I’ve been hearing from a lot of Project Managers who are interested in learning more about sustainable building design and LEED. To someone not in the architecture, engineering design or construction industry, the whole concept of sustainable buildings can be a little overwhelming.
If you are new to LEED, a great foundational book on integrated building design is Fundamentals of Integrated Design for Sustainable Building
Whatever your career path – design professional, engineering, land use planning, architectures, construction or LEED project manager, you have to understand the fundamentals of integrated building design — history, theory and technology of green building. This book describes practical and easy-to-understand approaches to planning, designing and building structures that mitigate the impacts of buildings on the environment. Covering everything from Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) issues, basic energy principles, daylighting techniques, life cycle assessment, and water quality, this introductory college textbook contains everything you need to gain a solid understanding of the sustainable building design industry.
At $64, this book is a little pricey (heck, it’s a college textbook after all), but it’s a foundational requirement if you are interested in a career in or learning more about environmentally responsible building design. I particularly liked the case studies that are sprinkled throughout the book. The case studies from Wisconsin, California, China and other locations around the world give you solid descriptions of the techniques these buildings used to achieve sustainability.
Wiley, the publisher of Fundamentals of Integrated Design for Sustainable Building