The eco-home design guide : principles and practice for new-build and retrofit

Designing an eco home is much more about working with your house's place and situation than relying on intrusive technology and hi-tech materials.

In this book, Christopher Day draws on his extensive experience to explain the key principles of eco-home design, using common-sense methods to create a pleasant, comfortable and healthy home. With beautifully simple hand-drawn illustrations, Christopher takes you through:- Using the local topography, combined with landscaping, to improve your home's microclimate - Designing to keep your home dry and warm in the winter, and cool in the summer - Minimizing hidden environmental impacts - Making the house safe and healthy, both emotionally and physicallyThe book includes several case studies of eco hoomes, reviewing (with hindsight) what worked well and what could have been better.