Change is in the autumn air. It may be Indian summer now, but cooler days are on the way. And so we begin to think about cozy interiors, lighting the darkness and, inevitably, facing our heating bills. That’s why in this issue we visit two brand-new housing developmentswith historic ties — and a colorful lamp store. We also check out a program that helps Burlington residents cut energy use and costs. And for good measure, we explore ways to make our backyards prettier in winter. One word, people: conifers.

Pamela Polston is a contributing arts and culture writer and editor. She cofounded Seven Days in 1995 with Paula Routly and served as arts editor, associate publisher and writer. Her distinctive arts journalism earned numerous awards from the Vermont...