Green Living for Dummies by Yvonne Jeffery, Liz Barclay, and Michael Grosvenor (read by Brett Barry)
c.2008, Harper Audio
$14.95/$16.25 Canada
3.5 hours on 3 CDs

Does it seem lately that everybody wants to “be green?” You go to the grocery store, and they’re selling green canvas bags – literally – for carrying groceries. The hardware store has a bin where you can throw away those squiggly new-fangled light bulbs when they die.
Even your workplace is looking for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle.

You’d love to “go green.” It all sounds great, but you’re afraid it will take two things you don’t have: time and money. So what can you do? You can start by listening to Green Living for Dummies by Yvonne Jeffery, Liz Barclay and Michael Grosvenor (read by Brett Barry). You’ll get dozens of easy-to-use tips that will get you (inexpensively) green in no time.

You already know that going green will help save the planet. You want to do your part, but your focus is on saving greenbacks more than anything. You don’t have the money for any extras these days. Can sustainable living coexist with a barely-sustainable bank account?

The authors of this book say yes – and it doesn’t take a lot of effort. It’s as easy as buying the double-size rolls of toilet paper, which gives you the same amount of TP but saves 50 percent more of those cardboard tubes in the middle.

You’ll save on cleaning supplies if you follow the authors’ tips, too. Start with the cabinet full of commercial cleaners in your kitchen.
There’s no need to throw them out; instead, use them up, then replace them with greener cleaners when the bottles are empty.
Better yet, take a look at what’s already in your pantry. Lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar in different combinations make fine (and environmentally-friendly) cleaners. Vinegar and olive oil are for more than just salad.

Speaking of food, you probably already know that organic eating is healthier, but did you know that those little labels on fresh fruit can give you big information?

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” has been the rallying cry for the green movement, but the authors of this audiobook add one more: Re-gift. Give away that which you don’t use. Pass on that perfect-for-someone-else present you got last year by using the three Gs: generous, green, and guilt-free. Just when you thought you’d heard every possible “green” tip in the entire world, along comes Green Living for Dummies. Authors Yvonne Jeffery, Liz Barclay and Michael Grosvenor offer tips filled with the simplest of things that are the easiest to implement, on three CDs that are quick and enjoyable to listen to, at a price that’s right. How can you go wrong?

You’ll learn how to gently work green into your lifestyle, from home to work and everywhere in between. The tips come fast (and alas, the websites really too fast), which means this audiobook is one you won’t want to re-gift because you’ll be reusing it yourself.
If you think there’s no time or money for being eco-minded, pick up Green Living for Dummies. This audiobook will help you go green without going into the red.

Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was three years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books. Readers with questions or comments may write to her in care of this publication.