Peter Smith believes that there is convincing evidence that climatic changes are occurring and that therefore a new approach to architecture is needed. In this study he argues for the profession to make minimum environmental demands.

The book is designed to promote a creative partnership between the professions to produce buildings which achieve optimum conditions for their inhabitants whilst making minimum demands on fossil based energy. Peter Smith has written extensively on the subject and is well known in the field. He is responsible for introducing the compulsory sustainable element of the course in the UK. He is Chairman of the RIBA Environment and Energy Committee, the RIBA Sustainable Features Committee and Vice Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee.

Chapter1: The Dynamics of Climate
Chapter 2: Climate Predictions
Chapter 3: Global Energy Profile and Outlook
Chapter 4: Renewable Energy
Chapter 5: Energy Use in Buildings
Chapter 6: Low Energy Technologies for Housing
Chapter 7: Environmental Strategies for Offices and Institutional Buildings
Chapter 8: The Future
Chapter 9: From Dystopia to Ecopia - transformomh cities. Appendix: outline syllabus for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Architecture.