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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Arranging the Landscape to Help Cool a House in Summer | |
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| The Sun and the Wind | |
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| Shading the House | |
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| ACTION: Provide Shade During Early Morning and Late Afternoon | |
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| ACTION: Shade the House During Mid-afternoon and Mid-morning | |
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| ACTION: Shade South-facing Windows and Walls | |
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| Cooling the Air Around the House | |
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| ACTION: Add Trees and Many Other Plants to Your Landscape | |
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| ACTION: Capture Breezes | |
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| Cooling the Ground near the House | |
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| ACTION: Shade the Ground with Living Plants | |
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| ACTION: Cover Bare Ground with Mulch | |
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| ACTION: Minimize the Extent of Mown Lawn | |
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| ACTION: Minimize Hard Surfaces, Especially Near the House | |
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| ACTION: Use "Cool Pavement" On Driveways | |
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| Arranging the Landscape to Help Warm a House in Winter | |
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| Taking Advantage of the Sun's Heat | |
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| ACTION: Allow Maximum Sunlight to Reach the House at Midday | |
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| ACTION: Make the Most of Morning and Afternoon Sunlight | |
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| Reducing the Chilling Effect of Winter Wind | |
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| ACTION: Plant a Windbreak | |
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| ACTION: Plant a Buffer near the House | |
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| ACTION: Position Structures to Deflect Wind | |
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| Designing the Realm of Plants | |
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| Creating Healthy Working Ecosystems | |
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| ACTION: Use Regionally Native Plants | |
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| ACTION: Select Plants That Contribute to the Work of Nature | |
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| ACTION: Match Plants to Soil Conditions | |
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| ACTION: Add Nothing; Just Remove Unwanted Plants | |
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| Reducing (or Eliminating) Lawn | |
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| ACTION: Stop Mowing Some of the Lawn | |
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| ACTION: Replace Some Amount of Existing Lawn with Other Elements | |
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| ACTION: Design a Lawn-free Landscape | |
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| Using Water Efficiently | |
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| ACTION: Design Gardens for Least Water Demand | |
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| ACTION: Manage Runoff with Topography | |
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| ACTION: Collect Rainwater | |
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| Designing the Whole Property | |
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| Fitting the Landscape to the Land | |
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| ACTION: Revise Your Ideas to Fit the Terrain | |
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| ACTION: Use the Gentlest Terrain for Things That Need It | |
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| ACTION: Use Steeper Slopes for Things That Don't Need Level Land | |
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| Designing the Car Zone | |
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| ACTION: Put the Driveway in the Right Place | |
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| ACTION: Design the Car Zone Big Enough, but Not Too Big | |
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| ACTION: Choose Suitable Paving Material | |
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| Making the Most of Every Element | |
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| ACTION: Design for Function As Well As Appearance | |
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| ACTION: Design for Multipurpose | |
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| ACTION: Use Materials Efficiently | |
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| Situating New Homes with Energy in Mind | |
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| ACTION: Position the House for Maximum Solar Gain | |
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| ACTION: Situate Buildings in Accord with the Wind | |
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| ACTION: Plan First, Cut Later | |
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| ACTION: Buy the Right Land for Your Needs | |
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| Construction and Care | |
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| Installing and Maintaining Planted Areas | |
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| ACTION: Limit Importing Topsoil from Off-site | |
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| ACTION: Amend Soil Only When Necessary, and with a Light Touch | |
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| ACTION: Plant Trees and Shrubs Properly | |
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| ACTION: Mulch Bare Garden Soil | |
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| ACTION: Plant Wildflower Meadows So They Thrive | |
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| ACTION: Create Healthy Low-maintenance Lawns | |
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| ACTION: Water Wisely | |
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| ACTION: Acquire Plants Appropriately | |
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| Building Structures in the Landscape | |
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| ACTION: Lay Patios and Paths to Be Durable | |
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| ACTION: Build Stone Walls so They Hold Up Well | |
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| ACTION: Build Wood Structures for Long Life | |
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| ACTION: Use Alternative, Renewable Materials | |
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| Constructing New Homesites | |
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| ACTION: Protect the Site Before and During Construction | |
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| ACTION: Use Energy-efficient Construction Techniques | |
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| ACTION: Consider Building an Earth-sheltered Home | |
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| ACTION: Heal the Site after Construction | |
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| Generating Energy in Your Landscape | |
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| Making Electricity from Sunlight | |
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| What's Involved? | |
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| What's Required? | |
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| Generating Electricity from the Wind | |
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| What's Involved | |
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| What's Required | |
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| Harnessing the Energy of Flowing Water | |
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| What's Involved? | |
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| What's Required? | |
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| Capturing the Warmth of the Ground | |
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| What's Involved? | |
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| What's Required? | |
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| Lights in the Landscape | |
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| Lighting with Energy in Mind | |
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| ACTION: Use the Right Energy Source for the Job | |
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| ACTION: Arrange Electrical Circuits to Allow Maximum Control | |
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| ACTION: Install Various Kinds of Controls | |
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| ACTION: Use the Most Appropriate Light Bulb | |
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| ACTION: Point Light Downward, Not at the Sky | |
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| ACTION: Clean and Maintain Light Fixtures | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Details and Calculations | |
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| Plant Lists | |
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| Resources | |
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| Endnotes | |
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| Bibliography | |
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| Index | |
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| About the Author | |