Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I bought Ed Begley's Guide to Sustainable Living because I wanted the latest information on conserving, managing and producing energy and didn't want to read more than one book on the subject. Begley's book is a great way to get up to speed, and he presents a ton of information very clearly.
The book is comprehensive, yet easy to understand. The only section that could have been more comprehensive was on decorating the home, but Begley does covers the biggest basics.
In his introduction, he writes: "For this book, I've tried to take a front-end thinker approach to going green. If you make the right decisions and do things in the proper order, you can put money in your pocket, reduce waste and pollution in the city where you live, reduce our overall dependency on Mideast oil, and lead a healthier and more toxic-free life."
The first section is on conservation and doing a green home energy audit. He explains the different types of audits available. The section reviews in fine detail the different kinds of lighting, insulation, windows and doors to save money by conserving energy.
The next section is on producing--as in solar, wind building and remodeling. In building and remodeling, he discusses the importance of indoor air quality, size of building and what materials to use.
There is a chapter on gardening and composting that includes gray water irrigation. I do think he went a bit overboard when he recommends not buying annuals because they have sallow roots and need too much water. Watering a few pots of annuals will make no difference in the big picture.
The next section is on managing home--heating, including geothermal and wood burning, cooling and heating water.
He has a section on decorating and cleaning. He limits the discussion of decorating to flooring, countertops, cabinets and paint. The cleaning including his own line of cleaning products.
The next chapter is covered outfitting a nursery for babies.
The resources at the end of the book were very good.
So, if you are into embracing a green lifestyle, I highly recommend this book.
Author of Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Ed Begley, Jr.'s Guide to Sustainable Living: Learning to Conserve Resources and Manage an Eco-Conscious Life
From the environmental activist Newsweek called the "star of climate change" comes the ultimate guide to living green for those ready to take their eco-efforts up a notch.Ed Begley, Jr.'s Guide to Sustainable Living lays out a detailed road map culled from Ed's thirty-nine years of green living. For the first time ever, a comprehensive plan is provided, from effective conservation techniques to producing your own energy.Starting with the energy audit, Ed shows us how to create a game plan for resource conservation in the home. Then, once an adequate baseline of resource use is achieved, he leads us into more in-depth eco-matters, such as the production of alternative energy, and how to use solar and wind energy and a geothermal pump. As Ed's guide continues, the focus then turns to sustainable lifestyle management choices, such as home gardening, and guidelines on creating a green nursery for your children. This book covers it all–small to large–in plain language and in a progression from resource conservation to energy production and lifestyle management that makes both environmental and fiscal sense.There's something here for everyone–new and experienced environmentalists alike–and Ed walks you through every step of the way with helpful sidebars that outline costs and paybacks, as well as essays detailing his experiences of completing these eco-projects on his own home.
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