By Catherine Mallette
McClatchy Newspapers 

Is getting more eco-conscious about your own living one of your goals for '09? If so, try one of these two tomes.

• "Green Christmas: How To Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season"

By Jennifer Basye Sander and Peter Sander

Adams Media, $7.95, paperback

This little book is filled with specific tips for recycling, eco-friendly gifting and reducing your carbon footprint during the holidays by doing things like using LED lights, buying real firs instead of faux trees, shopping locally and focusing on spending time with, rather than money on, loved ones. It's a practical and easy-to-follow guide to going green that you can use year-round.

• "Dreaming Green: Eco-Fabulous Homes Designed To Inspire"

By Lisa Sharkey and Paul Gleicher

Potter, $50, hardcover

This book focuses on 17 homes across the country that have been stylishly built, remodeled or renovated with innovative green products and design ideas. This is a gorgeous coffee-table book full of inspirational, aspirational photos. Home styles include the authors' New York brownstone, a Georgian eco-manor and an ocean-view, glass-walled contemporary in California. Three of the homes are in Austin. Each chapter also includes 10 specific "Green Features" tips to use at your own place. Within two minutes of cracking open this book, I was putting "I love this!" sticky notes on photos. A great book to have on the shelf for when you're ready to get into your own construction.

There are 0 comments - Display All Comments