Synopses & Reviews
Almost everything we do results in the production of CO2, but simple steps in our daily lives can make a huge difference. Each individual
can decrease his or her carbon footprint.
The Earth-Friendly Home: Save Energy - Reduce Consumption - Shrink Your Carbon Footprint shows readers what a carbon footprint is and offers common-sense approaches to reducing it. This book explores one's daily routine and figures out how much energy is used and how to go about making an immediate and sustainable reduction while retraining to live a lower-carbon lifestyle.
Synopsis
Tips on how to live green at home and tread more lightly on the earth.
Synopsis
Lader offers tips on how to live green at home in order to tread more lightlyon the earth.
Synopsis
Shows readers what a carbon footprint is and offers advice, tips, and common-sense approaches to reducing it in the home and in one's lifestyle.
Synopsis
Almost everything we do results in the production of CO2, but simple steps in our daily lives at home and elsewhere can make a huge difference. Each individual
can decrease his or her carbon footprint.
The Earth Friendly Home: Save Energy - Reduce Consumption - Shrink Your Carbon Footprint shows readers what a carbon footprint is and offers common-sense approaches to reducing it. This book explores one's daily routine and figures out how much energy is used and how to go about making an immediate and sustainable reduction while retraining to live a lower-carbon lifestyle.
* Readers will find answers to everyday dilemmas: Should one turn off the light if he or she leaves the room for 5 minutes? 10 minutes? an hour? Which is better, the electric hand dryer or a paper towel?
* Degrees of green options allow readers to gradually change their habits for good.
* The scientist-author isn't all talk and no action. Goucher wants to spread the word; he's working in reforestation and sustainable development, making a real commitment to the Earth.
* The beautiful book design and clear text makes content attractive and readable. Over 200 full-color photographs.
* Handy tips will help readers shrink their carbon footprint right away.
About the Author
For the past three years, David R. Goucher has worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Southeast Ecuador to create sustainable development in protection and preservation of the rain forest. Prior to that, David worked as an ORISE (Oak Ridge Institute of Scientific Education) Scholar doing biological research for the FDA, the National Cancer Institute, and Case Western Reserve University. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, David enjoys downhill skiing, rock climbing, distance running, and scuba diving.
Table of Contents
Foreword: Making Up Your Mind to Be Energy Efficient--Why It's Right for You What You Need to Know about Carbon Footprints
Some Common Misconceptions
Where the Energy Goes (includes charts and tables)
Your Carbon Footprint
How Much Energy Is Too Much?
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Introduction: Making Your House an Efficient Home
Types of Renewable Energy
What Is an Efficient Home?
All the Shades of Green
LEED Certification and Other Confusing Terms
Chapter 1. Assessing Your Needs
Doing an Energy Audit
Better Ways to Heat and Cool Your Space
Realistic Uses for Renewable Energy/ Sidebar: Pay a Small "Green Fee"--for Renewable Energy
Offsetting Your Travel
Detoxing Your Home/Sidebar: Peace Plants: A Breath of Fresh Air
Chapter 2. Choosing the Right Materials
Walls & Ceilings: Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) & nonwoods
Floors: Recycled, renewable, & organic materials (w/ flooring chart)/ Sidebar: Why Bamboo Is for You
Appliances: Properly fitting your space with energy-efficient appliances
How Much Electricity Do Appliances Use?
How to Read the EnergyGuide Label
Your Home Office
Save $$$ with the Flick of a Switch: Compact fluorescents and Powerstrips
Stuff It: Plugging the holes and gaps around windows and doors (with map of sources of air leaks in your home)
Feature: Insulating with Sheep's Wool and Other Natural Options
Stopping the Flow: Eliminating junk and other unwanted mail and paper; buying less and getting rid of more
Heating Clean and Green
Low-Impact Cooling
Feature: "Paper" Houses and Other Renewable Building Materials
Chapter 3. Make Your Clean Green: Low-impact Cleaning Products
Getting Clean with Less Effort and Energy
Laundry (Box: Mite-free Living with Organic Linens)
Housecleaning
Feature: Cleaning Where You Can't See: Make Your Refrigerator, AC, Furnace, or Chimney Run Better by Cleaning It
Dishwashing
Bath & Shower
Pets
Vacuuming versus Other Options (w/ chart)
Trash & Recycling
Chapter 4. The Great OutdoorsÑAround Your Home
Native Vegetation: Low-upkeep Is Earth-friendly
Birds, Bees, and Butterflies
Vegetables and Fruits
Flowers and Plants/Box: Worm Castings: Natural Fertilizer
Nontoxic Pesticides (including insects)
Composting
Energy-efficient Landscaping
Shading
Windbreaking
Xeriscaping (Water usage)
Outdoor Lighting
Feature: Eco-pools: Chemical-free Fun (featuring comparison chart)
Chapter 5. Buying Local
The Cost of Moving Food on the Environment
Green Tips: Bagging It/Sizing Up: If you're going to use it up anyway, get more product for less packaging/Buying local also reduces packaging
Feature: DIY: From-scratch baking
Chapter 6. How Green Is Your Ride?
Car Maintenance Tips for a Greener and Cheaper Ride
Feature: Low-Carbon Cars: Hybrids & SMART Cars
Ride-sharing & Public Transportation/Box: Green-transit Cities: Curitiba, Brazil & Portland, Oregon
Human Power: Walking, Biking, Skating, Scootering
Telecommuting: Focusing on Work Instead of How to Get There/Box: Your Home Office
Chapter 7. Carbon Checklist: What You Do and How You Do It
At Home
On the Road
At Work or School
On Vacation: Putting Your House on Hiatus
Apartment Living
"Turn Out the Lights": Talking Energy Conservation with the Kids
Feature: Accentuate the Negative (Energy Home): Producing More Energy Than Consumed
References
Glossary
Index
Credits/Acknowledgments