The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook
by Michael J. Crosbie, 1997

‘The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook’ is authored by Inc. Steve Winter Associates and the book is edited by Michael J. Crosbie. This book in 291 pages discusses contemporary environmental issues and deals basically with energy conservation. Over the past decades the world has exploited natural resources and the best solution is the incorporation of passive solar energy technology. The most basic level of implementation of passive solar technology is the residential buildings. The positive impact of a passive solar design is that this technology has the “intelligence” to reject solar energy in summers and evenly distribute it in winters. This passive solar design is a manifestation of climatic intelligence which if incorporated empowers the world to live in a healthier environment.

‘The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook’ is a comprehensive guide for builders, designers and architects but other personnel who are interested in this avant-garde technological leap could also implement it in the building industry at large. This book unravels the customer’s demand of a comfortable and a low maintenance house. The world has witnessed numerous successful incorporations of passive solar projects are not easily accessible to the builders at large as numerous writers cash upon this ever increasing demand due to global warming and the present ecological condition. But, what ‘The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook’ brings to its readers is a comprehensible and a detailed view of constructing and designing of low maintenance passive solar technologies. It enlightens the readers that though the standard construction blueprint remains the same the builders can choose the variation in the constituent of the components to build passive solar residential buildings.

The book brings forth the needs and wants of the single residential building type and ‘The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook’ successfully fills the gaps and fissures between the “guide” to construction of buildings and the implementation of passive solar methodology in day to day comfort living. It exemplifies an understanding of the stylistic edge of a passive house and proposes guidelines for the same. Also discusses key terms like “thermal storage wall system”, “optimal thermal performance’, “Storage rules of thumb”, “average winter floor temperature”, “Passive solar fundamentals” and “Storage control” amongst many others. This book explores the concepts which are understandable by a layman as well as technical intricacies for specialists like builders and architects to make the best use of the local climate. It is helpful in regions which have a considerably stable cycle or summer and winter but its efficiency is not guaranteed in severely cold regions. Usually the buildings which employ passive solar technology are airtight with fewer windows. Windows account for constant loss of heat to the atmosphere and are hence avoided, though not totally in this building type. To the building charges of a passive solar home is equivalent to the building charges of a conventional house.