Chelsea Green Publ. Co.

Passive solar architecture; heating, cooling, ventilation, daylighting, and more using natural flows.

Bainbridge (consultant and emeritus, sustainable management, Marshall Goldsmith School of Management) and Haggard (architect and former architecture professor), both pioneers in the solar movement, provide a detailed overview of passive solar design and how to use solar energy for heating, cooling, ventilation, and daylighting. They draw from their own experiences and other sources to give homeowners, architects, and builders an understanding of the principles of design and the details and formulas needed for successful projects. They also address sustainable building materials and their use — and dig into the beginnings of green design for an understanding of how it has made it possible to construct buildings that generate more electricity than they use. Numerous high-quality photographs and illustrations are included. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Sepp Holzer's permaculture; a practical guide to small-scale, integrative farming and gardening.

This interesting volume on permaculture and small scale alternative farming techniques provides detailed practical information while showing readers a glimpse inside the life and work of Sepp Holzer, a Austrian farmer who has transformed a small farm in Salzburg into a beacon for gardeners and activists for food independence around the world seeking alternatives to corporate controlled agriculture. The work is divided into sections covering landscape architecture, alternative agriculture, fruit trees, cultivating mushrooms, and gardens. Chapters discuss topics such as designing permacultural systems, multi-use livestock, mushroom cultivation methods, and kitchen and medicinal gardens. The work is packed with full-color photographs, illustrations, and technical drawings. It is an excellent companion to larger and more technical guides to permaculture and provides readers with a wealth of both useful information and inspiration. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)