Dome Cookbook, by Steve Baer (1968). Baer's first major publication that helped inspire the back-to-the-land movement and documented practical dome construction techniques. Self-published through the Lama Foundation, it became a foundational text for alternative builders.
Sunspots: An Exploration of Solar Energy Through Fact & Fiction, by Steve Baer. This is Baer's foundational work introducing his solar energy concepts and philosophy.
Zome Primer, by Steve Baer. Zome Primer explores Baer's geometric system that underlies many of his architectural designs.
The Solar Home Book: Heating, Cooling and Designing with the Sun, by Bruce Anderson and Michael Riordan. This book contextualizes Baer's work within the broader passive solar movement.
A Golden Thread: 2500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology, by Ken Butti and John Perlin. Provides historical context for Baer's innovations.
Soft Energy Paths: Toward a Durable Peace, by Amory Lovins. Complements Baer's philosophy of appropriate, sustainable technology.
The Passive Solar Energy Book, by Edward Mazria. Offers practical applications that align with Baer's passive cooling concepts.
Passive Solar Design Handbook (Volumes I, II, III), by J. Douglas Balcomb et al., U.S. Department of Energy (1980-1984). The definitive technical reference for passive solar design, produced by Los Alamos National Laboratory. Provides detailed design methodologies, performance data, and calculation methods that became the industry standard.
Passive Solar Architecture: Heating, Cooling, Ventilation, Daylighting and More Using Natural Flows, by David Bainbridge and Ken Haggard. A comprehensive modern text covering all aspects of passive solar design using natural energy flows. Bainbridge founded the Passive Solar Institute and this work synthesizes decades of research and practice.
Passive Solar House Basics, by Peter Van Dresser. Written by a New Mexico pioneer who built some of the first passive solar houses in the 1950s. Van Dresser's practical experience and early advocacy laid groundwork for the broader movement. (ISBN: 978-0941270908)
The Owner-Built Home, by Ken Kern. Shares Baer's DIY ethos and self-sufficiency approach.
Direct Use of the Sun's Energy by Farrington Daniels. A book that explores methods of harnessing solar energy for practical applications. It covers topics like solar radiation, collectors, cooking, heating water, drying, heat storage, and even solar furnaces and engines, explained in a way that is accessible to a general audience.
"Zome Geometry", by George W. Hart and Henri Picciotto. Expands on the mathematical principles behind Baer's structural designs, and intersects with Paul Hildebrandt's work creating Zometool.
Domebook One (1970) and Domebook 2 (1971), by Lloyd Kahn. Seminal publications from the Whole Earth Catalog era documenting dome building techniques and featuring work from Drop City and other communes. These books helped popularize geodesic domes and alternative architecture during the counterculture movement.
Shelter, by Lloyd Kahn and Bob Easton (1973). Often called "Domebook 3," this expanded beyond domes to showcase diverse building methods from around the world. A classic of alternative architecture that influenced a generation of owner-builders.
A Landscape for Humans, by Peter Van Dresser (1972). An early work on sustainable living and appropriate technology in the New Mexico landscape. Van Dresser's vision integrated passive solar design with ecological principles and regional self-reliance.
The Straw Bale House, by David Bainbridge, Athena Swentzell Steen, and Bill Steen. Important work on alternative building materials using straw bales for insulation and structure. Complements passive solar approaches with sustainable, low-cost construction methods.
"Living Off the Grid with Steve Baer", article in Mother Earth News (1970s). This article documents Baer's practical implementations at his Zomeworks compound.
Natural Solar Architecture: A Passive Primer, by David Wright. Offers complementary passive design strategies.
Design for a Limited Planet, by Norma Skurka and Jon Naar. This book features Baer's early work alongside other ecological designers.
The Integral Urban House, by Sim Van der Ryn. This book applies similar principles to urban environments.
"The Dome Builder's Handbook", by John Prenis. Explores alternative structures influenced by Baer's geometric thinking.
Radical Technology, edited by Godfrey Boyle and Peter Harper. This book places Baer's work in the context of appropriate technology movement.
The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling, by Daniel D. Chiras. Provides updated passive solar techniques building on pioneers like Baer.
"Harold Hay, Skytherm, and the Quest for Passive Cooling" - Architect Magazine. An in-depth article exploring Harold Hay's innovative Skytherm passive cooling system, which uses water-filled roof ponds for thermal regulation. This work parallels and complements Steve Baer's passive solar approaches.
https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/harold-hay-skytherm-and-the-quest-for-passive-cooling_o
"Harold R. Hay: Skytherm Pioneer" - Mother Earth News. A profile of Harold Hay and his groundbreaking work developing the Skytherm passive heating and cooling system. Documents his experimental approach and practical implementations that influenced the passive solar movement.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/sustainable-living/nature-and-environment/harold-r-hay-zmaz76soztak/