Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #169019 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Synopsis
Green consumerism is on the rise, but many of us are confused by an avalanche of information - much of it conflicting. We want to do the right thing to help save energy and resources, but where can we start as everyday consumers? Can we do anything to make a difference? Julia Hailes, environmental expert and co-author of the original Green Consumer Guide (Gollancz, 1988), is adamant that we can. The New Green Consumer Guide is accessible and reader-friendly, addressing all the questions the general consumer is asking, giving authoritative advice on a wide range of issues, explaining which products, brands and companies are getting it right - and which ones are getting it wrong. With clearly presented sections on home and garden, food and drink, electrical goods and the office, plus travel, transport, fashion and cosmetics, it is written with today's lifestyles in mind. With full-colour pages and illustrations throughout, and with scores of tips, checklists and ideas, The New Green Consumer Guide offers real, affordable solutions to the world's most-talked-about challenge. It will be the only guide to greener living that busy consumers will need.

Customer Reviews

Great point of reference
I bought this book to try and help me live more ethically and be greener. I would describe it s a great reference book, even though I read it cover to cover it will now sit on my shelf to dip into when I need info about something. Great up to date references to other organisations and websites.

Perfect for beginners
I began 2008 with a resolution to be greener. The problem is that there is a lot of conflicting and confusing advice available as to what is the best way to manage your life for the best. What I needed was a guide book to lead me through confusion and explain to me what the options are, what I should and should not be doing. When I saw The New Green Consumer Guide, I decided to buy it and put my trust in it.

I had worried it might be a bit of a preachy "thou shalt not live in the 21st century" type book but in fact it is quite the opposite. It is practical, with Julia Hailes telling it how it is. She makes excellent use of lists, the modern way of making books readable for the lazy and time poor (like me), and you can pop in and out of the book, picking up useful bits of information about the areas of green living that you want or need to know, one at a time. For example:

Shopping: Julia lists the results of her supermarket survey but then gives more detail about the good and bad bits that you might not have previously considered in supermarket shopping.

Energy: Why home wind turbines sound great but might not be the answer to all our prayers.

Nappies: Disposables or reusables? Julia gives the arguments for and against both and this one shows that there is always more to it than meets the eye. As a beginner, I thought that every environmentalist would automatically have gone for reusables. But Julia points out that this means frequent washing at 60 degrees, which is up there with dumping disposables in landfill for being bad for the environment.

The book asks questions, answers questions, raises awareness and provides many useful references in websites and organisations. Some of the information is already a little out of date, such as the CHP boiler providers and (inevitably) the cars available with ultra low emissions. However, I would expect that anyone wanting to green up their life would, like me, use more than one point of reference to make their choices. But my base point has become this book and I can recommend it to anyone who is taking an interest for the first time or to those who want to make sure they are keeping up with the latest issues.

It's Not Easy Being Green, Or Is It?
The New Green Consumer Guide explains the link between what we buy and how that affects the environment. Individual effects are not insignificant. As Hailes discusses, it is quite the opposite actually and we cannot just talk about or think about becoming Green Consumers. We must act now.

The common belief that one person will have little affect or that an single being is helpless in his or her effort is completely contradicted within this book, which is very encouraging. The New Green Consumer Guide shows that you can make all the difference in the world, and shows you what there is to do to make it. It is more than a list of "do's" and "don'ts" or "good" or "bad" but rather a comprehensive outline of the options available. And these options are continuously growing.

Living the "green" lifestyle isn't simple but Hailes proves it to be worthwhile and shows its ability to enrich your personal life and the livelihood of the planet and those you share it with.

With anecdotes, statistics, facts and figures, and articles from "green" lifestyle followers, Julia Hailes radiates a positive and contagious attitude in promoting change. Lately, it seems people want to scare or guilt you into change, but rather than do that, Hailes gives you the encouragement and information necessary to chose for yourself and understand the information at hand.

In the words of Kermit the Frog, "It's not easy being green," but Hailes just made it easier than before. Read the New Green Consumer Guide and decide for yourself, but with a book like this circulating, you certainly won't be alone.
-Reviewed by Alison Egan-Lodjic