The Dumb Architect's Guide to Glazing Selection

"The Dumb Architect's Guide to Glazing Selection" is a 50-page basic overview of how to understand the window rating system. It is narrated by four zany cartoon characters. Lots of white space, bright cartoons, funny one-liners, and good window illustrations makes learning about windows specs enjoyable. Have fun while you learn about U-values, solar heat gain coefficient, visible light transmittance, air leakage, low-e, convection, etc. Irreverently written, yet very informative this is actually a useful book that any subcontractor could read on a 20-minute break and be entertained while being educated. Anyone who plans on buying a window should read this book first. The author, Jason McLennan, is a well-respected green architect active with the USGBC. He is quite brilliant and was especially creative to use the "Calvin and Hobbs" style format to teach what is normally a slightly dry subject.

I found this book very useful and fun to read. It describes glazing concepts and technologies, and how to pick the right glazing to maximize building energy efficiency and save money. It's also an entertaining read told from the perspective of four fictitious characters and a narrator. Not just for architects--I'd recommend this book to any homeowner considering a remodel.