Residents of Italy used their knowledge of natural ventilation techniques to cool summer villas and palaces built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Balocco and Grazzini (energy engineering, U. of Florence, Italy) present case studies in which data gathered from wind-tunnel tests, 3D models, simulations, and other high-tech methods shed light on how historic buildings utilized such air-conditioning features as air channels, gratings, underground openings and rooms, and basins for rain water storage. Lessons from these rediscoveries may help to create more efficient passive cooling systems in contemporary buildings. Illustrations include color images taken by thermographic camera and diagrams of hypothesized air flows. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)