Environmental Science in Building

Book excerpt: 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