Living Green: The Missing Manual : The Missing Manual

Taking care of the earth is more important than ever, but the problems we're facing can seem overwhelming. __Living Green: The Missing Manual__ helps make earth-friendly decisions more manageable by narrowing them down to a few simple choices. This all-in-one resource is packed with practical advice on ways you can help the environment by making simple changes in your home routine, work habits, and the way you shop and get around town. You don't have to embark on a radical new lifestyle to make a difference. __Living Green: The Missing Manual__ shows you how small changes can have a big impact. With this book, you will: * Learn how to make your home energy efficient and free of toxic chemicals * Discover how to reduce waste, repurpose and recycle, and do more with less * Build and remodel earth-friendly homes with new techniques and materials * Learn tips for buying organic food and what it takes to grow your own * Get helpful information on fuel-efficient cars, including hybrid and electric models * Make your workplace greener and more cost-effective -- from changes at your desk to suggestions for company-wide policies * Explore how to choose renewable energies, such as wind and solar power The book also provides you with ways to connect with like-minded people and offers a survey of exciting new green technologies. Learn how you can help the planet with __Living Green: The Missing Manual__. Home Green Home: Creating a Safe, Earth-Friendly Place to Live......Page 23 The Chemicals You Live With......Page 24 How Household Chemicals Can Affect Your Health......Page 27 Clean and Green: Environmentally Friendly Cleaning......Page 30 Nontoxic Furnishings......Page 41 A Greener Lawn......Page 42 Save Energy, Money, and the Earth......Page 55 How Efficient Is Your Home?......Page 56 Should You Downsize?......Page 64 Heating and Cooling Efficiently......Page 66 Getting More out of Your Appliances......Page 70 Water-Saving Strategies......Page 77 Let There Be (Compact Fluorescent) Light......Page 83 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle......Page 91 A Trashy Odyssey......Page 92 How Low Can You Go? Aiming for Zero Waste......Page 98 Reducing: Doing More with Less......Page 99 Reusing: Use It Again, Sam......Page 108 Recycling: What Goes Around Comes Around......Page 115 So Hard to Say Goodbye: Special Problems in Recycling......Page 122 Building and Remodeling......Page 131 LEEDing the Way to Green Buildings......Page 132 Principles of Green Building Design......Page 134 Special Problems in Remodeling......Page 151 Finding a Builder......Page 156 Financing Green Construction......Page 157 Babies......Page 159 Kids......Page 173 Teens......Page 176 Pets......Page 180 Eating Green: It’s Not Just Spinach Anymore......Page 185 What’s in That Cheeseburger?......Page 186 Genetically Modified Foods......Page 197 Go Organic......Page 199 How Green Does Your Garden Grow?......Page 205 Can I Ever Eat Out Again?......Page 216 Think Globally, Buy Locally......Page 217 Buy Recycled......Page 219 Giving Fair Trade a Fair Shake......Page 222 Compassion in Fashion......Page 226 Green Health and Beauty Products......Page 229 Environmentally Friendly Gifts......Page 235 Finding Companies That Get It......Page 237 Going Green: Transportation and Travel......Page 239 Getting Around Without a Car......Page 240 Driving Smarter......Page 246 Green Cars in Every Color......Page 248 Long-Distance Travel......Page 255 Ecotourism......Page 260 Green Business Is Good Business......Page 263 Greening the Workplace......Page 264 Greener Business Travel......Page 270 Buying Carbon Offsets......Page 273 Corporate Giving......Page 275 Why We Need New Energy Sources......Page 277 Wind Energy......Page 279 Solar Energy......Page 282 Water Power......Page 284 Geothermal Plants......Page 286 Bioenergy......Page 288 Hydrogen Fuel Cells......Page 289 Activism Begins with You......Page 291 Environmentally Responsible Investing......Page 297 Index......Page 301 Home Green Home: Creating a Safe, Earth-Friendly Place to Live 23 The Chemicals You Live With 24 How Household Chemicals Can Affect Your Health 27 Clean and Green: Environmentally Friendly Cleaning 30 Nontoxic Furnishings 41 A Greener Lawn 42 Save Energy, Money, and the Earth 55 How Efficient Is Your Home? 56 Should You Downsize? 64 Heating and Cooling Efficiently 66 Getting More out of Your Appliances 70 Water-Saving Strategies 77 Let There Be (Compact Fluorescent) Light 83 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 91 A Trashy Odyssey 92 How Low Can You Go? Aiming for Zero Waste 98 Reducing: Doing More with Less 99 Reusing: Use It Again, Sam 108 Recycling: What Goes Around Comes Around 115 So Hard to Say Goodbye: Special Problems in Recycling 122 Building and Remodeling 131 LEEDing the Way to Green Buildings 132 Principles of Green Building Design 134 Special Problems in Remodeling 151 Finding a Builder 156 Financing Green Construction 157 Raising a Green Family 159 Babies 159 Kids 173 Teens 176 Pets 180 Eating Green: It’s Not Just Spinach Anymore 185 What’s in That Cheeseburger? 186 Genetically Modified Foods 197 Go Organic 199 How Green Does Your Garden Grow? 205 Can I Ever Eat Out Again? 216 Responsible Shopping 217 Think Globally, Buy Locally 217 Buy Recycled 219 Giving Fair Trade a Fair Shake 222 Compassion in Fashion 226 Green Health and Beauty Products 229 Environmentally Friendly Gifts 235 Finding Companies That Get It 237 Going Green: Transportation and Travel 239 Getting Around Without a Car 240 Driving Smarter 246 Green Cars in Every Color 248 Long-Distance Travel 255 Ecotourism 260 Green Business Is Good Business 263 Greening the Workplace 264 Greener Business Travel 270 Buying Carbon Offsets 273 Corporate Giving 275 Alternative and Renewable Energy 277 Why We Need New Energy Sources 277 Wind Energy 279 Solar Energy 282 Water Power 284 Geothermal Plants 286 Bioenergy 288 Hydrogen Fuel Cells 289 Getting Involved 291 Activism Begins with You 291 Environmentally Responsible Investing 297 Index 301 Living Green: The Missing Manual packs in everything a consumer needs to know about building up a 'green' lifestyle, from conducting a home energy audit and replacing harmful cleaning chemicals with natural alternatives to eating greener, shopping better, and connecting with others. A powerful survey, this offers plenty of information for newcomers to green living and is a pick for any general lending library. Taking care of Planet Earth is more important than ever, but figuring out how to help can seem overwhelming. This book is packed with practical advice on choices and changes you can make.--[book cover]