Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better: The Ultimate Guide to Saving the Planet, Saving Money, and Protecting Your Health

by Crissy Trask

Overview

Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better is an authoritative, practical guide that details the money-saving side of greener, healthier, and simpler living. Bestselling author of It’s Easy Being Green and sustainable-living expert Crissy Trask provides a prescriptive handbook for making better decisions about our homes, how we get around, what we eat, and how we behave as consumers, in order to simultaneously achieve two desirable and imperative goals—to be better off financially and to do what is good for the planet.

Laying out steps that will yield immediate results, Trask also provides explanations of bigger commitments that take time to implement, but also produce much bigger savings. With her practical money-saving strategies and environmental know-how, Trask empowers readers to confidently pursue change, knowing their bank accounts will grow as a result. Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better shows how typical families can easily save at least $10,000—and even as much as $30,000—in the first year alone by greening up some key areas of their homes and lives.

Other areas covered include:

• How green living is not exclusive, but highly accessible and affordable
• Five reasons you will live better and save money when going green
• How to start reaping economic rewards right away
• Taking green to the next level and getting more for your money
• Earning rich returns on green investments
• The link between better health and greater wealth
• And much more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626362703
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	04/20/2013
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Crissy
Trask is the bestselling author of It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for
Earth-Friendly Living, a freelance writer, professional consultant, and the creator of the earliest comprehensive green lifestyle website—www.greenmatters.com.

Table of Contents

List of Tables iv

Introduction vi

Disclaimer viii

Chapter 1 Green Living Is… Not Exclusive 1

Chapter 2 Getting Off to a Good Start 21

Chapter 3 Energy Efficiency Pays 37

Part I Walls, Windows, Doors, and Roof-a.k.a. Your Home's "Envelope" 41

Part II Major Appliances and Systems 52

Part III Lighting and Electronics 99

Chapter 4 Getting from Here to There Without Breaking the Bank 122

Chapter 5 Stop Flushing Money Down the Drain 149

Chapter 6 Healthy Food Can Be Affordable 178

Chapter 7 Anything You Can Buy New Is Cheaper Used 228

Chapter 8 Adding It All Up 245

Notes 253

Index 261

Editorial Reviews

Trask (It's Easy Being Green) focuses here on the financial benefits of an earth-friendly lifestyle. Most aspects of daily life are covered, including energy use, transportation, and food. Much of the focus is on consumerism and seeing the long-term financial rewards of smarter, environmentally friendly purchases and habits. Charts accompany the text, illustrating projected savings along with great informational tables—average life span of appliances, vehicle fuel costs, and water usage, for example. VERDICT While coverage is rather comprehensive, this has been done before and in greater depth. DIY energy efficiency is better covered by Paul Scheckel's Homeowner's Energy Handbook; Bea Johnson's Zero Waste Home better targets reducing household waste. Still, even with a broad approach, this remains a good kick start for readers not yet sold on a green lifestyle, and the cited websites are a great resource. Purchase where needed.

Library Journal