Roof Cooling Techniques ─ A Design Handbook

Yannas, Erell, and Molina (from the UK's Architectural Association School of Architecture, Israel's Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research at Ben Gurion U., and Spain's U. of Seville School of Engineering) discuss roof design, systems, and techniques. They focus on the environmental functions of roofs--both protective and selective; construction practices from European countries; roof ponds; cooling radiators; planted ("green") roofs; and applicability and performance data. Illustrated with color and b&w photos and diagrams, the chapters discuss techniques, advantages and disadvantages, systems and components, application types, precedents, and design considerations. The practices apply to air-conditioned and free-running buildings, single and multi-story buildings, and lightweight and heavyweight roofs. A CD-ROM with software for design evaluations and weather data accompanies the volume. Research comes out of a project of the ALTENER Programme of the European Commission Directorate General for Energy, and a project on Roof Solutions Cooling (ROOFSOL). The book is distributed by Stylus. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Simos Yannas is Director of Environment and Energy Studies, Architectural Association, London, UK. In 2001, he was awarded the PLEA Lifetime Achievement Award. Evyatar Erell works at the Desert Architecture Unit at the Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Jose Luis Molina works at the Department of Thermal Energy Engineering at the University of Seville, Spain