Don't Miss Lists and Other Reading Resources

Sustaining Our World, Our Communities, Ourselves: Resources for Earth-Friendly Living

Resources for Earth Friendly Living, rev. February 2006

An Introduction to Sustainability

• Conservation in the Internet Age: Threats and Opportunities, ed. by James M. Levitt. Island Press, 2002. (333.72 C765co)
• The Crowded Greenhouse: Population, Climate Change, and Creating a Sustainable World, by John Firor. Yale Univ. Press, 2002. (363.738745 F519c)
• Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis: A Report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Island Press, 2005. (304.2 Ec75e)
• Keepers of the Spring: Reclaiming Our Water in an Age of Globalization, by Fred Pearce. Island Press, 2004. (333.91 P314k)
• The Land We Share: Private Property and the Common Good, by Eric T. Freyfogle. Island Press/Shearwater Books, 2003. (333.30973 F898l).
• Protecting the Commons: A Framework for Resource Management in the Americas, ed. by Joanna Burger. Island Press, 2001. (333.7097 P946p)
• Rewilding North America: A Vision for Conservation in the 21st Century, by Dave Foreman. Island Press, 2004. (333.9516097 F761r)
• A Safe and Sustainable World: The Promise of Ecological Design, by Nancy Jack Todd. Island Press, 2005. (628 T566s)
• The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift,by Andres R. Edwards. New Society Publishers, 2005. (338.927 Ed95s)
• Triumph of the Mundane: The Unseen Trends That Shape Our Lives and Environment, by Hal Kane. Island Press, 2001. (304.28 K131t)
• The Wellbeing of Nations: A Country-By-Country Index of Quality of Life and the Environment, by Robert Prescott-Allen. Island Press, 2001. (363.7 P925w)

Ecological Thought and Psychology

• Awakening to Nature: Renewing Your Life by Connecting with the Natural World, by Charles Cook. Contemporary Books, 2001. (508 C771a)
• The Co-Creator’s Handbook: An Experiential Guide for Discovering Your Life’s Purpose and Building a Co-Creative Society, by Carolyn Anderson. Global Family, 2001. (303.4 An23c)
• Deep Ecology and World Religions: New Essays on Sacred Ground, ed. by David Landis Barnhill. State Univ. of New York Press, 2001. (179.1 D36d)
• Environmentalism & the Technologies of Tomorrow: Shaping the Next Industrial Revolution. Island Press, 2005. (338.927 En89e)
• Ethics and Sustainability: Sustainable Development and the Moral Life, by Lisa H. Newton. Prentice Hall, 2003. (179.1 N485e)
• The Good in Nature and Humanity: Connecting Science, Religion, and Spirituality with the Natural World, ed. by Stephen R. Kellert. Island Press, 2002. (261.55 G591g)

Simple Living

• Discussion Course on Voluntary Simplicity, by Northwest Earth Institute. Northwest Earth Institute, 2003. (Bookclub Kit)
• Extreme Simplicity: Homesteading in the City, by Christopher Nyerges. Chelsea Green, 2002. (640.49 N988e)
• Money: Understanding and Creating Alternatives to Legal Tender, by Thomas H. Greco, Jr. Chelsea Green, 2001. (332.42042 G799m)
• Timeless Simplicity: Creative Living in a Consumer Society, by John Lane. Green Books, 2001. (178 L242t)

Sustainable Households and Gardens

• Day Range Poultry: Every Chicken Owner’s Guide to Grazing Gardens and Improving Pastures, by Andy Lee. Good Earth, 2002. (636.5 L51d)
• Essential Environments: Discover How to Create Healthy Living Spaces, by Janie Quinn. Azure Moon Pub., 2004. (640 Q44e)
• The Gaia Book of Organic Gardening. Gaia; Distributed in the United States by Sterling Publishing, 2005. (635.987 G123g)
• Green Living: The E Magazine Handbook for Living Lightly on the Earth. Plume, 2005. (640 G82g)
• The Home Energy Diet: How to Save Money by Making Your House Energy-Smart, by Paul Scheckel. New Society Publishers, 2005. (644 Sch21h)
• Natural Pest Control: Don’t Panic, It’s Organic!: Alternatives to Chemicals for the Organic Home, Organic Garden, Organic Farmer, Organic Professional, by Andrew Lopez. Invisible Gardener, 2004. (635.049 L881n 2004)
• Organic Living in 10 Simple Lessons, by Karen Sullivan. Barron’s, 2001. (641.302 Su54o)
• Put Your House on a Diet: Declutter Your Home and Reclaim Your Life, by Ed Morrow. Rodale; Distributed to the trade by Holtzbrinck Publishers, 2005. (648.5 M834p)
• Redesigning the American Lawn: A Search for Environmental Harmony, by F. Herbert Bormann. Yale Univ. Press, 2001. (635.96470973 B645r2)
• Slow Food: Collected Thoughts on Taste, Tradition, and the Honest Pleasures of Food, ed. by Carlo Petrini. Chelsea Green, 2001. (641.013 SL59s)
• $mart power: An Urban Guide to Renewable Energy and Efficiency, by William H. Kemp. Aztext Press, 2004. (644 K32s)
• This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader, by Joan Dye Gussow. Chelsea Green Pub. Co., 2001. (635.04840974728 G977o)

Sustainable Building

• Alternative Construction: Contemporary Natural Building Methods. Wiley, 2000. (691 Al79a)
• Architecture in a Climate of Change: A Guide to Sustainable Design, by Peter F. Smith. Architectural Press, 2001. (720.47 Sm63a)
• The Art of Natural Building: Design, Construction, Resources, ed by Joseph F. Kennedy. New Society, 2001. (690 Ar75a)
• Big and Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the Twenty- First Century, ed. by David Gissen. Princeton Architectural Press, 2003. (720.47074753 B48b)
• Building a Straw Bale House: The Red Feather Construction Handbook, by Nathaniel Corum. Princeton Architectural Press, 2005. (693.997 C818b)
• Building with Earth: A Guide to Flexible-Form Earthbag Construction, by Paulina Wojciechowska. Chelsea Green, 2001. (693.91 W829b)
• Building with Vision: Optimizing and Finding Alternatives to Wood, by Dan Imhoff. Watershed Media, 2001. (691 Im3b)
• Construction Ecology: Nature As the Basis for Green Buildings, ed. by Charles J. Kibert. Spon Press, 2002. (720.47 C766c)
• Ecohouse 2: A Design Guide, by Susan Roaf. Architectural, 2003. (690.837 R531e2)
• Freewheeling Homes, by David Pearson. Chelsea Green, 2002. (728.79 P317f)
• Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time, by David Johnston. New Society Publishers, 2004. (643.7 J642g)
• The Hand-Sculpted House: A Philosophical and Practical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage, by Ianto Evans. Chelsea Green, 2002. (693.22 Ev15h)
• High Fit Home: Designing Your Home for Health and Fitness, by Joan Vos MacDonald. Harper Design, 2004. (728.0246137 M145h)
• Landscrapers: Building with the Land, by Aaron Betsky. Thames & Hudson, 2002. (720.47 B465e)
• Living Homes: Integrated Design & Construction, by Thomas J. Elpel. HOPS Press, 2005. (690.837 El69l5)
• New Old House: Designing with Reclaimed Materials, by Ed Knapp. Gibbs Smith, 2002. (747 K727n)
• New Organic Architecture: The Breaking Wave, by David Pearson. University of California Press, 2001. (720.47 P317n)
• Prescriptions for a Healthy House: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders, and Homeowners, by Paula Baker-Laporte. New Society, 2001. (690.837 B178p2)
• Wrightscapes: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Landscape Designs, by Charles E. Aguar. McGraw-Hill, 2002. (712.092 W931a)

Alternative Energy and Technology

• Alternative Cars in the 21st Century: A New Personal Transportation Paradigm, by Robert Q. Riley. SAE International, 2004. (333.47629222 R455a2)
• Alternative Energy Sources, by Sally Morgan. Heinemann Library, 2003. (333.794 M823a)
• Audel HVAC Fundamentals. Vol. 3, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, and Distribution Systems, by James E. Brumbaugh. Wiley Technology Pub., 2004-. (697 B834a4 v3)
• Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy, by Greg Pahl. Chelsea Green Pub., 2005. (662.669 P151b)
• Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House, by Redwood Kardon. Taunton Press, 2002. (621.31924 K145c 2002)
• Code Check HVAC: A Field Guide to Heating and Cooling, by Michael Casey. Taunton Press, 2005. (697 C268c2)
• Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solar Power for Your Home, by Dan Ramsey. Alpha, 2003. (643.2 R149c)
• Design for Sustainability: A Sourcebook of Integrated Eco-Logical Solutions, by Janis Birkeland. Earthscan, 2002. (363.7 B534d)
• Energy Efficient Buildings: Architecture, Engineering, and the Environment, by Dean Hawkes. Norton, 2002. (720.472 H313e)
• Energy: Science, Policy, and the Pursuit of Sustainability, ed. by Robert D. Bent. Island Press, 2002. (333.79 En27es)
• Environmental Monitoring. CRC Press, 2004. (363.7363 En89e)
• Gaiam Real Goods Solar Living Source Book: Your Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living. Gaiam Real Goods; Distributed by New Society Pub., 2005. (333.7923 G127g12)
• Going Solar: Understanding and Using the Warmth in Sunlight, by Stanley, Tomm. Stonefield Publishing; Distributed in North America by Chelsea Green, 2004. (690.8370472 St25g)
• HVAC Controls: Operation and Maintenance, by Guy W. Gupton. Marcel Dekker, 2002. (697 G959h3)
• Living with the Genie: Essays on Technology and the Quest for Human Mastery. Island Press, 2003. (303.483 L761l)
• The New Solar Electric Home: The Photovoltaics How-To Book, by Joel Davidson. Aatec Publications, 2005.
• Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World, by Richard Heinberg. New Society Publishers, 2004. (333.794 H364p)
• Principles of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning: A Textbook with Design Data Based on the 2001 ASHRAE Handbook-Fundamentals, by Harry J. Sauer, Jr. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, 2001. (697 Sa85p 2001)
• Reaping the Wind: How Mechanical Wizards, Visionaries, and Profiteers Help Shape Our Energy Future, by Peter Asmus. Island Press, 2001. (333.920973 As55r)
• Renewable Energy Systems: Design and Analysis with Induction Generators, by Marcelo Godoy Sim~oes. CRC Press, 2004. (621.3136 Si51r)
• Solar Energy: Fundamentals, Design, Modelling and Applications, by G. N. Tiwarik. CRC Press, 2002. (621.47 T543s)
• The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling, by Daniel D. Chiras. Chelsea Green, 2002. (697.78 C455s)
• Steam Plant Operation, by Everett B. Woodruff. McGraw-Hill, 2005. (621.1 W86s8)
• Sun,Wind & Light: Architectural Design Strategies, by G. Z. Brown. Wiley, 2001. (720.472 B813s2)
• Sustainable Energy: Choosing Among Options. MIT Press, 2005. (333.794 Su82s)
• Technology Transfer for Renewable Energy: Overcoming Barriers in Developing Countries, by Gill Wilkins. Earthscan, 2002. (338.926091724 W655t)

Sustainable Food and Agriculture

• Agri-Culture: Reconnecting People, Land and Nature, by Jules Pretty. Earthscan, 2002. (333.7616 P927a)
• Eco-farm: An Acres U.S.A. Primer, by Charles Walters. Acres U.S.A., 2003. (631.584 W171e3)
• Ecoagriculture: Strategies to Feed the World and Save Biodiversity, by Jeffrey A. McNeely. Island Press, 2003. (333.9516 M233e)
• Living on an Acre: A Practical Guide to the Self-Reliant Life. Lyons Press, 2003. (630 L761l)
• The Lost Language of Plants: The Ecological Importance of Plant Medicines to Life on Earth, by Stephen Harrod Buhner. Chelsea Green, 2002. (615.32 B867L)
• The Next Green Revolution: Essential Steps to a Healthy, Sustainable Agriculture, by James E. Horne. Food Products Press, 2001. (333.76160973 H783n)

Sustainable Communities

• Buckminster Fuller: Designing for Mobility, by Michael John Gorman. Skira; Thames & Hudson [distributor], 2005. (620.0092 F958g)
• Drafting a Conservation Blueprint: A Practitioner’s Guide to Planning for Biodiversity, by Craig Groves. Island Press, 2003. (333.9516 G919d)
• EcoVillage at Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture, by Liz Walker. New Society Publishers, 2005. (307.141720974771 W152e)
• Future Cities: Dynamics and Sustainability, ed. by Fred Moavenzadeh. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002. (307.760112 F989f)
• The High Cost of Free Parking, by Donald C. Shoup. Planners Press, American Planning Association, 2005. (388.474 Sh42h)
• Livable Neighborhood Program: About Making Life Better on the Street Where You Live, by Larry Shook. Global Action Plan, 2000. (307.1416 Sh77l)
• Native to Nowhere: Sustaining Home and Community in a Global Age, by Timothy Beatley. Island Press, 2004. (307 B38n)
• The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices, by Sarah James. New Society Publishers, 2004.
• Practical Ecology for Planners, Developers, and Citizens, by Dan L. Perlman. Island Press: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2005. (304.2 P422p)
• Skinny Streets and Green Neighborhoods: Design for Environment and Community, by Cynthia L. Girling. Island Press, 2005.
• Solving Sprawl: Models of Smart Growth in Communities Across America, by F. Kaid Benfield. Natural Resources Defense Council, 2001. (307.760973 B436s)
• Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously: Economic Development, the Environment, and Quality of Life in American Cities, by Kent E. Portney. MIT Press, 2003. (307. 760973 P837t)
• Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform. Brookings Institution Press, 2005. (388.40973 T139t)
• Toward Sustainable Communities: Resources for Citizens and Their Governments, by Mark Roseland. New Society Publishers, 2005.
• Transportation & Sustainable Campus Communities: Issues, Examples, Solutions, by Will Toor. Island Press, 2004. (378.19872 T619t)
• Urban Design: Green Dimensions, by Cliff Moughtin. Elsevier/Architectural Press, 2005. (711.42 M86u2)

Green Business and Economics

• The Company We Keep: Reinventing Small Business for People, Community, and Place, by John Abrams. Chelsea Green Pub. Co., 2005. (338.769080974494 Ab83c)
• Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough. North Point Press, 2001. (745.2 M147c)
• Dancing with the Tiger: Learning Sustainability Step by Natural Step, by Brian Nattrass. New Society, 2002. (658.408 N218d)
• Energy Management Handbook, by Wayne C. Turner. Fairmont Press; Distributed by Marcel Dekker, 2004. (658.26 T859e5) (Reference)
• Ethical Money: How to Invest in Sustainable Enterprises and Avoid the Polluters and Exploiters, by John Hancock. Kogan Page, 2002. (332.6 H191e)
• Land Conservation Financing, by Mike McQueen. Island Press, 2003. (333.73160973 M242l)
• The New Economy of Nature: The Quest to Make Conservation Profitable, by Gretchen C. Daily. Island Press, 2002. (333.72 D143n)
• The Next Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-In, by Bob Willard. New Society Publishers, 2005. (658.408 W661n)
• Perverse Subsidies: How Tax Dollars Can Undercut the Environment and the Economy, by Norman Myers. Island Press, 2001. (338.97302 M992p)
• Positive Impact Forestry: A Sustainable Approach to Managing Woodlands, by Thomas J. McEvoy. Island Press, 2004. (634.92 M157p)
• Poverty & the Public Utility: Building Shareholder Value Through Low-Income Initiatives, by Kevin Monte de Ramos. PennWell Corporation, 2005. (362.583 M764p)
• Scarcity and Growth Revisited: Natural Resources and the Environment in the New Millennium. Resources for the Future, 2005. (333.7 Sca72s)
• The Solar Economy: Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future, by Hermann Scheer. Earthscan, 2002. (333.794 Sch22s)

Books for Children

• America’s Prairies and Grasslands: Guide to Plants and Animals, by Marianne D. Wallace. Fulcrum Resources, 2001. (+577.40973 W155a)
• The Birds of Killingworth: Based on a Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, by Robert D. San Souci. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2002. (Picture Book San Souci)
• The Dancing Deer and the Foolish Hunter, by Elisa Kleven. Dutton Children’s Books, 2002. (Picture Book Kleven)
• Energy Alternatives, by Robert Snedden. Heinemann Library, 2002. (+333.79 Sn22e)
• Food Chains in a Backyard Habitat, by Isaac Nadeau. Rosen, 2002. (+577.5616 N123f)
• Forest Food Chains, by Bobbie Kalman. Crabtree Pub., 2005. (+577.3 K126f)
• Friendships in Nature, by James Gary Hines. NorthWord Press, 2002. (+577.85 H589f)
• Herbivores in the Food Chain, by Alice B. McGinty. PowerKids Press, 2002. (+591.54 M175h)
• Midnight Forests: A Story of Gifford Pinchot and Our National Forests, by Gary Hines. Boyds Mills Press, 2005.
• Producers in the Food Chain, by Alice B. McGinty. PowerKids Press, 2002. (+577.16 M175p)
• Scavengers and Parasites in the Food Chain, by Alice B. McGinty. PowerKids Press, 2002. (+577.16 M175s)
• Volcano!: An Explosive Tour of Earth’s Hot Spots, by Bill Haduch. Demco Media Distribution, 2002. (+551.21 H117v)

Videos and DVDs

• The Barcelona Blueprint (DVD). Bullfrog Films, 2001.
• The Next Industrial Revolution (DVD): William McDonough, Michael Braungart & the Birth of the Sustainable Economy. Earthome Productions, 2001. (304.2 N49n DVD)
• ReInventing the World. Cities. Bullfrog Films, 2000. (307.76 R279rc Video)
• ReInventing the World. Food. Bullfrog Films, 2000. (363.8 R279f Video)
• ReInventing the World. Work & Time. Bullfrog Films, 2000. (650.1 R279rw Video)
• Subdivide and Conquer: A Modern Western. Bullfrog Films, 1999. (307.140978 Su14sd Video)

Magazines*

• Audubon (print)
• E Magazine (electronic)
• Ecological Research (electronic)
• Ecologist (electronic)
• Mother Earth News (print and electronic)
• Sierra (print and electronic)
• Utne (print)
• World Watch (electronic)

*These magazines from the library’s general collection are included because of their emphasis on sustainable living.

Web Sites

• Madison Public Library - Access to LINKcat, the electronic catalog of the South Central Library System.
• Sustain Dane - Information on Sustain Dane; a comprehensive, updated directory of Madison-area sustainability organizations; and information on other sustainability resources.
• MGE - Energy-saving tips from furnaces to insulation and air conditioning. Help with your energy questions is available also from MGE’s energy experts by calling the Home Energy Line, 252-7117 (long-distance 1-800-245-1125), 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Additional Energy and Environmental Resources

The majority of these items have been published in the past five years but many older titles on these subjects remain useful and available in the Madison Public Library and other Dane County Libraries. Look for them in Linkcat under subject headings such as: Architecture and energy conservation; Energy conservation; Environmentalism; Organic living; Renewable energy sources ; Solar energy; and Sustainable development.

Portable Energy Meters

Madison and other participating Dane County public libraries became the first in North America to add portable energy meters to their circulating collections through WEEB funds and MGE donations. Accurate and easy to use, this tool has helped hundreds of individuals and businesses save energy and make appliance decisions. Each meter comes in its own carrying case with instructions and worksheets. It may be reserved for checkout through all public libraries in the South Central Library System.

• Reserve a Watt's Up Energy Meter
• Reserve a Portable Energy Meter