Despite recent improvements in energy efficiency being made in new build, it is important that the existing commercial building sector also take action to meet emission reduction targets. The objectives and challenges of such action will reduce the risk of the sector becoming obsolete due to high energy use and poor environmental performance. This book presents a theory-based, practice-support methodology to deal with sustainable retrofitting opportunities for existing commercial buildings in warm climates using bioclimatic design as the basis. The book has four main parts, focusing on eco-design and renovation, bioclimatic retrofitting, technological and behavioural change and case studies of retrofitting exemplars. In the first part, the context of climate change effects on design and renovation at the city scale is discussed. The second part looks at bioclimatic retrofitting as a 'design guide' for existing buildings, highlighting the significance of architectural design and engineering systems for energy performance. The technological and behavioural contexts of the existing building sector – policies, modelling, monitoring and trend analysis in respect to energy and environmental performance – are covered in part three. The final part gives some case studies showing the effectiveness of strategies suggested for effective environmental performance. This book is a must-have guide for all involved in the design and engineering of retrofitting projects in warm climates.

Now more than ever, architects need an interpretive guide to understand how the building code affects the early design of specific projects. This easy-to-use, illustrative guide is part of a new series covering building codes based on the International Building Code for 2006. This book presents the complex code issues inherent to elementary and secondary school design in a clear, easily understandable format.

Now in its 179th edition, Laxton’s has become a firm favourite in the UK Building Industry. With more prices and more in-depth build-ups, Laxton’s offers more practical and complete information than any other price book available This new edition takes into account major price variations that stem frm raw material costs in the last few months. * Higher-fuel costs have impacted on prices across the board, in particular costs of non-ferrous metals in increased * Copper sheet and pipe show prince increases of well above 50% in the last year, while zinc, lead and aluminium prices have also risen significantly * There are savings in plaster and drainage goods, prices are down All the prices in Laxton's are based on the new 3 year Construction Industry Joint council wage rate agreement that came into force at the end of June 2006 *Saving you time - comprehensive basic price and approximate estimating sections make putting together outline costings quicker and easier *Saving you effort - all the information you need on each measured item is clearly set out on a single page, with a full break down of costs *Saving you money - all 250,000 prices are individually checked and updated to make sure that your tender costs are precise