A Review of 'The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time'

A Guest Column
By Skinny Kitty

For Earth Day, I wanted to learn how I could be more green. I don’t even recycle, so it felt a bit overwhelming. But, my 7-year-old daughter has pointed out my responsibilities regarding our planet. So, I read “The Green Book”. The book has commentary from 14 different stars and it focuses on “simple steps” that allow you to make the biggest positive planetary impact with the least of amount of effort. Basically, it helps me to determine how I can be as green as possible and still be selfish. ☺ The book was a very easy read, it dumbed the issues down for me and I now have an action plan of how I am going to be a little more green.

Here is a list of items the book suggested that I already do! I learned that by my doing the things listed below that I am already doing green things. I will continue to do the following:

• Wash and reuse plastic bags.
• Buy compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Only run the dishwasher if it is a full load.
• Use left over plastic bags for trash bags.
• Turn off the tap water while brushing your teeth.
• Recycle dry cleaning hangers.
• Clean the dryer lint screen every time you use it (this also saves 5% on your electric bill).
• Use a commercial car wash instead of washing your own car.
• Garage sale unused items instead of throwing them away (make money).
• Reuse gift wrapping paper and bags.
• Read the newspaper online.
• Use a digital camera (only printing the photos you want saves paper and chemicals).
• Use GPS vs. a map.
• When making copies, always make them double-sided.
• Use a refillable pen.
• Purchase energy star appliances.
• Buy fresh fruit vs. canned (healthy too)
• File your tax refund electronically.

I felt so much better learning that I was doing some things that were saving the environment. I created the list below of things that I am going to begin to do to be more green. There were so many more other things I could do (a whole book full of ideas), but this is what I feel comfortable with doing to start out with little sacrifice whatsoever. It’s not easy being green, but I am going to try the following things. This is my selfish attempt at being more green.

• Recycle (after our garage sale, we will have space for the bins. We will be changing our trash company to do it. And we will be giving our money to a green-friendly business).
• Turn off the lights when I am not using them (save money).
• Recycle at work, too.
• Set our thermostat one degree higher for AC and one degree lower for heating (we should save $100 per year).
• Don’t flush every time you use the toilet…especially if someone is right there waiting to use it right after you.
• Recycle junk mail paper.
• Make one less trip to the dry cleaners (saves gas, plastic wrap, and hangers)
• Don’t buy CDs; download tunes.
• Don’t buy DVDs; rent them
• Buy Blue-Ray DVDs (more eco-friendly made)
• Take batteries and e-waste to a hazardous waste disposal site; don’t just throw them in the trash.
• Unplug my chargers after using (they waste a great deal of “stand-by” energy).
• Use both sides of paper.
• Avoid plastics with PVC.
• Use my ceramic mug at work and not disposable cups.
• Take one less paper napkin.
• Purchase recycled paper products.
• Avoid using rubber bands (I didn’t know they were made from petroleum).
• Use an eco-stapler (no metal staples).
• Teleconference/video conference vs. travel.
• Buy fair trade/rainforest alliance certified products (they practice sustainable agriculture).
• Buy organic as much as possible (no use of pesticides and it supports green business).
• Use beeswax or soy candles.
• Use recycled wrapping paper and reusable gift bags.
• Don’t ask for an ATM receipt.
• Request automatic deposits and withdrawals from the bank.

I encourage you to read the book to learn how you can become a little more green.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: I must confess that liberal though we may be, we have never bothered to recycle, as Skinny Kinny pointed out. Even conservative blogger, Larry Litle, recycles. He's done so for a long time. For some reason this liberal-slanted family hasn't bothered. Frankly, it's rather hypocritical of us not to do it. In my opinion, recycling is the moral, ethical and Christian thing to do, but we have not done it for the same reason most people don't do it: We are too lazy. We have talked about it, but never gotten around to changing our trash service so that we can be better global citizens. I am not willing to store gobs of junk in my house then make the monthly trip to the recycling center. The times, well, they are a changin'. I felt that needed to be told. Consider this our public apology to the Earth.)