Solar Power in Building Design.pdf

Endorsements for Solar Power in Building Design
Dr. Peter Gevorkian’s Solar Power in Building Design is the third book in a sequence pre-
hensive surveys in the field of modern solar energy theory and practice. The technical title does little
to betray to the reader (including the lay reader) the wonderful and uniquely entertaining immersion
into the world of solar energy.
It is apparent to the reader, from the very first page, that the author is a master of the field and is weav-
ing a story with a carefully designed plot. The author is a great storyteller and begins the book with a
romantic yet rigorous historical perspective that includes the contribution of modern physics. A
description of Einstein’s photoelectric effect, which forms one of the foundations of current photo-
voltaic devices, sets the tone. We are then invited to witness the tense dialogue (the ac versus dc debate)
between two giants in the field of electric energy, Edison and Tesla. The issues, though a century old,
seem astonishingly fresh and relevant.
In the smoothest possible way Dr. Gevorkian escorts us in a well-rehearsed manner through a fascinat-
ing tour of the field of solar energy making stops to discuss the basic physics of the technology, manu-
facturing process, and detailed system design. Occasionally there is a delightful excursion into subjects
such as energy conservation, building codes, and the practical side of project implementation.
All this would have been more than enough to satisfy the versed and unversed in the field of renew-
able energy. But as all masters, Dr. Gevorkian wraps up his textbook in relevance by including a thor-
ough discussion of the current solar initiatives (California being a prototype) and the spectrum of
programs and financial incentives that are being created.
Solar Power in Building Design has the seductive quality of being at once an overview and course
in solar energy for anyone with or without a technical background. I suspect