last updated 28th April 05
by 4ecotips.com

£80,000 over a lifetime is at stake

Friends of the Earth, writes Jo Littler in The Guardian, attempts to appeal to the British bargain mentality and in the process moves beyond the middle-class constituency that is currently the environmentalist’s natural habitat. Part of the problem of a how-to book aimed at a broad audience is that sometimes it will inevitably be a frustrating and patronising read – there are only so many times you can read about putting less water in your kettle. But just as I way saying to myself “tell me something I don’t know,” they did. From underfloor heating and solar energy, through greener funerals and cleaning with lemon juice, there are some great ideas here that apparently can save you around £80,000 over a lifetime and are aimed at helping the chemical generation avoid toxic living. In the process, it does manage to make reducing consumption seem positive and interesting rather than an act of purse-lipped puritan denial.

Save cash and save the planet by Andrew Smith and Nicola Baird (Collins £12.99)