[.uk] The Passive Solar House (Real Goods Independent Living ... (ISBN 0930031970)

Great reference and... IT WORKS!:
My father found this book and used it, in the Southwest, to design his passive solar heating/cooling system. I am in the process of doing the same. In the winter he needs only a few cords of pine to heat a large 2 story house and in the summer, while I swelter in an appartment w/only North facing glass (!!!), his house is very cool and comfortable. The few negative reviews above appear to be from folks who either didn't pay attention as they read or have pie-in-the-sky "theories" of what passive solar really can do for you. Kachadorian is an engineer and very pragmatic. He is not a "green" builder so keep that in mind. His system works very well in real conditions and does so in a cost effective manner if you do the calculations which are all at about the 7th grade level. Id recommend building them in a spreadsheet- easy to do and lets you "tweak" your design as you go along. Honestly, even if you don't use his system, his calculations are very worth while to design in adequate thermal mass and back-up heating into any house. Good luck!

Buy it and Build it.:
This is a well-written book about passive solar design. The author easily convinces you that he knows what he is talking about. Facts, formulas, calculation charts and instructions: he gives you all you need to plan and build your own passive solar home ... and get about half of your heating and cooling costs for free from the sun. Live with nature, design with nature, whatever. Buy the book and read it. It is long over due (about 35 years!). I gave away my copy and bought another one for friends, then I ordered the latest book authored by James Kachadorian.

disappointed !:
a very disappointed old book ! a book from the seventies! very few pictures, many boards for american countries. Solar means, for me, interest for nature and for health. technical solutions suggested are not for health ! technik will kill us. let's us go to more simplicity !

The Most Advanced Passive Solar Method:
James Kachadorian invented the most advanced method for doing passive solar. This book describes the method in ways almost anyone could understand. I live in New Mexico where passive solar houses are popular but generally primitive in their design. I was not planning on building a home but after reading his book I knew I had to in order to have the best possible passive solar home. His technique is applicable to a wide variety of home styles. It is the one hest able to create a comfortable, healthy and efficient passive solar house. I am certain he will become a real hero of the renewable energy movement. Anyone who considers having a passive solar home, and that ought to be most of us, owes it to themselves to read this book. You won't find many passive solar mentors as expert and as talented at coveying their ideas as James Kachadorian.

Deftly presenting a "reader friendly" study of the solar power conversion process:
The Passive Solar House: Using Solar Design To Heat And Cool Your Home by civil engineering and solar home expert James Kachadorian is an informed and informative guide to the complexities involved in converting a building to the effective, environmentally friendly, financially beneficial technology of solar power. Deftly presenting a "reader friendly" study of the solar power conversion process, The Passive Solar House covers such relevant issues as equipment and insulation requirements for a designing and adapting solar powered house; "sun spaces"; heating and cooling requirement; insulation, venting, and fresh air; basic layouts and floor plans; interior design for year around comfort, and more. A welcome addition to personal, community library, and academic library Architectural Studies reference collections, The Passive Solar House is very strongly recommended for non-specialist general readers searching for a comprehensive introduction to creating a solar powered home in any urban or rural climate zone or region of the country.