Customer Reviews

The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference

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I've been trying to be more green this year by doing all kinds of little things, but I'm always looking for more ideas. My husband got me this book for Christmas, and I'm pretty jazzed looking through all the suggestions. There are tons of great ideas (365 to be exact!) for being more green. Helmer also blasts a bunch of myths. For example, I always thought it was better to roll down the windows while driving instead of relying on AC. It turns out that your car is more aerodynamic with the windows rolled up and the AC on. Or it's better to put your computer to sleep than to have a screensaver. I love that her tips are very down to earth--they really are things you can do right now that don't require spending a bunch of money.
This book is perfect for someone who is into being green, but also for someone who is just thinking about being green, but doesn't know where to start.

I got this book for my friend for Christmas. Months later, she's still happily progressing through it, enjoying the satisfaction of marking the "done" check boxes next to each tip. The book suggests truly manageable changes, like tightening your car's gas cap. Many changes are fun to implement, such as ordering draft beer instead of bottled (less packaging) or starting an indoor herb garden. Even people who already try to live lightly will probably find new---or forgotten---steps to take.

What's best about this book is the format: just one simple, easy-to-digest thing you can do every day for a year to help protect the planet. Some of them are obvious -- recycle! -- but lots were things I had never thought about before, like opting out of ATM receipts, cooking with a cast-iron skillet (it's healthier for you and the environment), and filling your freezer so it runs more efficiently. There are tips here to help both eco-friendly newbies and green gurus. Highly recommended.

Before reading The Green Year, I recycled cans, bottles and newspapers, and I figured I was doing a lot for the environment. But this book provides so many more tips and advice on what we all can do to "go green." And many of them are as simple as donating athletic shoes so the rubber can be reused or cleaning your refrigerator coils. The book's format makes it an easy read, but it's packed full of important information.

What I love about The Green Year is that everything is easily accomplishable on the day that the suggestion is shared (even when you have the busiest of schedules) and every suggestion is really affordable while creating savings for you. Helmer makes lessening one's carbon footprint practical and accessible while offering a good, succinct education on why these things matter. The book is great for an individual, but it also offers a neat opportunity for a family to tackle lightening their load on the environment together.

I've been "green" for well over 20 years, so I didn't think there was anything this book could teach me. I was wrong. Jodi Helmer comes up with a lot of great ideas I had never thought about. Good for the person who is just beginning their green journey or the green expert!

I love this book. These aren't big, take-all-weekend projects. These are easy peasy things you can do every day to make the world a greener place. Love the format too. It helps make the whole 'going greener' thing a lot less daunting. This book would make a great gift!

Let's face it, these days, everyone feels at least some sense of urgency when it comes to protecting the environment. But very few can live totally off the grid! This book is a great way to dip your toe into environmentalism with all its simple ways to make a difference (most of which I was already doing!), then realize it's actually easy enough for anyone to do.

This book is fantastic. Everything in it is easy, fun, and even quick. I am veyr happy with theis purchase, and reccomend it to people trying to green-up their lives, also!

A lot of advice regarding eco friendly behavior involves reducing waste, which is terrific for anyone on a budget since reducing waste often results in saving money. The Green Year: 365 small things you can do to make a big difference by Jodi Helmer is packed with the kind of eco friendly tips that will leave you with more green in your wallet.

The book is organized in a way the offers one eco friendly tip for every day of the year. Everything from improving your gas mileage through proper car to reducing energy costs in your home to cheap natural substitutes for chemical laden cleaning products is included in the book. In terms of being cheap and easy, the advice in the book is extremely doable. Read this book for yourself and you will discover that it really is easy being green.

Stephanie Ann, Author
THE CHEAP DIVA'S GUIDE TO FRUGAL AND FABULOUS LIVING: How to Shop Smart, Look Your Best, Decorate with Style, and Have Fun for Less Money!