Often the biggest energy decision on your new building is the building shape and orientation, not the heating and cooling system! Orient your new building east/west rather than north/south. Take advantage of daylighting, passive heating, and easier sun control. With the right orientation, you might be able to install smaller heating and air conditioning systems.
Use the savings to buy better windows and appliances for your new building.This will not apply to all buildings and sites, but when it works, it can make a huge difference!
A poorly designed solar building can actually use more energy and be more uncomfortable than a traditional building. Make sure you select an experienced solar designer/architect who knows how to take advantage of the sun in all seasons.
American Solar Energy Society
http://www.ases.org/
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is an organization dedicated to advancing solar energy opportunities. ASES publishes SOLAR TODAY magazine and Advances in Solar Energy, as well as white papers.
DOE EREN - Building Energy Tools Directory
http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/
Programs and software tools to help researchers, designers, architects, engineers, builders, code officials, and others involved in the building life-cycle to evaluate and rank potential energy-efficiency technologies and renewable energy strategies in new or existing buildings.
GreenClips
www.greenclips.com/
Summary of news on sustainable building design and related government and business issues.
U.S. Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org
The U.S. Green Building Council is promoting the understanding, development, and accelerated implementation of ?Green Building? policies, programs, technologies, standards and design practices. The site provides information on members, overview of programs and activities, and the Council’s agenda.
Climatic Dwelling: An Introduction To Climate-Responsive Residential ArchitectureCofaigh, Eoin O., John A. Olley and J. Owen Lewis of the Energy Research Group
ISBN# 1873936397
A complex examination of climate-adaptive architecture. Propositions are made and clearly supported through text and diagrams. Discussions and strategies for energy, urban design, siting and buildings, heating, cooling, daylighting, and building envelope.
Daylighting Performance and DesignAnder, Gregg D.
ISBN# 0471286613
Thourough guide to the concept and practice of daylighting including calculation worksheets and reveiws of available software programs.
Green Architecture: A Guide To Sustainable DesignCrosbie, Michael J.
ISBN# 1558351272
Many examples of commercial and residential building projects exemplifying a number of environmental features. Projects included harmonize with natural setting, showcase energy efficiency, are designed with natural daylighting and utilize ecological materials.
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction Alexander, Christopher et al.
ISBN # 0195019199
The second of three books published by the Center for Environmental Structure to provide a "working alternative to our present ideas about architecture, building, and planning," A Pattern Language offers a practical language for building and planning based on natural considerations. The reader is given an overview of some 250 patterns that are the units of this language, each consisting of a design problem, discussion, illustration, and solution. By understanding recurrent design problems in our environment, readers can identify extant patterns in their own design projects and
use these patterns to create a language of their own. Extraordinarily thorough, coherent, and accessible, this book has become a bible for homebuilders, contractors, and developers who care about creating healthy, high-level design
A Primer on Sustainable Building,Lopez Barnett, Dianna et al
ISBN# 1881071057
A tool for those interested in environmental responsible home building and small commercial development, exploring environmental opportunities in real estate projects and their implications. Topics include: site and habitat restoration, transportation integration, food producing landscapes, energy efficient design, materials selection, IAQ, cost implications. Includes and extensive bibliography plus national and regional resources.
Sun, Wind, and Light: Architectural Design StrategiesBrown, G.Z.
ISBN# 0471820636
A text for architectural design studio courses, geared to inspire design ideas and to help students understand the energy consequence of design decisions. Concentrates on the analysis of sun, wind, and light resources of a particular site and climate. Also offers design strategies organized by building groups, buildings and
building parts, and provides strategies for supplementing passive systems. Includes over 200 beautifully rendered architectural illus