This book is as much a reference book as a reading book. It begins with the basics--Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle--and goes on to address eco-friendly ways to save money on clothing, transportation, energy, water, and other areas of everyday life. Each chapter closes with a list of resources and contacts for companies that provide the products and services that Dorfman has mentioned.
While I'd argue that some of the suggestions are out of my budget (I'm not fashion-conscious enough to wear Levi's jeans for $68 or Good Society jeans for around $100) and some won't work for my family (the Smart ForTwo car, a two-seater, is not a family car), the book contains many ideas that are easy and inexpensive to implement. I especially liked the tips on energy--I never knew that refrigerators account for 14 percent of all energy use for the average household, and current Energy Star models are at least 40 percent more energy-efficient than pre-2001 models--and water--did you know that a $7 aerator can reduce water flow from a faucet by 25 percent?
Some of the projects in this book are very ambitious, but many of the tips are very practical, easy, and frugal. I doubt that we'll be installing a wind turbine in the near future, but I plan to look into that faucet aerator. We won't be ditching our pre-2001 refrigerator until it breaks, but I'm going to do more reading about some of the organic gardening tips. I'd recommend The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget for those who are looking for easy, affordable ways to save money and use less energy, water, and landfill space.
Would you like to win a copy of this book? Courtesy of Josh Dorfman, Nalgene, and Author Marketing Experts, one lucky reader will win not only the book but also a reusable water bottle! (The water bottle will be one of these, chosen randomly for you.)
This giveaway is closed. Congratulations, spitfyr323!
Here's how to enter:
Visit Josh Dorfman's website, then come back and leave me a comment with one thing you learned. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.
Here's how you can earn up to three additional entries:
- Subscribe to my feed in a feed reader or by email. Leave an extra comment to let me know you've done this. If you already subscribe, leave a comment to let me know.
- Grab my button and add it to your sidebar. Leave a comment with a link to your blog.
- Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post. Leave a comment with a link to your blog post.
Good luck, and thanks for reading!
I learned that "The Lazy Environmentalist" airs Tuesdays at 9PM on Sundance Channel!
ReplyDeletespitfyr323 at hotmail dot com
I'm a subscriber!
ReplyDeletespitfyr323 at hotmail dot com
I learned that I can watch his new TV show, starting July 16!
ReplyDeleteSooz526@gmail.com
I learned that there's a Sustainable Planet Film Festival in NYC this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm a subscriber!
ReplyDeleteI Twittered about the contest. Does that count? ;-)
ReplyDeleteairs tuesdays @ 9
ReplyDeleteI learned that "Chegg.com rents college textbooks to students for a fraction of the price and conserves trees". With two kids headed to college, this is good info!
ReplyDeleteI learned that the Eneloop rechargeable batteries retain 85% of its charge after a year of storage.
ReplyDeleteplur268 at yahoo dot com
Cleanwell hand sanitizer uses essential plant oils instead of chemicals
ReplyDeleteHe will start anew show on the 16th
ReplyDeletesylviawhit@gmail.com
I've been hearing a lot of good things about this book. I took a look at the site, and it's pretty cool. I love Hondas and want to get a hybrid relatively soon. I learned on the site that I might actually be able to afford one. The Honda Insight.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing the giveaway!
-Leslie
carykhepburn@yahoo.com
I learned that the new show will begin tonight.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe.
ReplyDeleteI learned that there IS a show. I don't have tv, so I hadn't heard of this. :)
ReplyDeletegitrecca at gmail dot com
I learned that Josh is featured on the sundance channel.
ReplyDeleteoheeyore at hotmail dot com
I subscribe via email.
ReplyDeleteoheeyore at hotmail dot com
I learned that I can watch his new TV show
ReplyDeleteI learned about the CleanWell hand sanitizer I keep seeing at Bath and Body Works. They should probably have some for cheap at their Semi-Annual sale in January!
ReplyDeleteilovemandathismuch at gmail.com <3
I learned that the new show started on my birthday!! July 16.
ReplyDeletessummmer(at)gmail(dot)com
I had a little bit of a hard time navigating his site... it's not intuitively set up for me to find what I want to read about easily, somehow. But I did wander around a bit, found the blog, found his review of the wooden Selecta baby books - those are very cool, I want one if we have more kids! - and noticed that he had a TV show starting up. I'm not sure that we get Sundance, though. I was reading synopses of the episodes and noticed him talking about Dr. Bronners as a body wash, which I already use - I wish he'd mentioned in writing if a good shampoo/conditioner was found during the episode! ;-) Maybe I'll be able to watch it somehow.
ReplyDeletethe new CleanWell hand sanitizer with no chemicals or alcohol. And that triclosan is an endocrine disruptor.
ReplyDeletedevonm @ sasktel dot NET
I subscribed to your blog by email.
ReplyDeletedevonm @ sasktel dot NET
His TV show will be premiering soon on the Sundance Channel.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I am an e-mail subscriber.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I learned that n 2003, Josh Dorfman founded Vivavi, a retailer of contemporary, eco-friendly furniture and home furnishings, to demonstrate the possibilities for merging modern design with environmentally responsible materials and manufacturing techniques.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Aimee
sierranelsby (at) gmail (dot) com
I subscribe to your blog via email.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Aimee
sierranelsby (at) gmail (dot) com
I didn't know you could lease solar panels!! That's cool!
ReplyDeleteI leared that the Lazy Environmentalist only profiles products they feel people would want even if they weren't green.
ReplyDeleteHi I learned how you can lease solar panel systems and save energy too. How cool.
ReplyDeleteMarionG
polo-puppy-fluffy(at)hotmail(dot)com