You can give both your home and your lawn an eco-friendly makeover this summer, as described in two new books. The Carbon Buster's Home Energy Handbook, by Godo Stoyke, an energy efficiency consultant, explains that carbon busting - that is, reducing carbon emissions by making your home more energy efficient - is not only good for the environment, but profitable as well. Stoyke notes that by following the recommendations he presents in the book, a typical family can cut annual carbon emissions by 70 percent and home energy bills by as much as $3,500. The author delves into the details of home electrical usage in particular, breaking out specific costs and carbon savings for a wide variety of practices and components. It's an informative source for serious carbon busters. (New Society Publishers; $12.95.)

Moving outside the home, The Organic Lawn Care Manual, by Maine-based horticulturist Paul Tukey, explains how to create a safe, natural lawn without the use of chemicals. (The book encourages homeowners to "Just Say No to Lawns on Drugs!") The big, colorful, information-packed book examines the anatomy of grass, describes how to build good soil (the foundation for any beautiful lawn), provides details on how to change your lawn's "diet" and discusses watering "dews" and don'ts. Our favorite chapter, however, is titled "The Nearly No-Mow Lawn." A lawn we don't have to mow every weekend? That's music to our ears. (Storey Publishing; $19.95.)