Ever since Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring sounded the alarm about the effects of pesticides on the environment, countless books have been published that show how human behavior is taking a toll on the planet. Taken together, they present a convincing argument. But even if you want to start living a healthier, more environmentally responsible lifestyle, where do you begin?
That's where Living Green: The Missing Manual comes in. Although this book gives you plenty of reasons to think about your impact on the planet, its real focus is practical suggestions for making your impact a positive one. These pages are packed with tips, ideas, and instructions for greening in all areas of your life: at home, on the road, at work, at the grocery store, and beyond.
You probably picked up this book for one of two reasons: Either you're wondering what all the environmentalists are so worked up about (and what it has to do with you) or you're committed to living more responsibly and looking for more ways to put your ideals into practice. Either way, this book is for you. You'll get both the whys and the hows of greener living, and learn things you can do today to make the world a better place for everyone—now and for generations to come.
You'll be happy to know that the pages of this book are printed on 100% recycled paper that's made using biogas energy, a renewable fuel source. Every ton of this paper that's manufactured saves 17 trees and over 10,000 gallons of water compared to paper from virgin materials.
Living Green: The Missing Manual is divided into three parts, each containing several chapters:
Part I, Living Green Begins at Home helps you find ways to start living a healthier, greener lifestyle. Individuals don't have a lot of control over government policies or corporate practices, but you're the undisputed ruler of your home (well, unless you have a cat—then everyone knows who's really the boss). These chapters help you make your home a greener, healthier place to live:
Home Green Home: Creating a Safe, Earth-Friendly Place to Live (Chapter 1) gives you a tour of the hazards that may be lurking in cupboards, closets, and other parts of your home. You may be surprised to learn how many seemingly innocuous products could be harming your family's health. But don't worry—the chapter is packed with recipes and tips for healthy, natural alternatives. And you'll also find tips for growing a lawn that's both lush and nontoxic.
Save Energy, Money, and the Earth (Chapter 2) is all about energy efficiency. This chapter shows you how to do a home energy audit (or hire a pro to do one for you), how to choose energy-efficient appliances, and how to avoid wasting energy and increasing your bills. Saving energy means reducing your carbon footprint, so you can save money and help the planet at the same time.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Chapter 3) takes a familiar mantra—the new three Rs—and shows why it's important. This chapter also offers fresh thinking on how to reduce consumption (and waste), find new uses for old items, and recycle just about everything, including stuff like electronics and worn-out tires.
Building and Remodeling (Chapter 4) explains the principles of green construction and shows how to put them to work for you, whether you're building a new home or remodeling an existing one. You'll learn about LEED certification (what that means and why you should look for it) finding a contractor you can work with, and hazards to watch out for when remodeling.
Part II, Greening Your Lifestyle looks at greener ways to do everyday things. Whether you're playing with the kids, giving the dog a bath, eating a cheeseburger, or shopping for a new t-shirt, these chapters help you find more earth-friendly ways to do them:
Raising a Green Family (Chapter 5) looks at how to ensure a nontoxic environment for your baby, get through the first couple of years of a baby's life without adding a mountain of diapers to landfills, teach your kids respect for the earth, and encourage teens to take responsibility and get involved. There's also a section on green pet care.
Eating Green: It's Not Just Spinach Anymore (Chapter 6) explains how food is produced in the modern world—and how you can choose food that's made without toxic chemicals or iffy farming practices. Whether you're growing your own food or buying it at the store, you'll learn what organic means and why it's good for you. You'll also find tips on eating healthy when you go out.
Responsible Shopping (Chapter 7) helps you feel better about the purchases you make by pointing out earth-friendly options. You'll read about fair-trade goods, organic and natural clothing, and nontoxic health and beauty products. You'll also learn about environmentally friendly gifts and companies that give something back.
Going Green: Transportation and Travel (Chapter 8) explores traveling in ways that don't leave giant-sized carbon footprints all along your route. Get tips for minimizing driving—and getting better fuel efficiency when you do go by car. Find the most fuel-efficient car so you can save money at the pump and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. And if you're taking a longer trip (whether for business, pleasure, or a little of both), you'll find tips for getting there greener.
Part III, A Greener World moves beyond the home and personal spheres to the big, wide world. Whether it's in your community, your country, or across the globe, you can join forces with others to improve the quality of life on earth:
Green Business Is Good Business (Chapter 9) shows that making a difference and making a profit don't have to conflict. This chapter begins with ways you can green your workplace, from reducing waste to starting an office recycling program. It also looks at green-collar jobs, predicted to grow throughout the next decade and beyond. And it finishes with ways that companies can go greener, by purchasing carbon offsets and donating to earth-loving charities.
Alternative and Renewable Energy (Chapter 10) peeks into the future of energy, looking at technologies that are currently in use, under development, or on the horizon to produce power that's clean, renewable, and sustainable. The chapter covers wind, solar, and geothermal energy; hydropower; biomass; and hydrogen fuel cells.
Getting Involved (Chapter 11) suggests ways to use your time, efforts, and money to make a difference and help the earth. You'll learn about starting a grassroots project in your community, finding likeminded environmentalists online, and participating in national and international efforts. The chapter also covers environmentally responsible investing, so you can do good in the world while funding your nest egg.
At www.missingmanuals.com, you'll find articles, tips, and updates to this book. In fact, we invite and encourage you to submit such corrections and updates yourself. In an effort to keep this book as up to date and accurate as possible, each time we print more copies of it, we'll make any confirmed corrections you've suggested. We'll also note such changes on the website, so you can mark important corrections into your copy of the book, if you like. (Go to http://missingmanuals.com/feedback, choose the book's name from the pop-up menu, and then click Go to see the changes.)
Also on our Feedback page, you can get expert answers to questions that come to you while reading this book, write a book review, and find groups for folks who share your interest in green living.
We'd love to hear your suggestions for new books in the Missing Manual line. There's a place for that on missingmanuals.com, too. And while you're online, you can also register this book at www.oreilly.com (you can jump directly to the registration page by going to http://tinyurl.com/yo82k3). Registering means we can send you updates about this book, and you'll be eligible for special offers like discounts on future editions of Living Green: The Missing Manual.
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