[.ca] Go Green, Live Rich (ISBN 0385666144)

Win Win Solution:
David Bach gets it: we want to be rich, but many of us need incentive to live a green lifestyle. In Go Green, Live Rich, Bach shows us how acting in an environmentally responsible way can actually make us a lot of money and make us healthier. Bach writes: "Going green is the most important issue that will shape our future." By using less resources, buying less stuff, making our homes and transportation more energy efficient, we absolutely save money. The brilliance is taking that money and investing it. He writes: It's not what you earn that makes you rich or poor; it is what you spend." I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment and it sums up what I like so much about this book. Stop buying all that stuff and invest or contribute to green causes, instead. Bach provides dollar amounts for each of the 50 ways to go green: Improve fuel efficiency: $884 Seal leaks in home: $129 Lower thermostat: $85 Brownbag lunch: $ 1560 Total savings: $3758 Invest that savings (preferably in green businesses) for 30 years: $678,146 How cool is that? Bach shares how he began living a green lifestyle in the introduction: "My own personal transformation to becoming more environmentally conscious began to happen when I moved into one of the leading green apartment buildings in the country. Funny enough, I decided to move there not so much because it was a green building but because it was located right next to my son's favorite park, where we spend lots of time together. But then something happened when I moved in and it stopped me in my tracks--my lifelong allergies began to improve along with Jack's asthma. I then began making more changes. I switched to green cleaning products, started using a green drycleaner, and even gave up my gas guzzling SUV. I soon noticed that I wasn't spending more money to make these changes--I was actually saving money." There are 50 tips for greening your life, including: build green, bring your bags, clean green and take a volunteer vacation. One tip that happily surprised me was "green your pet". Bach suggests adopting from a rescue shelter to spare one of the 3-4 million dogs and cats that are killed yearly. In addition to that being the humanitarian thing to do, you will save money buying from a shelter instead of buying from another source. He goes on to suggest that you spend more money on quality food for your pet,(you can buy organic or make your own), something I think is crucial for their well-being. The extra money spent on food can be saved by not buying the mass-produced and potentially harmful toys. He suggests eco-friendly toys like tennis balls, instead. Bach writes:"I believe green investing will be to the 21st century what technology was the the 20th century," and encourages readers to invest in green opportunities, businesses and services that will help the environment. Bach also encourages to contribute to green causes. I highly recommended this book. Improve the health of the environment, your family, yourself. Oh yeah--and grown rich! By the author of the award winning book,Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.