The Passive Solar Energy Book (Expanded Professional Edition)

This is the design authority for energy crisis 1.0 passive solar design. Very appropriate today.

Many years ago I found Edward Mazria's 1979 "Passive Solar Energy Book" in a used book store and bought it on a whim. For years it sat waiting in my reference library. Now as a retired Engineer interested in designing an energy independent house -- it is by far, a most useful Bible. The book's self-limitation to "passive" (rather than "active") systems -- only affects the architectural design philosophy and patterns (rules of thumb). Russel Ball's sketches illustrate basic concepts extremely well. Charts and tables of solar insolation on surfaces at various latitudes and tilt-angles (from his computer analysis in the 70s) are extensive, detailed and applicable anywhere, for ANY solar design. My "Professional Edition" (687 pages) includes 14 Appendices filled with reference charts and tables -- and clear plastic chart overlays for latitude and panel orientation. I only wish Mazria's underlying formulas for calculations were provided (as many now on the Internet are dangerously poorly documented.) The book is written in a friendly and understandable format, while also filled with hard-data -- as relevant today as when written. I can't believe it hasn't been continuously re-published. If you are designing solar and find a copy, grab it without hesitation.

From a number of books I have been reading on passive energy topics, Mazria's small book is the most concrete, understandable and organized. I designed my home using the book and the forecasted energy compsumption matched the calculations!

When I designed our first house this book was invaluable. We are now designing our second home and looked to see if there is an update. Unfortunately it has not been revised but then little has changed with the sun and mass and the book will once again be a valued resource.

A seminal reference on the fundamentals of solar design. Easily used, yet thorough and quantitative. Should be required reading for everyone in the architecture & building design fields. Sunfall info given here is relevant to every structure ever designed -- and if you actually use it, the info *will* improve your design!!