Microclimate Landscape Design

Creating Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency

Microclimatic Landscape Design shows designers how to work withnature to create climatically pleasant spaces for human activities.With remarkable clarity, it covers both the scientific backgroundand the design techniques needed for shaping spaces that increasecomfort and reduce energy consumption. This comprehensive,environmentally-sensitive guide:
* Presents the basic principles of microclimatology and explainshow objects in the landscape affect climate to create microclimates
* Describes methods for modifying the key variables in amicroclimate, including radiation, wind, temperature, humidity, andprecipitation
* Shows how to create successful, comfortable spaces under a widevariety of climatic conditions
* Explains energy budgets and the effects of landscape on energyuse in buildings
* Includes useful formulas for determining human thermal comfort,estimating solar radiation absorbed by a person, and estimatingwind in a given landscape


For landscape architects, architects, contractors, and planners,Microclimatic Landscape Design is a concise, practical, andindispensable guide to improving the comfort of outdoor spaces andreducing the heating or cooling loads on buildings.

ROBERT D. BROWN is Associate Professor and Coordinator of GraduateStudies in the School of Landscape Architecture, University ofGuelph, Canada, where he also received his MLA and PhD inmicrometeorology. Dr. Brown maintains active teaching and researchprograms and is a frequent contributor to the professionalliterature.

TERRY J. GILLESPIE is Professor in the Department of Land ResourceScience at the University of Guelph, where he also received his PhDin meteorology. Dr. Gillespie has received numerous teachingawards, including the prestigious John Bell Award, and wasrecognized as Canadian Professor of the Year.