Design techniques include:

• Planting trees for the purpose of providing shade, which reduces cooling costs.

• Planting or building windbreaks to slow winds near buildings, which reduces heat loss.

• Wall sheltering, where shrubbery or vines are used to create a windbreak directly against a wall.

• Earth sheltering and positioning buildings to take advantage of natural landforms as windbreaks.

• Green roofs that cool buildings with extra thermal mass and evapotranspiration.

• Reducing the heat island effect with pervious paving, high albedo paving, shade, and minimizing paved areas.

• Site lighting with full cutoff fixtures, light level sensors, and high efficiency fixtures