LIBRARY NOTES: Books a big help in 'going green’

Coulee News, Shelly Parshall
Published August 29, 2008

Going green -- it’s a term everyone has heard of, it’s everywhere and it’s easier to do today then ever before. There is tons of information out there that can be useful, whether you have been green for years or just starting out. National Geographic put out a great book, “Green Guide: The Complete Reference for Consuming Wisely.” It touches on everything from food and clothes to cars and homes. You’ll find several side excerpts called eco-tips throughout the book. For example, the top 12 fruits and vegetables that are most often contaminated by pesticides are: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, grapes, pears, spinach and potatoes. This list was put out by the Environmental Working group and it is suggested to buy these things organically grown whenever possible. Each chapter ends with “The Science Behind It,” where it explains in detail about a topic discussed in that chapter. The transportation and travel chapter ends with the science behind hybrid electric vehicles. If you’ve ever wondered exactly how they work, this gives you your answer in great detail. A lot of my interest in going green is finding a way to save money and to make our house as healthy as possible, so when I saw “Green Housekeeping” by Ellen Sandbeck and “Go Green, Live Rich” by David Bach, I thought that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Bach is a renowned motivational and financial speaker and is the author of five New York Times bestsellers. I like the story he tells in the beginning of how he became green by accident by moving into a “green building” mostly for the location and within weeks noticed improved health. The allergies that he had had his whole life disappeared, within six weeks he could stop taking three prescription drugs a day and his son’s mild asthma disappeared. Makes you think there really must be something to this green living stuff after all! Sandbeck has been an organic landscaper since 1980 and after having friends coming to her for advice on their homes, decided that there was a need for her book, “Green Housekeeping.” She found that her green attitude is the same as the people most knowledgeable about chemicals and the effects they can have. All the chemists and biological researchers she has interviewed avoid using synthetic chemicals in their homes. Although there are several products on the market today, and more and more every day that you can buy to keep a green house, a cheaper and more efficient way is to use what you might already have in your own cupboard. Did you know that a lot of glass cleaners contain waxes, which will leave a residue? Plain vinegar is a wonderful cleaning tool for every room in the house and won’t leave a residue on your windows and mirrors. She breaks down cleaning from room to room and, of course, being an organic landscaper, there is a chapter where she touches on lawn and garden care. My brother recently installed a solar water heater and saved himself money by making the solar panels and installing the tank himself, and he will save even more money with his utility bills. Going green can be rewarding and cost effective if you’re willing to do the research and invest a little time. In the long run I think it can definitely be worth it, not just for yourself and your family but for the planet. Shelly Parshall is La Crosse County Library System staff member at the Bangor branch