The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate

It is easy to be disheartened about the impending and current climate change disaster that's upon us . However Bruce King and the team of contributors to this book introduce us to so many ways to positively impact this big part of our lives , the built environment we live and work in. While few of us are builders , understanding these options are part of the toolkit that can be applied to new buildings , or more importantly to one's being refurbished and recycled from our existing building stock, is exciting and to be encouraged and supported.

This book opened my eyes to the potential to avoid catastrophic Global Warming while meeting the needs of humanity for homes, offices, and infrastructure. The "built environment" (roads, bridges, ports as well as buildings) could be a big part of the solution to Global Warming - if we have the will to "make it so". The book provides a great overview of the challenges we need to tackle - measuring the GHG impact of construction, making the best materials choices, innovating to create new building materials and designs that have less impact on the planet. The chapters are accessible to the layperson, and very informative without being overly technical. Having read this book, I now feel more optimistic about our ability to innovate our way out of the crisis we've created by dumping so much GHG into our atmosphere for so long.

This book, which I purchased new, came in an oversized box that could have carried 10 or 15 copies instead of one, and the book was warped in half as if it had been rolled or bent. Disappointed that Amazon didn't choose a more appropriate-size box; although I am not sure if that is what caused the book to be warped, I am glad this wasn't a gift, as I would have had to return it since I couldn't have gifted it in this state. It's readable, but it does not lay flat. Not worth going through the steps to return it, though.

Wonderful read and a true inspiration.Bruce is a gifted author that brings environmental and building science content to you in the most engaging way. Loved reading it and already use it as a resource. So appreciate it.

Could not put it down, although a bit depressing.It gives a lot of information and ideas on how to really apply solutions in design and architecture

Really recommend this book to all architecture students! Purchase was a breeze.

It’s important that people choose to build in a way that taxes natural resources minimally and this book reveals green building is so much more than the popular LEED and solar trends.

This book is inspiring, informative and accessible!Anyone interested in climate solutions and buildings will find this book valuable. I think it should be mandatory reading for all in the building industry. It's the kind of book you could pick up to read over a coffee break, before bed, on the bus etc. The succinct chapters are filled with fascinating information and compelling descriptions of the carbon positive potential of materials.Bruce King presents the opportunities for innovation in building materials with optimism and clarity. The chapters are authored by a wide range of experts (note, I contributed to a chapter) carefully edited by Bruce to be interesting and informative for the lay reader and expert alike. In reading the advance copy I was energized by Bruce's articulation of the vision and engaged learning fascinating facts about materials (such as plastic and straw) that I have little experience with.This positive and creative vision of a future where we 'mine' the sky for carbon inspires and motivates me to act for greater impact. I highly recommend buying and reading this book and then sharing and discussing with others.Kate Simonen, AIA, SEDirector of The Carbon Leadership ForumAssociate Professor of ArchitectureUniversity of Washington