The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling (Paperback)

by Daniel D. Chiras (Author)
Key Phrases: solar pathfinder, energy conservation code, compare line, United States, Region-Specific Design, Supplying Back-Up Heat Sustainably (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"An excellent guide for embracing ecologically-friendly living." -- The Bookwatch, February 2003

Product Description
Passive solar heating and passive cooling—approaches known as natural conditioning—provide comfort throughout the year by reducing, or eliminating, the need for fossil fuel. Yet while heat from sunlight and ventilation from breezes is free for the taking, few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved.

Now Dan Chiras, author of the popular book "The Natural House," brings those principles up to date for a new generation of solar enthusiasts.

In "The Solar House," Chiras sets the record straight on the vast potential for passive heating and cooling. Acknowledging the good intentions of misguided solar designers in the past, he highlights certain egregious erros and shows how to avoid them. More importantly, Chiras explains in methodical detail how today’s home builders can succeed with solar designs.

Readers will learn:
- How to select a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly backup heating system.
- how to preserve indoor air quality in an airtight, energy-efficient home.
- ways of employing green building materials in a naturally conditioned home.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Company (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931498121
• ISBN-13: 978-1931498128
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,158 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > Home & Garden > Home Design > Energy Efficient Design
  #10 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
  #11 in	Books > Home & Garden > Sustainable Living > Energy Efficiency

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

227 of 228 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, concise, and up-to-date info for solar designs, January 18, 2004

By A Customer

I have spent a lot of time researching passive solar designs using books from the library & information on the internet. A lot of books on solar designs are from the 70's & 80's and the designs lead to overheating of homes by overglazing (too many windows). Some of the more current books on solar design gave more vague information, and didn't thoroughly describe concepts and materials.

This book has it all! Very good information on all the design elements, such as direction of home, foundation designs, window ratios, as well as recommendations for particular products. The book had in-depth information on all the available heating systems including solar heating, heat pumps, & radiant floor heating. At the end of the description for each heating system, there was a pro/con list that talked about the energy effiency, cost, & performance of each heating system over others . There was a helpful chart on hot water heaters with payback periods for different fuels (solar, electric, gas, propane) so you could compare the costs associated with the fuel. In all of my research, this was the first such chart that really spelled out the benefits of certain fuels over others. The book was written in 2002, so it is very up-to-date with the most current products & concepts.

92 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide for embracing ecology-friendly living, February 10, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The Solar House: Passive Heating And Cooling by global environmental issues expert Daniel D. Chiras is an "user friendly" architectural guide to choosing and implementing an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly backup heating system, and thereby making any dwelling both cost-effective and naturally heated and/or air conditioned. Black-and-white sketches clearly illustrate the detailed walk-throughs about the basics of passive solar heating, passive cooling, assessing the performance of one's energy system and much more. An excellent guide for embracing ecology-friendly living, The Solar House is especially recommended as a do-it-yourself home reference for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in making their personal home as comfortable and environmentally friendly as possible.

83 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliantly Simple Solar Design Book, November 19, 2002

By	David L. Wann (Colorado) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

At last -- a comprehensive, easy-to-read, well-illustrated solar house book, perfect for architectural students, build-it-yourselfers and masters of solar technology as well -- who will benefit from the many important lessons learned.

My delight with the book began when I first saw its elegant cover. The more I read, the more I realized what a treasure it is. I was especially interested in the latest information on radiant floor heating, ground source heat pumps, and passive cooling. It makes me feel good to know that a book this full of information, yet so accessible, may result in significant reductions in the 44% of total household energy used for heating and cooling.

Chiras combines several decades of personal experience with information from some of the best minds in the field. His stated goal of producing a comprehensive and accurate book is well met. Nice job -- get a copy!