Sol Power is a dramatic, fast-moving voyage from the dawn of civilization to the 21st century, celebrating and reminding us of the importance of the sun. The book is designed as an exciting progression of photographic images that begins by briefly surveying the origins of all earthly sources of power, showing them, in all forms, to be derived from the sun. Through photosynthesis the sun gives life to trees; trees form the fossil fuels, coal and oil. The sun is essential in the formation of wind, rain, and tides, all of which can be converted into usable energy. The authors show how, from the very earliest forms of constructed dwellings, buildings have been designed to make maximum use of the power of the sun: houses designed to enjoy the heat of the day and religious buildings oriented towards the brilliant morning light. The book demonstrates how some architects, especially during the modern period, lost sight of the importance of taking local conditions and energy availability into account. Others continued to explore the "solar traditions". The book illustrates some of the most famous examples of solar buildings, including Crystal Palace in London and the modern Design Centre in Linz. Today, building in an energy-conscious, responsible way has become a necessity. Sol Power confronts the issues of current wastage of the world's resources caused by poor, uninformed design, and sets out positive and exciting ways in which solar-oriented architecture can lead to energy-conscious buildings. It encourages the use of renewable energies when designing the buildings of the future, and the closer collaboration of all construction industries involved.

Sol Power: The Evolution of Solar Architecture

Science & Math

Behling, Sophia

Behling, Stefan

Nature & Ecology

Prestel Pub

Examining the way in which natural systems have arisen through the sun's influence, how humans have adapted to them and what today's urban planners can do to respond to the challenge of a sustainable world, this book outlines the need to reconsider how we organise our lives in terms of energy, technology and architecture. It goes on to illustrate the various natural cycles of which the sun is part. As the book explains, these include sustainable ecosystems, wind patterns, ocean currents, fossil fuels and the life cycles of animals. The various ways in which people have harnessed the sun's power in different parts of the world since neolithic times, the ancient civilization of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas is explained as well as to the present with those living in the tundras, the rainforests, savannas, deserts and in earth's comfort zones. It finally sets out exciting ways in which solar-oriented architecture can lead to energy-conscious buildings.

Solar Power: The Evolution of Sustainable Architecture

Earth Sciences

Innovative Design and Construction (DETAIL development)

Arts & Photography

Brensing, Christian

Fuchs, Andreas

Ingenhoven, Christoph

Architecture

DETAIL

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Books by Behling, Stefan