A new short video added to the book website on why I wrote the book and how to use it 

Book reviews

Read what people say here, including endorsement by Roger Hunt, co-author of the Old House Handbook and The Old House Eco Handbook. 

The 2nd Edition of The Environmental Design Pocketbook is out! 

What is new in the second edition? New sections and major updates are clearly marked here in the 2nd edition detailed contents listing. In brief:

  • All content was updated such as 2013 RIBA Plan of Work; updated 2013/2014 building legislation, regulations, standards, research and further reading, as well as some general clarifications and restructuring following reader feedback. 
  • New and separate Part L sections for Scotland, England, wales and Northern Ireland.

New material includes:
  • ‘form factor’
  • the impact of urban form on urban climate
  • an extended Retrofit chapter, including Green Deal updates and phased 'step by step' retrofitting
  • new BREEAM credits are joined by the new addition of LEED credits. 
  • The 'performance gap' 
  • background and purge ventilation and addition of MEV (continuous Mechanical Ventilation) are included. 
  • an entire new building maintenance section has been added with additional checklists, with a new emphasis in other chapters on commissioning, care and maintenance of buildings with new sections (indicated by a spanner icon)

As in the first edition, the latest in zero-carbon thinking and technological solutions to cope with both climate change mitigation and adaptation are covered, including a zero carbon 'calculator' and a new embodied carbon 'calculator'. Rules of thumb allow you to design and test your designs straightforwardly but without over-simplification. 

PS: You can pick up a copy of the nearly 500 paged 2nd edition of The Environmental Design Pocketbook for just £20 during EcoBuild at the Riba Bookshop stand S7030, March 3rd, 4th and 5th (2015). (S7030 (formerly Design Cafe), is in the South wing -  right at the back from entrance S2)