9 Green Design Books to Add to Your Recommended Reading List

Whether you're heading back to class or not, you can always learn a new thing or two about design by cracking open a good book. There are plenty of great green design books to choose from and no matter if you fantasize about <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/tiny-house">tiny houses</a>, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/architecture/cargotecture">shipping container studios</a> or <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/architecture/prefab-housing">prefab homes</a>, you can find one to feed your passion or add to your expertise. At the same time, experts in the world of sustainable business practices are sharing their knowledge and there's no doubt we could learn a thing or two from them. Read on to see our top green design book recommendations to pop in your Kindle or Nook or order from your local book store.

<strong>THE GREEN ROOF MANUAL: A PROFESSIONAL GUIDE TO DESIGN, INSTALLATION, &amp; MAINTENANCE</strong> </p> Fascinated with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/green-roofs">green roofs</a> like we are. Go more in depth and to learn how these amazing insulating roof are installed and all about the plants that make them up. Don't worry there's plenty of green roof porn to wet your whistle. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Roof-Manual-Professional-Installation/dp/1604690496/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1315338952&amp;sr=1-2" target="_blank">$26.37 at Amazon &gt;</a>

<strong>THE SMALL HOUSE BOOK</strong> </p> Jay Schafer is leading a revolution with his <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interview-we-chat-with-16-year-old-tiny-house-builder-austin-hay/">tiny house</a> plans and the latest release of his book explores 22 houses that can all be built for less than $20k! Jump on the bandwagon and find out how you can have your own micro house. </p> <a href="http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/books/" target="_blank">$29.95 at Tumbleweed Houses &gt;</a>

<strong>GREEN INTERIOR DESIGN</strong> </p> Green homes are more than their HVAC and grey water systems and the interiors are what can really make for an amazing project. Vendors, ideas and gorgeous photos will have your itching to create sustainable paradises you've always wanted. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Interior-Design-Lori-Dennis/dp/1581157452/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1315338918&amp;sr=1-3" target="_blank">$17.82 at Amazon &gt;</a>

<strong>THE VERTICAL FARM: FEEDING THE WORLD IN THE 21st CENTURY</strong> </p> Dr. Dick Despommier is the world's leading expert on vertical farming and his recent book explains his theories if full detail. If you've ever had questions about how a vertical farm would actually work, this book has the answers. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vertical-Farm-Feeding-World-Century/dp/B0055X6F1A/ref=pd_sim_b_4" target="_blank">$10.40 at Amazon &gt;</a>

<strong>DESIGN REVOLUTION: 100 PRODUCTS THE EMPOWER PEOPLE</strong> </p> Emily Pilloton (ah hem. Inhabitat Senior Editor) has made waves in the design world with her organization Project H Design and her inspiring book details how good design can make lives better. This is what we read at breakfast to start our day. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Design-Revolution-Products-Empower-People/dp/1933045957/ref=sr_1_42?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1315342589&amp;sr=1-42" target="_blank">$23.07 at Amazon &gt;</a>

<strong>CONTAINER ATLAS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CONTAINER ARCHITECTURE</strong> &lt;/p? In theory it seems easy to build with shipping containers - they&#039;re just big legos right? Experts in the field present lessons learned and tips and tricks for how to actually build with containers. Plus there&#039;s a ton example projects to get your creative juices flowing. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Container-Atlas-Practical-Guide-Architecture/dp/3899552865/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1315342902&amp;sr=1-4" target="_blank">$49.14 at Amazon &gt;</a>

<strong>PREFAB ARCHITECTURE: A GUIDE TO MODULAR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION</strong> </p> We're still not completely sure why we love prefab so much, but we do and any chance we can take any chance we can to fuel the fire. Here's a no nonsense guide to modular construction, history of prefab and some recent examples by the leaders in the field. We wish this had been one of our college courses. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prefab-Architecture-Modular-Design-Construction/dp/0470275618/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1315343399&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">$46.68 at Amazon &gt;</a>

<strong>CRADLE TO CRADLE: REMAKING THE WAY WE MAKE THINGS</strong> </p> Whether you've read this book a thousand times and dropped it in your bathtub to see if it would get wet or if you're just hearing about it, this seminal classic is a must read for anyone interested in sustainability. We strongly advise adding it to your permanent collection. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cradle-Remaking-Way-Make-Things/dp/0865475873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1315362736&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">$15.80 at Amazon &gt;</a>

<strong>BUSINESS LESSONS FROM A RADICAL INDUSTRIALIST</strong> </p> Sadly, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interview-ray-anderson-on-climbing-the-mountain-of-corporate-sustainability/">Ray Anderson</a> passed away earlier this year, but we can still learn a lot from the man who is considered one of the grandfathers of sustainable business practices. Wise lessons from a wise man who will sorely be missed. </p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Business-Lessons-Radical-Industrialist-Anderson/dp/0312544553/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1315361346&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">$10.87 at Amazon &gt;</a>