Residential consumption represents nearly one quarter of North America's total energy use, and the average homeowner spends thousands of dollars a year on power bills. To help alleviate this problem, Energy-Wise Landscape Design presents hundreds of practical ways everyone can save money, time and effort while making their landscapes more environmentally healthy, ecologically rich and energy efficient. Combining general guidelines with tips, techniques and actions, this fully illustrated guide explains the many opportunities our landscapes provide for conserving energy. Readers will learn how to: lower a home's heating and cooling costs minimize fuel used in landscape construction, maintenance and everyday use choose landscape products and materials with lower embedded energy costs make a positive difference without a major investment or change in lifestyle. Intended for homeowners, gardeners, landscape professionals and students, the design ideas in this book will work in every type of setting-large or small, hilly or flat, urban or rural. Written in non-scientific language with clear explanations and an easy conversational style, Energy-Wise Landscape Design is an essential resource for everyone who wants to shrink their energy footprint while enhancing their property and adding value to their home.