Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A complete survey of the sun's impact on the earth and of architecture driven by solar power.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgments (p. 6)
• Preface (p. 7)
• Foreword (p. 8)
• The Need for Change (p. 10)
• Crisis, What Crisis? (p. 12)
• Population (p. 14)
• Consumption (p. 16)
• Technology (p. 18)
• Architecture and Architects (p. 20)
• Learning from Natural Systems (p. 22)
• Solar Energy and the Environment (p. 24)
• The Sun and the Earth (p. 26)
• Solar Energy (p. 28)
• Plants and Cells (p. 30)
• Cycles of Solar Energy (p. 32)
• Animals (p. 34)
• Humans and Their Environment (p. 36)
• Methods of Compensation (p. 38)
• Responsive Solar Buildings (p. 40)
• The Earth's Comfort Zones (p. 42)
• Architecture versus Vernacular (p. 44)
• Ice Caps (p. 46)
• Tundra/Taiga (p. 48)
• Mountains (p. 50)
• Continental Climate (p. 52)
• Marine West-coastal Climate (p. 54)
• Mediteranean Climate (p. 56)
• Subtropical Climate (p. 58)
• Rain-forests (p. 60)
• Savannas (p. 62)
• Steppes (p. 64)
• Deserts (p. 66)
• The First Solar Structures (p. 68)
• The Neolithic Revolution (p. 70)
• Solar Design for Plants (p. 72)
• Building for Agriculture (p. 74)
• Solar Cities (p. 76)
• Early Urban Planning (p. 78)
• Ancient Egypt (p. 80)
• Babylon in Mesopotamia (p. 81)
• Mohenjo Daro in the Indus Valley (p. 82)
• Chinese Cities (p. 83)
• South American Civilisations (p. 84)
• North American Civilisations (p. 85)
• Greek Cities (p. 86)
• Architecture for the Agricultural Age (p. 88)
• Spectacular Architecture (p. 90)
• The Shaded Porch (p. 92)
• Stimulations and Comfort (p. 94)
• Heavenly Light (p. 98)
• Sophisticated Shade (p. 100)
• Coloured Light in the Occident (p. 102)
• Shaded Pavilions of the Orient (p. 106)
• In Praise of Shade (p. 108)
• Luxurious Comfort for the Ottomans (p. 112)
• Perfumed Gardens for Princes (p. 114)
• Building Technologies of the Moguls (p. 116)
• The Wall Becomes Habitable Shade (p. 120)
• Virtual Lighting (p. 122)
• Changing Concepts of Solar Power (p. 124)
• Architecture for an Industrial Age (p. 126)
• The Industrial Revolution (p. 128)
• Enlightenment and Revolution (p. 130)
• Abstract Light of the Enlightenment (p. 132)
• Rational Use of Sunlight and Structure (p. 134)
• British Supremacy (p. 136)
• From Greenhouse to Crystal Palace (p. 138)
• The Beginning of the Energy Race (p. 144)
• Glass Buildings for Work and Play (p. 146)
• A House in the Sun (p. 150)
• World War One (p. 152)
• Depression and Hope (p. 154)
• A New Agenda (p. 156)
• Visions for Global Living (p. 160)
• Back to Nature (p. 164)
• Solar Geometries for Healthy Living (p. 166)
• World War Two (p. 168)
• The American Age (p. 170)
• New Cities in the Making (p. 172)
• The Jewels of a New Life-Style (p. 174)
• The 'Brise-Soleil' (p. 176)
• Solar Buildings for the Poor (p. 184)
• Pioneers of Efficiency (p. 186)
• Sealed Glass Boxes and Indoor Cities (p. 188)
• Changing Architecture for a Sustainable World (p. 190)
• A New Agenda (p. 194)
• Harvesting Wind Energy (p. 196)
• Buildings Using Wind (p. 198)
• Learning from the Masters of Wind (p. 200)
• The Ventilated Cavity (p. 202)
• Natural Ventilation for Extremes (p. 204)
• Collecting Solar Heat (p. 208)
• Insulation and Conservation (p. 210)
• Guiding Daylight (p. 212)
• Transparent Daylight Control (p. 214)
• Dramatic Daylight (p. 216)
• Converting Daylight into Electricity (p. 218)
• Learning from Solar Cars and Planes (p. 222)
• Efficient Structures and Materials (p. 224)
• Environmentally Responsive Structures (p. 226)
• New Tools for Environmental Design (p. 228)
• What Can We Expect from Buildings? (p. 230)
• The Quality of Space (p. 232)
• Environmental Ethics (p. 234)
• The European Charter for Solar Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning (p. 236)
• Selected Bibliography (p. 238)
• Photo Credits (p. 239)