy relate to the quality of human living-conditions and the environmental performance of buildings. It is the key introductory text for understanding the principles and theories of the environmental science behind construction, and the only text on the market to provide the basic scientific principles of such a broad range of topics. The text covers a range of areas in the field, including climate change, energy management, and sustainability in construction, with an important focus on contemporary environmental topics such as carbon, lifetime performance and rating schemes. The author is known for his extremely clear, finely crafted text, and the book offers a wealth of excellent worked examples. This text is designed to be useful, at all levels, to students and practitioners of architecture, construction studies, building services, surveying, and environmental science. New to this Edition: - Expansion upon the environmental narrative with coverage of contemporary topics such as carbon, lifetime performance and rating schemes - Additional figures, images and sub-topics in chapters - An updated section on building services to give a broader understanding of modern building services equipment options, specifications and performance implications - Inclusion of a new section which offers commentary on the future of environmental science in building