The Environmental Design Pocketbook |
what readers say
<<RETURN TO REVIEWS
EDITION 2
By Samantha Russell on amazon.co.uk
"Everything I wanted to know and more. Easy to understand, my go to book for environmental design. Most useful buy this year."
Roger Hunt, co-author of the Old House Handbook and the Old House Eco Handbook wrote a glowing review of The Environmental Design Pocketbook on his 'HuntWriter' blog. You can read it in full here and below a snippet of what he thought:
"If you’re going to invest in just one book on sustainable, low carbon building I’d strongly suggest that you make it The Environmental Design Pocketbook." and "Quite simply, The Environmental Design Pocketbook is indispensable; what’s more it’s a good read – how many reference books can you say that about?" May 19th 2015
"Wow!
This book is a mine of well-researched and presented information essential to anyone interested in planning or building a sustainable development. I bought it on recommendation by the One Planet Council (oneplanetcouncil.org.uk) and they've made a great decision to do so. Highly inspiring book that will earn it's cost many times over"
By Simple Simon on 14 Mar. 2015 on Amazon.co.uk
This is a great book all Architects must read - By Lizeth Yarleque on amazon.co.uk
" This is a great book all Architects must read. The way of reading is very lucid, It has examples for everything and most important it gives you the clues for the last new regulations on sustainable construction and design. I love this book and definitely useful"
"Awesome book with great detail... can see why RIBA had it as an editors recommended purchase. Get it on your shelf!!!!"
By Mr G M R Whibley on 23 Feb. 2015 on amazon.co.uk
Fantastic book for quick - By Tuvsy on amazon.co.uk
"Fantastic book for quick, well-organised and authoritative reference - a real encouragement to do the best in each situation and context."
"Everything I wanted to know and more. Easy to understand, my go to book for environmental design. Most useful buy this year."
Roger Hunt, co-author of the Old House Handbook and the Old House Eco Handbook wrote a glowing review of The Environmental Design Pocketbook on his 'HuntWriter' blog. You can read it in full here and below a snippet of what he thought:
"If you’re going to invest in just one book on sustainable, low carbon building I’d strongly suggest that you make it The Environmental Design Pocketbook." and "Quite simply, The Environmental Design Pocketbook is indispensable; what’s more it’s a good read – how many reference books can you say that about?" May 19th 2015
"Wow!
This book is a mine of well-researched and presented information essential to anyone interested in planning or building a sustainable development. I bought it on recommendation by the One Planet Council (oneplanetcouncil.org.uk) and they've made a great decision to do so. Highly inspiring book that will earn it's cost many times over"
By Simple Simon on 14 Mar. 2015 on Amazon.co.uk
This is a great book all Architects must read - By Lizeth Yarleque on amazon.co.uk
" This is a great book all Architects must read. The way of reading is very lucid, It has examples for everything and most important it gives you the clues for the last new regulations on sustainable construction and design. I love this book and definitely useful"
"Awesome book with great detail... can see why RIBA had it as an editors recommended purchase. Get it on your shelf!!!!"
By Mr G M R Whibley on 23 Feb. 2015 on amazon.co.uk
Fantastic book for quick - By Tuvsy on amazon.co.uk
"Fantastic book for quick, well-organised and authoritative reference - a real encouragement to do the best in each situation and context."
EDITION 1
george l on amazon.co.uk
"This a brilliant book packed full of excellent information for all construction professionals and students interested in environmental design. The author and team have succeeded in compiling a concise publication which clearly set out facts and figures covering a broad range of sustainable design issues. This is all set out in a format which through simple diagrams and rules of thumb allows the reader to easily compare information and check they are covering all the points on a chosen topic. At present there appears to be no comparable alternative in the field to the Environmental Design Pocketbook, making it an essential source of reference."
" I thought I’d just sing the praises of this excellent book covering almost every aspect of sustainable and environmental design in an accessible and highly readable format. I think Sofie Pelsmakers should be congratulated for bringing such a huge amount of information together in a truly useful format. It allows the reader to engage with each of the issues at strategic and detailed levels and there is a sense of real world pragmatism that is often absent from texts that deal with potentially aspirational (and often evangelical) topics. I would recommend it for every Architecture student (and I do regularly), Architect and building design professional as a must have for the office; I find I refer to it almost daily and it never gets off my desk and back on the shelf."
Paul Testa, architect and Lecturer at Sheffield University School of Architecture, on his website
" Have been reading @SofiePelsmakers book 'The Environmental Design Pocketbook'. Brilliant, clear & concise. Highly recommended"
Ecological Building Systems @EcologicalBuild via twitter
"Thanks so much for putting the Environmental Design Pocket Book together. It is triumph of a little book and so useful.[...] it really is good particularly because you have lots of references that can lead to further reading, point to standards etc."
Russell Vowles, MSc Architecture student UEL/CAT
" I absolutely love it - It is at the top of all my student reading lists!"
Liane Duxbury, Sheffield Hallam lecturer
" good heads up on the book. It was actually your pocket book that inspired our approach at #theburrows [Passivhaus]"
Paul Testa via twitter @SofiePelsmakers
" Reading Sofie’s “the environmental design pocketbook”, it is actually fantastic. So for the architects: buy the book it is a “must read”!!!"
Imca Paesen, Architect in Belgium
"finished commuter read of @SofiePelsmakers "the environmental design pocketbook": all architects & building designers should read this!"
John Pratley, architect at Sustainable By Design via twitter
"Love the book. It feels like an exam cheat sheet every time I use it."
George Legg, architect via twitter
"Your pocket guide is an inspiration to us"
BSc Architecture at University of Central Lancashire via twitter
"Congratulations to @SofiePelsmakers on the launch of her power packed Environmental Design Pocket book- a must have!"
Passivhaus Trust via twitter
"Numerous sources in one"
"Very practical for those who require straight forward and up to date information in ONE book. The author manages to condense a lot of information into palatable doses and includes diagrams for those of us who understand better or just don't have the attention span to sift through the usual large amount of text it usually requires to read about most things sustainable." Ayisi at amazon.co.uk
"Definitive guide to environmental design"
"I can really recommend it as a comprehensive explanation with clear diagrams explaining the fundamentals of sustainability and its relevance to environmental building in the UK.... An excellent book for both students, building professionals and clients/developers wanting to know more about environmental design."
Tom Dollard, Head of Sustainability at PTEa at amazon.co.uk
"Vital Practitioners tool"
The Environmental Design pocket book provides a precise and to the point explanation of the fundamentals of sustainable design.It covers a vast subject and consolidates it into a easily digestible format. It also inspires you to research further into your chosen area of inquiry with confidence as it gives you the basic rules of thumb as a starting point. This is the perfect compliment to the architects pocketbook as a quick glimpse often provides you with the information you need - whether you are a professional or a student! This book is a must for everybody who practices architecture! Paschal Volney at amazon.co.uk
"Essential read"This book is an absolute essential read for anyone interested in environmental design. An easy read but a mountain of knowledge. The referencing and further reading section are also extremely precious and useful. I highly recommend this publication. Marion Baeli at amazon.co.uk
"Sustainability within Design Process"
"I really appreciate that this book is a clear example of how sustainability should be considered as a tool whithin the design process and not added at the end of it. It reflects lots of dedication, passion and a huge amount of work ending in what I really appreciate the most in a book which is a source of detailed numerical data regarding, among others, carbon emissions, embodied energy and water recycling with the use of an innovative graphic design and meticulous diagrams.
It really intends to demonstrate that sustainability can be achieved by using proper construction packages, airtightness and materials in complement to a proper design rather than expensive techonologies. Therefore, it proves that a good design can make the difference when reducing the impact buildings have on the environment, spanned in different scales ranging from local developments to urban solutions, where topics such as recycling facilities, building use and the relation with the site are considered.
Included is a useful checklist of the measures that should be followed when designing and constructing, enabling to harness to the maximum the natural resources, reducing heat losses and increasing thermal comfort. I also appreciate that it includes website recommendations, such as wind direction to improve the bioclimatic design.
The book is accessible to everyone, not only for architects or engineers, but an user-friendly tool to be read by people who is not necessarily in the field." Angeles at amazon.co.uk
"At last!"
"Every time I am in a meeting with a client (or worse, a fellow consultant) who asks an (often silly) question about environmental buildings it makes me wish I could tell them to "go look it up". Unfortunately, there are either too many or too few sources from which to look these things up and many with hidden (or not so hidden) agendas that skew the myriad of answers to the same question.
Whilst this book is punchy and at times controversially makes suggestions that not every product manufacturer will buy into, it is as factual as it probably can be - because the content is mostly common-sense, evidence-based rules of thumb.
Like the designer who looks to the architect's pocketbook for typical door dimensions, the environmental pocketbook would benefit every design office and architecture school." S.Cy.Choi at amazon.co.uk
At Revit Forum:
"Absolute goldmine of very practical information and my recommended course book." Conman
"This a brilliant book packed full of excellent information for all construction professionals and students interested in environmental design. The author and team have succeeded in compiling a concise publication which clearly set out facts and figures covering a broad range of sustainable design issues. This is all set out in a format which through simple diagrams and rules of thumb allows the reader to easily compare information and check they are covering all the points on a chosen topic. At present there appears to be no comparable alternative in the field to the Environmental Design Pocketbook, making it an essential source of reference."
" I thought I’d just sing the praises of this excellent book covering almost every aspect of sustainable and environmental design in an accessible and highly readable format. I think Sofie Pelsmakers should be congratulated for bringing such a huge amount of information together in a truly useful format. It allows the reader to engage with each of the issues at strategic and detailed levels and there is a sense of real world pragmatism that is often absent from texts that deal with potentially aspirational (and often evangelical) topics. I would recommend it for every Architecture student (and I do regularly), Architect and building design professional as a must have for the office; I find I refer to it almost daily and it never gets off my desk and back on the shelf."
Paul Testa, architect and Lecturer at Sheffield University School of Architecture, on his website
" Have been reading @SofiePelsmakers book 'The Environmental Design Pocketbook'. Brilliant, clear & concise. Highly recommended"
Ecological Building Systems @EcologicalBuild via twitter
"Thanks so much for putting the Environmental Design Pocket Book together. It is triumph of a little book and so useful.[...] it really is good particularly because you have lots of references that can lead to further reading, point to standards etc."
Russell Vowles, MSc Architecture student UEL/CAT
" I absolutely love it - It is at the top of all my student reading lists!"
Liane Duxbury, Sheffield Hallam lecturer
" good heads up on the book. It was actually your pocket book that inspired our approach at #theburrows [Passivhaus]"
Paul Testa via twitter @SofiePelsmakers
" Reading Sofie’s “the environmental design pocketbook”, it is actually fantastic. So for the architects: buy the book it is a “must read”!!!"
Imca Paesen, Architect in Belgium
"finished commuter read of @SofiePelsmakers "the environmental design pocketbook": all architects & building designers should read this!"
John Pratley, architect at Sustainable By Design via twitter
"Love the book. It feels like an exam cheat sheet every time I use it."
George Legg, architect via twitter
"Your pocket guide is an inspiration to us"
BSc Architecture at University of Central Lancashire via twitter
"Congratulations to @SofiePelsmakers on the launch of her power packed Environmental Design Pocket book- a must have!"
Passivhaus Trust via twitter
"Numerous sources in one"
"Very practical for those who require straight forward and up to date information in ONE book. The author manages to condense a lot of information into palatable doses and includes diagrams for those of us who understand better or just don't have the attention span to sift through the usual large amount of text it usually requires to read about most things sustainable." Ayisi at amazon.co.uk
"Definitive guide to environmental design"
"I can really recommend it as a comprehensive explanation with clear diagrams explaining the fundamentals of sustainability and its relevance to environmental building in the UK.... An excellent book for both students, building professionals and clients/developers wanting to know more about environmental design."
Tom Dollard, Head of Sustainability at PTEa at amazon.co.uk
"Vital Practitioners tool"
The Environmental Design pocket book provides a precise and to the point explanation of the fundamentals of sustainable design.It covers a vast subject and consolidates it into a easily digestible format. It also inspires you to research further into your chosen area of inquiry with confidence as it gives you the basic rules of thumb as a starting point. This is the perfect compliment to the architects pocketbook as a quick glimpse often provides you with the information you need - whether you are a professional or a student! This book is a must for everybody who practices architecture! Paschal Volney at amazon.co.uk
"Essential read"This book is an absolute essential read for anyone interested in environmental design. An easy read but a mountain of knowledge. The referencing and further reading section are also extremely precious and useful. I highly recommend this publication. Marion Baeli at amazon.co.uk
"Sustainability within Design Process"
"I really appreciate that this book is a clear example of how sustainability should be considered as a tool whithin the design process and not added at the end of it. It reflects lots of dedication, passion and a huge amount of work ending in what I really appreciate the most in a book which is a source of detailed numerical data regarding, among others, carbon emissions, embodied energy and water recycling with the use of an innovative graphic design and meticulous diagrams.
It really intends to demonstrate that sustainability can be achieved by using proper construction packages, airtightness and materials in complement to a proper design rather than expensive techonologies. Therefore, it proves that a good design can make the difference when reducing the impact buildings have on the environment, spanned in different scales ranging from local developments to urban solutions, where topics such as recycling facilities, building use and the relation with the site are considered.
Included is a useful checklist of the measures that should be followed when designing and constructing, enabling to harness to the maximum the natural resources, reducing heat losses and increasing thermal comfort. I also appreciate that it includes website recommendations, such as wind direction to improve the bioclimatic design.
The book is accessible to everyone, not only for architects or engineers, but an user-friendly tool to be read by people who is not necessarily in the field." Angeles at amazon.co.uk
"At last!"
"Every time I am in a meeting with a client (or worse, a fellow consultant) who asks an (often silly) question about environmental buildings it makes me wish I could tell them to "go look it up". Unfortunately, there are either too many or too few sources from which to look these things up and many with hidden (or not so hidden) agendas that skew the myriad of answers to the same question.
Whilst this book is punchy and at times controversially makes suggestions that not every product manufacturer will buy into, it is as factual as it probably can be - because the content is mostly common-sense, evidence-based rules of thumb.
Like the designer who looks to the architect's pocketbook for typical door dimensions, the environmental pocketbook would benefit every design office and architecture school." S.Cy.Choi at amazon.co.uk
At Revit Forum:
"Absolute goldmine of very practical information and my recommended course book." Conman
"Having briefly skim-read it, I got in line to buy PTEa several copies. I can really recommend it as a comprehensive explanation with clear diagrams explaining the fundamentals of sustainability and its relevance to environmental building in the UK. There are excellent sections on environmental site planning, building fabric/detailing, water and flooding, and retrofit of existing housing stock."
Tom Dollard, Head of Sustainability at PTEa for Green Register blog.(02.04.12)
By Retro Fan on 10 Feb. 2013 on amazon.co.uk
"As a lecturer in sustainable architecture, this really captures allot of the core principles relating to sustainable building design. Just a word of caution though: Its aimed towards DOMESTIC types mainly."
"Just bought a copy of @SofiePelsmakers excellent new book The Environmental Design Pocketbook (...)It's rare that a book with so much information is also so accessible and easy to read. Can't put it down!"
Justin Bere, bere:architects via twitter
"I have my own signed and cartooned copy, its been to France and back, everybody comments on the drawings, lovely."
Brian Murphy, GreenSpec via twitter
" what a superb book, undoubtably justifies sewing larger pockets on all my garments!"
Matt Bridgestock, director at John Gilbert Architects & 55ºN via twitter
" already learnt lots of useful facts from quick browse of pocketbook. Great to have it all close to hand. Thank you"
Jeremy Poulter, Director of Poulter Architects via twitter
" Book really is good. I am going to tell everyone in the office to buy one!"
Mario Vieira, environmental designer via twitter
A constant companion in the design office. By jim ross on amazon.co.uk
"Working in a multi disciplinary research and design consultancy, over the last 18 months every project I have worked on has drawn in some way on the tools and information in this book.
Drawing together best practice across the project and building scales from the global, through urban planning and site layout down to checklists for helping contractor deliver on site.
It has proved its worth both for, fast rules of thumb at the feasibility stage of a project and again for being able to communicate and compare options with client groups and consultants who may be less familiar with some of the ideas, principles and best practice laid out so clearly in this book. Looking forward to the next edition."
"GreenSpec still has the ambition to become the encyclopedia of environmental design and construction, despite it being a very popular website, it's developing slower than we would like. Sofie Pelsmakers’ book promised to become a substantial part of what we would do if we had more money and more time and it was happening now. The first drafts showed Sofie’s response to architects' reluctance to read, with wonderful sketches and a plethora of tables, rules of thumb and checklists, the perfect approach.
Knowing how often students and architects ask ‘Where do I find that information?’, we know why Sofie set out to write it and how important it is that she did. No longer the need to maintain lists of websites and no longer the necessity to buy so many books or subscribe to so many websites and information services.
My signed copy goes with me everywhere and I show it at every opportunity, it’s great to see the reactions, ‘nice sketches’ ‘wow’ and be asked ‘Where can I buy it?’ ‘What's the bar code number?’
Seeing who else was involved, this was a mammoth task and we cannot think of anyone better placed to have done it and to have been able to complete it, it is a wonderful achievement, one that GreenSpec are proud to have been part of and I wholeheartedly commend Sofie and The Environmental Design Pocket Book, to all."Brian Murphy Founder of GreenSpec on why GreenSpec sponsored Sofie writing the Environmental Design Pocketbook
Tom Dollard, Head of Sustainability at PTEa for Green Register blog.(02.04.12)
By Retro Fan on 10 Feb. 2013 on amazon.co.uk
"As a lecturer in sustainable architecture, this really captures allot of the core principles relating to sustainable building design. Just a word of caution though: Its aimed towards DOMESTIC types mainly."
"Just bought a copy of @SofiePelsmakers excellent new book The Environmental Design Pocketbook (...)It's rare that a book with so much information is also so accessible and easy to read. Can't put it down!"
Justin Bere, bere:architects via twitter
"I have my own signed and cartooned copy, its been to France and back, everybody comments on the drawings, lovely."
Brian Murphy, GreenSpec via twitter
" what a superb book, undoubtably justifies sewing larger pockets on all my garments!"
Matt Bridgestock, director at John Gilbert Architects & 55ºN via twitter
" already learnt lots of useful facts from quick browse of pocketbook. Great to have it all close to hand. Thank you"
Jeremy Poulter, Director of Poulter Architects via twitter
" Book really is good. I am going to tell everyone in the office to buy one!"
Mario Vieira, environmental designer via twitter
A constant companion in the design office. By jim ross on amazon.co.uk
"Working in a multi disciplinary research and design consultancy, over the last 18 months every project I have worked on has drawn in some way on the tools and information in this book.
Drawing together best practice across the project and building scales from the global, through urban planning and site layout down to checklists for helping contractor deliver on site.
It has proved its worth both for, fast rules of thumb at the feasibility stage of a project and again for being able to communicate and compare options with client groups and consultants who may be less familiar with some of the ideas, principles and best practice laid out so clearly in this book. Looking forward to the next edition."
"GreenSpec still has the ambition to become the encyclopedia of environmental design and construction, despite it being a very popular website, it's developing slower than we would like. Sofie Pelsmakers’ book promised to become a substantial part of what we would do if we had more money and more time and it was happening now. The first drafts showed Sofie’s response to architects' reluctance to read, with wonderful sketches and a plethora of tables, rules of thumb and checklists, the perfect approach.
Knowing how often students and architects ask ‘Where do I find that information?’, we know why Sofie set out to write it and how important it is that she did. No longer the need to maintain lists of websites and no longer the necessity to buy so many books or subscribe to so many websites and information services.
My signed copy goes with me everywhere and I show it at every opportunity, it’s great to see the reactions, ‘nice sketches’ ‘wow’ and be asked ‘Where can I buy it?’ ‘What's the bar code number?’
Seeing who else was involved, this was a mammoth task and we cannot think of anyone better placed to have done it and to have been able to complete it, it is a wonderful achievement, one that GreenSpec are proud to have been part of and I wholeheartedly commend Sofie and The Environmental Design Pocket Book, to all."Brian Murphy Founder of GreenSpec on why GreenSpec sponsored Sofie writing the Environmental Design Pocketbook
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