Intelligent Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Carbon-Neutral Architectural Design, by Pablo La Roche

LaRoche has updated a book which was outstanding to begin with. In the 3rd edition, he expands on his complete treatment of climate responsive environmental design by adding the salient points of natural lighting and daylight harvesting, for energy reasons but also for the human experience. When you add this to the careful explanation and analysis of climate change, carbon neutral design (with examples), explanations of climate metrics, human comfort, detailed solar design (including sunpath, shading devices and software), passive cooling and his research at UCLA, Cal Poly Pomona, the Lyle Center and Arcadis you have a book with a complete basis for design and examples of how to design beyond the standard solutions.

LaRoche addresses both existing buildings and new construction, embodied and operational energy. He builds on the work of the pioneers he worked with and the current state of the art. Included are classic diagrams and plots which explain principles clearly, plus discussions and examples of new software and metrics.

There is a focus on the Architecture part of Carbon-Neutral Design. That includes engineering, but also delves into form, the human experience, purpose and delight. It goes beyond entirely deterministic calculations into creative design and systems, with “blue sky” examples such as his Cnidaria Halitus solution that includes providing drinking water through solar forms and processes.

This book provides an outstanding basis for understanding Carbon-Neutral Design in the classic forms of Architecture, but also provides inspiration and examples of projects which go beyond the basics and probe the limits of the forms we can use from the personal scale to the community, exploring energy conservation and passive forms of generation and regeneration. Highly recommended.

Marc Schiler, Professor Emeritus, USC Architecture

The book: ‘Carbon Neutral Architectural Design’ authored by Prof Pablo M. La Roche, is so interesting that it is almost impossible not to read it.

It is a must-read book highly recommended to all building professionals, including architects, civil engineers, energy and environmental experts, and, of course, all students following building related studies.

It addresses issues related to the environmental and energy performance of buildings in a very clear and comprehensive way. It provides insights, precise engineering and scientific explanations, and solutions on almost all aspects defining the environmental quality of our buildings.

The book addresses in a very precise and scientific way issues related to regional and global climate change and its impact on buildings, the Design of buildings based on climatic considerations, Carbon Neutral Architecture, Passive Solar Heating, and Natural cooling based on natural solutions, daylight, and thermal comfort.

Considering the urgent need to minimize the use of conventional energy and the corresponding greenhouse gas emissions, properly designed carbon neutral buildings, are a must. Designers and decision makers should understand, digest and employ in practice, the science and engineering related to the built environment; they must apply proper methodologies and design principles to assess, evaluate and optimise the energy and environmental impact of buildings providing the best possible health and comfort conditions to the tenants.

The book by Pablo M. La Roche is among the very rare documents that address the topic in such a complete, scientific, and precise way. It provides the proper knowledge in a very well organised and comprehensive manner and succeeds to inform and educate the reader on everything he needs to know about modern ecological, bioclimatic and zero carbon buildings.

It is highly recommended to all building professionals and students.

Mat Santamouris

马特.桑塔莫里斯教授

Scientia Professor

Anita Lawrence Chair High Performance Architecture

School Built Environment

Faculty Art Design and Architecture

University New South Wales

Sydney Australia

Mobile +61404134975

[email protected]

Web : msantamouris.blogspot.com

https://www.ada.unsw.edu.au/our-people/mattheos-santamouris

https://www.unsw.edu.au/arts-design-architecture/our-schools/built-environment/our-research/clusters-groups/high-performance-architecture/research

https://www.unsw.edu.au/arts-design-architecture/our-schools/built-environment/our-research/clusters-groups/high-performance-architecture/staff-hdr-students

Editor in Chief Journal Energy and Buildings