The Green Book: Baby Steps to Save the Planet
Written: Sep 05 '07 (Updated Apr 16 '08)
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Pros: Not preachy or panicked, simple steps, clear writing...
Cons: Some weak celebrity cameos...
The Bottom Line: An encouraging call to change.
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen - The Gree... |
This review is part of Pambo's Earth Day Writeoff--to get more ideas about how to get Green, read more reviews gathered here: http://www.epinions.com/user-pambo
I still don't know that I'm 100% convinced about the whole global warming thing. I don't know if it's all one big cycle, and I don't know if it's human-caused. But I do think that humans are exceptionally good at damaging the environment, and in my own idyllic setting of the Salt Lake Valley, there are too many days in the winter when you can't even see the spectacular mountains because of all of the smog. So whether I "believe" in global warming or not, I do want to see if there are ways I can help.
As long as I don't have to go out of my way to do it. There are too many strident voices screaming at me these days, telling me that I use too much water when I flush the toilet, or I should only be using one square per wipe. And heaven help me, there are times I really need more. Maybe it's my diet.
The premise of "The Green Book" is that it's a set of easy steps that may help the planet. Even better, most of them also help your pocketbook. The authors don't take most of their ideas to extremes, and that makes them more palatable whether you're trying to save a few bucks or save the world.
Compared to other recent pro-environment books, The Green Book is neither preachy nor panicked, and is organized simply. There's just enough information to spur action, even if devotees of this particular book won't be chaining themselves to save trees anytime soon. The twelve chapters include almost every aspect of daily life:
Home
Entertainment
Travel
Communication/Technology
School
Work
Shopping
Health and Beauty
Sports
Money and Finance
Building
Going Carbon Neutral
Each chapter starts with a celebrity "cameo" -- a one-page spiel about why they're writing this and what they've done for the environment. Some of these are people I like, like Robert Redford, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jennifer Aniston--but there's someone for everyone. Martha Stewart, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tyra Banks all put their two cents in. Some of them are more well-versed than others, and some just sound like they want to cash their Green Check. In any case, these are hit and miss, and probably will be for most readers.
The meat of the matter is in the tips. Each chapter features "The Big Picture"...the sort of environmental hazards created by that particular part of our lives. It might be power usage, water, recyclable materials, or just waste in general. The data is in "The Big Picture," and although some of that data is frightening, it's couched in terms that are easy to understand and digest. Immediately following The Big Picture, each chapter has "The Simple Steps." If I could only recommend one part of the book, this would be it. Three simple steps that are easy enough for anyone to do, and can add up to a difference both environmentally and economically.
Some of the Simple Steps from throughout the book:
Take a shorter shower: Every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water...
Use fewer napkins--everywhere. There's no need to grab a huge stack of napkins from the concessions stand when you know you'll only use one or two...
Buy rechargeable batteries, and you'll save money over the long term. A single rechargeable battery can replace up to one thousand single-use alkaline batteries over its lifetime...
Walk to school. Only 31 percent of children who live less than one mile from school walk there...
If you're asked "paper or plastic?" at checkout, choose paper...
Buy a quality razor with refillable blades. Disposable plastic razors are neither recyclable nor biodegradable, and they take significantly more energy to produce...
If the weather's right, consider giving the treadmill a rest and taking your walking or jogging routine outdoors..
Most of these steps really are "baby steps," but they are signficant. And they included a lot of common sense, and many things I'd heard before, but also some surprises in categories I hadn't thought of. Things like that a natural Christmas tree is actually more environmentally friendly than an artificial one; bars of soap more friendly than liquid wash; using sleep mode on just one computer could save you fifty dollars in energy costs each year.
I bought this book when I was on a "green high" about a month ago, and then got "overgreened" and didn't even want to read it. I'm glad I did. When the rest of the genre literature is panicking and issuing its strident calls, this one is a calmer, more encouraging voice. If you're interested in saving some money and possibly saving the planet, give "The Green Book" about an hour of your time. You can still flush twice if you need to.
MORE GREEN STUFF:
The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook http://www.epinions.com/content_400766439044
It’s Easy Being Green http://www.epinions.com/content_290508344964
The Weather Makers http://www.epinions.com/content_230263524996
Last Child in the Woods http://www.epinions.com/content_192732958340
http://www.greenmatters.com
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org
http://www.climatefriendly.com
This is fifth in CopeSullivan’s Fifty Reviews By Halloween Write-Off. Save the Cheerleader...
Recommended:
Yes
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Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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