Green Living

Everyone is becoming more aware of the environment and how our lifestyle choices affect the planet. The resources below will help you learn about the current state of our environment as well as help you make choices that are environmentally responsible.

Last updated August 18, 2010

Databases

• CQ Researcher

  Find in-depth reports on topics such as Buying Green, The New Environmentalism, Reducing Your Carbon Footprint, and Ecotourism.

• GreenFILE at EBSCOhost

  Search for information on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. Topics cover all aspects of human impact on the environment. Includes scholarly, government and general-interest sources.

  
• Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center

  Read about the controversy surrounding global warming and learn what the experts on either side have to say about possible causes and solutions.

Catalog Links

• 75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make a Difference
  

  Innovative startups for eco-entrepreneurs and insights from green revolution leaders.

  
  
  
• Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World
  

  Clean Breaks: 500 new ways to see the world from Rough Guides.500 fantastic experiences that will inspire you to see the world in a new light - unusual holidays and alternative ways to travel that make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet.Unique accommodation: bothies and barns in Britain; houseboats in Kerala; mud huts and treehouses in Jamaica; ecolodges in Ecuador read more >>
  
  

  Clean Breaks: 500 new ways to see the world from Rough Guides.500 fantastic experiences that will inspire you to see the world in a new light - unusual holidays and alternative ways to travel that make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet.Unique accommodation: bothies and barns in Britain; houseboats in Kerala; mud huts and treehouses in Jamaica; ecolodges in Ecuador.Amazing wildlife: go whale-watching off Ireland; spot pink dolphins in Hong Kong; track wolves and bears in Poland; witness the zebra migration in Botswana.Climate-friendly travel: the train-hotel from Paris to Madrid; ferry-hopping across the Mediterranean; horse-riding on the Silk Route; cargo-boat travel around the world.Live with the Locals: camp with the Bedouin; stay in tipis with Native American Indians; trek with nomads in Mongolia; Aboriginal bush tours in the Australian outback.Extraordinary experiences: kayak around the Scottish Isles; reindeer-sledding in Norway; ride with cowboys in Venezuela; hear the music of the desert in Mali.

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• The Complete Guide to the Green Home
  

  This beautiful step-by-step guide features a host of practical projects and practices for green-thinking homeowners with a hands-on attitude. Offering a boost for the spirit, a refresher for the body, and a balm for the planet, it is a comprehensive primer for eco-friendly home stewardship.

  
  
  
• Cooking Green : Reducing Your Carbon Footprint in the Kitchen
  

  The kitchen is the place where you can make real green choices, and take direct control of your impact through passive and active cooking strategies, water conservation, and low-carbon choices for cookware, appliances, foods, dining, and more.

  
  
  
• Earthtalk : Expert Answers to Everyday Questions About the Environment
  

  Should I wash dishes by hand or in the dishwasher? Are cell phones really dangerous? Do childhood vaccines cause autism? Questions and answers from the archives of "Earthtalk," the column from E--The Environmental Magazine, are compiled in this reference for environmentally conscious consumers. Organized by topic, such as food, shopping, living and working spaces, kids, and travel, read more >>
  
  

  Should I wash dishes by hand or in the dishwasher? Are cell phones really dangerous? Do childhood vaccines cause autism? Questions and answers from the archives of "Earthtalk," the column from E--The Environmental Magazine, are compiled in this reference for environmentally conscious consumers. Organized by topic, such as food, shopping, living and working spaces, kids, and travel, answers are based on published research from well-known organizations, and give practical tips, brand names of recommended products, and contacts for organizations and web sites as sources of further information. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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• Eco-Chick Guide to Life
  

  Offering young women in their 20s and 30s practical tips for lowering their impact on the Earth, this timely guide provides hundreds of ideas on how to be ecologically smart and still be stylish and trendsetting.

  
  
  
• Ecological Intelligence : How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything
  

  The bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence and Primal Leadership now brings us Ecological Intelligence--revealing the hidden environmental consequences of what we make and buy, and how with that knowledge we can drive the essential changes we all must make to save our planet and ourselves. We buy "herbal" shampoos that contain industrial chemicals that can threaten our health read more >>
  
  

  The bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence and Primal Leadership now brings us Ecological Intelligence--revealing the hidden environmental consequences of what we make and buy, and how with that knowledge we can drive the essential changes we all must make to save our planet and ourselves. We buy "herbal" shampoos that contain industrial chemicals that can threaten our health or contaminate the environment. We dive down to see coral reefs, not realizing that an ingredient in our sunscreen feeds a virus that kills the reef. We wear organic cotton t-shirts, but don't know that its dyes may put factory workers at risk for leukemia. In Ecological Intelligence, Daniel Goleman reveals why so many of the products that are labeled green are a "mirage," and illuminates our wild inconsistencies in response to the ecological crisis. Drawing on cutting-edge research, Goleman explains why we as shoppers are in the dark over the hidden impacts of the goods and services we make and consume, victims of a blackout of information about the detrimental effects of producing, shipping, packaging, distributing, and discarding the goods we buy. But the balance of power is about to shift from seller to buyer, as a new generation of technologies informs us of the ecological facts about products at the point of purchase. This radical transparency will enable consumers to make smarter purchasing decisions, and will drive companies to rethink and reform their businesses, ushering in, Goleman claims, a new age of competitive advantage.

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• Food Matters : A Guide to Conscious Eating
  

  From the award-winning champion of culinary simplicity who gave us the bestselling How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian comes Food Matters, a plan for responsible eating that's as good for the planet as it is for your weight and your health. We are finally starting to acknowledge the threat carbon emissions pose to our ozone layer, but few people have focused on t read more >>
  
  

  From the award-winning champion of culinary simplicity who gave us the bestselling How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian comes Food Matters, a plan for responsible eating that's as good for the planet as it is for your weight and your health. We are finally starting to acknowledge the threat carbon emissions pose to our ozone layer, but few people have focused on the extent to which our consumption of meat contributes to global warming. Think about it this way: in terms of energy consumption, serving a typical family-of-four steak dinner is the rough equivalent of driving around in an SUV for three hours while leaving all the lights on at home. Bittman offers a no-nonsense rundown on how government policy, big business marketing, and global economics influence what we choose to put on the table each evening. He demystifies buzzwords like "organic," "sustainable," and "local" and offers straightforward, budget-conscious advice that will help you make small changes that will shrink your carbon footprint--and your waistline. Flexible, simple, and non-doctrinaire, the plan is based on hard science but gives you plenty of leeway to tailor your food choices to your lifestyle, schedule, and level of commitment. Bittman, a food writer who loves to eat and eats out frequently, lost thirty-five pounds and saw marked improvement in his blood levels by simply cutting meat and processed foods out of two of his three daily meals. But the simple truth, as he points out, is that as long as you eat more vegetables and whole grains, the result will be better health for you and for the world in which we live. Unlike most things that are virtuous and healthful, Bittman's plan doesn't involve sacrifice. From Spinach and Sweet Potato Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing to Breakfast Bread Pudding, the recipes in Food Matters are flavorful and sophisticated. A month's worth of meal plans shows you how Bittman chooses to eat and offers proof of how satisfying a mindful and responsible diet can be. Cheaper, healthier, and socially sound, Food Matters represents the future of American eating.

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• Green Babies, Sage Moms : The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby
  

  From the trailblazing founder of Green Babies organic clothing comes the very first guide for new mothers in raising a "green" family-and doing it simply and inexpensively. Filled with necessary and convenient advice that takes the reader from the first months of pregnancy and beyond, this indispensable book explains: - The safest ways to get the house ready for the baby - The best read more >>
  
  

  From the trailblazing founder of Green Babies organic clothing comes the very first guide for new mothers in raising a "green" family-and doing it simply and inexpensively. Filled with necessary and convenient advice that takes the reader from the first months of pregnancy and beyond, this indispensable book explains: - The safest ways to get the house ready for the baby - The best baby gear-from clothes to crib mattresses - Organic recipes for health-conscious breastfeeding moms - How to throw a green baby shower - The best solutions for storing breast milk safely - How to keep play areas safe from chemicals - How to handle the diaper dilemma: wash vs. toss - And much more!

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• Green Guide
  

  This comprehensive guide provides ideas and solutions for consumers who have made the decision to lead a more environmentally-conscious life. The thirteen chapters include topics such as: eating, housekeeping, power, design, health care, clothing and accessories, products for children, transportation, building, gardening, pet care, and school and office supplies.

  
  
  
• An Inconvenient Truth (DVD)
  

  A passionate and inspiring look at former Vice President Al Gore's campaign to expose the myths and misconceptions of global warming, and to create public awareness on the subject.

  
  
  

Web Links

• The Clean Air Campaign

  A Georgia nonprofit organization committed to improving air quality and reducing traffic congestion. Services include assistance in finding carpool partners and transportation alternatives.

• Conserve Water Georgia

  Includes timely water-saving tips, and more. The agency is a water conservation clearinghouse of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

• Earth911

  Everyone knows that recycling is good for the environment, but where do you recycle items like batteries or paint?  Check this site to find locations in your area that recycle or reuse just about everything.

• Ecological Footprint Quiz

  Find out how your lifestyle choices affect the environment by taking this quiz.  Then, learn the small changes you can make to reduce your impact. From the non-profit organization Redefining Progress.

• Energy Star

  Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, this site promotes the use of energy efficient appliances and practices.

• The Green Guide

  Get practical information from buying guides that compare and recommend common products based on how their production and use affects the environment. The guides identify best values as well as greenest products. From the National Geographic Society.

• Greener Choices

  This site aims to inform consumers about environmentally-friendly products and practices.  From Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports.

• Keep DeKalb Beautiful

  Services include educational programs on environmental preservation and conservation to help improve the quality of life in DeKalb County. Also affiliated with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful.

• Local Harvest

  One of the easiest ways to go green is to buy organic food that is grown locally.  Use this website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.