Landscaping does it's part to save energy , save water, and clean up the environment.
Plants and trees clean up the air - both indoors and outdoors.Natural landscaping makes better use of available water. For example, drought tolerant landscapes (xeriscapes) are particularly good in hot, dry climates. A shade tree placed strategically by a house can create a cooling effect equivalent to a room air conditioner unit. Use evergreen trees on the north to block winter winds. Plant trees that drop their leaves in the winter let light in during the winter.
Water drought tolerant greenery until it becomes established.
American Planning Association (APA)
Drip Irrigation for Every Landscape and Climate
Kourik, Robert
ISBN # 0961584823
Extensive information, layouts and resources for helping your garden flourish while conserving water.
Going Native: Biodiversity in Our Own Backyards
Marinelli, Janet , Editor
ISBN # 0945352859
Compiled and written by number of America's top natural landscapers on how to combine wildflowers and native species into a refuge for endangered and disappearing plants.
Landscape Ecology: Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land-Use PLanning
Dramstad, Wenche, James Olson, and Richard Forman
ISBN # 1559635142
Landscaping With Native Trees: The Northeast, Midwest, Midsouth & Southeast Edition
Sternberg, Guy and Jim Wilson
ISBN # 1881527662
In straightforward language equally useful to the weekend gardener and the professional plantsman, this book discusses the advantages and disadvantages of virtually every tree species native to eastern North America north of the Gulf Coast and offers information on planting, care and range.
Microclimatic Landscape Design: Creating Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency
Brown, Robert D. and Terry J. Gillespie
ISBN # 0471056677
This indispensable text describes how microclimates are formed and provides design techniques for modifying microclimates to create more comfortable environments outdoors and to increase energy efficiency indoors. Focuses on planning and design for modifying the key variables of microclimates, including wind, radiation, temperature, humidity and precipitation.
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction
Alexander, Christopher et al.
ISBN # 0195019199
The second of three books published by the Center for Environmental Structure to provide a "working alternative to our present ideas about architecture, building, and planning," A Pattern Language offers a practical language for building and planning based on natural considerations. The reader is given an overview of some 250 patterns that are the units of this language, each consisting of a design problem, discussion, illustration, and solution. By understanding recurrent design problems in our environment, readers can identify extant patterns in their own design projects and
use these patterns to create a language of their own. Extraordinarily thorough, coherent, and accessible, this book has become a bible for homebuilders, contractors, and developers who care about creating healthy, high-level design.
Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual
Mollison, Bill
ISBN # 0908228015
Extensive information and listings on all types of ecosystems and species.
Tomorrow by Design: A Regional Design Process for Sustainability
Lewis, Philip H., Jr (Wiley Series in Sustainable Design)
ISBN # 0471109355
Innovative landscape architect Lewis offers a comprehensive and unified presentation of the Regional Design Process he has developed and applied for 40 years. The approach guides development toward less fragile lands, preserves natural cores within developed areas, and relies on renewable resources. After an overview of the US and a sampling of sites, he focuses on the northern midwest, particularly Wisconsin where much of his work has been done. Highly illustrated in black and white. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Xeriscape Plant GuideProctor , Rob and Denver Water
ISBN # 1555913229
Guide to plants that use les