Sustainable Vernacular Architecture How the Past Can Enrich the Future

This book discusses applying vernacular strategies to modern architectural design to adhere to basic green principles of energy efficiency and materials utilization. Written from an international perspective, chapters present the perspectives and experiences of architects and engineers from across the globe. Historically successful approaches are integrated with modern design concepts to create novel, sustainable, and resource conscious solutions. The scope of topics covered include natural ventilation, cooling and heating, daylight and shading devices, and green micro-climate and functional facades, making this a useful reference for a wide range of researchers and workers in the built environment.

Dr. Ali Sayigh is Chairman and Founder of the World Renewable Energy Congress and Council; Director General of World Renewable Energy Network (WREN); Chairman and Founder of the Arab Solar Energy Society; and Past Chairman of the UK Solar Energy Society. Dr. Sayigh was recently elected to chair the Iraqi Energy Institute, and he actively consults on renewable and sustainable energy issues for a number of international organizations, including UNESCO, ISESCO, UNDP, ESCWA, & UNIDO. Dr. Sayigh was Director of Solar Seminars at ICTP Trieste, Italy from 1977-1995; Professor of Solar Energy at King Saud, Kuwait, and Reading Universities from 1969 to 1994, and Professor of Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire from 1994 to 2004. He was the founding expert in Renewable Energy at AOPEC. He is Fellow of the Institute of Energy; Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers; and Chartered Engineer. He has published more than 400 papers and has contributed to and edited more than 30 books. He has been Editor and Editor in Chief of several international journals including Renewable Energy and the International Journal of Environmental Sciences and Technology and Editor-in-Chief of the Major Reference Work, Comprehensive Renewable Energy.