Greeniology: How to Live Well, Be Green and Make a Difference

320 Pages·2003·3.11 MB·English

by  Tanya Ha

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How to live well, be green and make a difference
A Sue Hines Book
ALLEN & UNWIN
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Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this book is correct and
up-to-date at the time of publication. Neither the author nor the publisher may be held
responsible for any accident, injury or damage that results from using the ideas, tips,
information or advice offered in this book. Health-related advice is not intended to
replace the services of medical professionals.
First published in 2003
Copyright text © Tanya Ha 2003
Copyright illustrations © Andrew Treloar and Nick Mau 2003
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by
any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the
publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter
or 10% of this book, whichever is greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution
for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that
administers it) has given remuneration to Copyright agency Limited (CAL) under the Act.
A Sue Hines Book
Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
83 Alexander Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Australia
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email:
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Dedicated to
my two green teachers,
Mum and Jon Dee.
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Contents
Foreword (xi)
A new shade of green (xii)
Welcome to the green house 1
>> Keys to a greener house 3
Standard electricity or green power? > Green Power sources > Natural gas and LPG >
The Energy Rating systems for appliances > Energy Star rating system > Water > Water
use in the home > Saving water > The Water Conservation Rating system
>> The green kitchen 15
Good green food > How food is produced > Food tips for a healthier inner and outer
environment > Ovens, cooktops and cooking appliances > Tips for energy-efficient cooking
> Green machines for the kitchen > Dishwashers > Food packaging > Tips for precycling
> Types of food packaging > Recycling > What materials can I recycle? > The ultimate
recycling guide > Don’t waste your waste > Composting > Cleaning Up > Germ warfare
> Down the drain > Water-saving tips for the kitchen
>> The green living room 43
Keeping warm in winter and cool in summer > Controlling heat loss > Energy-efficient
window dressing > The ultimate heating guide > Tips for more efficient heating > Types of
heating systems > General rules for heating systems > Comparing central heating systems
> Comparing fixed space heaters > Comparing portable heaters > The ultimate cooling
guide > Keeping cool in summer > Tips for more efficient cooling > Types of cooling
systems > Comparing cooling systems > Lighting > Maximising daylight > Providing
night light > Planning and using lighting systems > Lighting tips > Stand-by wattage =
stand-by wastage
>> The green bathroom 69
Green bathroom tips > Saving water > Water-saving tips for the bathroom > The green loo
> Water-saving tips in the toilet > Septic tanks > What not to flush down the toilet >
Other eco tips for the toilet > Recycling grey water > Am I allowed to use grey water? >
Ways of recycling grey water > Tips for grey water recycling > Getting a new hot water
system > What system – continuous flow or storage? > Electric, gas or solar? > What size?
> Hot water tips > Green whitegoods
>> The green laundry 85
Front-loader or top-loader? > Buying a new washing machine or dryer > Tips for using
washing machines > Tips for drying clothes > Choosing laundry products > What to look
for > Green Cleaners > The 6-piece tool kit (basic ingredients you must have) > Green
cleaner hints and recipes > Chemical-free cleaning > Pest control > The basics of green
pest control > Pest control tips – critter by critter
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>> The green bedroom 105
Furniture > Choosing bedroom furniture > Bedding > Greener bedding options > Tips
for your wardrobe > Clothing > A healthy bedroom environment > Indoor air quality >
Dustmites > Electromagnetic Pollution (EMF fields)
>> The green office 117
How to green up your office > Paper products and use > Equipment > Lighting >
Purchasing > Waste Management > Being green at work when you don’t work at home
>> The green garage 131
Life cycle impact of cars > Tips for greener car use > Reducing fuel consumption > Green-
clean your machine > Current fuels > Natural Gas > Liquefied petroleum gas > Petrol >
Diesel > Biofuels > Buying a new car > Electric, electric hybrid and solar cars > The
hydrogen car > Electric hybrid cars > Solar cars > Alternatives to using cars > What
urban planners can do > What employers can do > What you can do
>> The green garden 145
Considerations for a green garden > How a garden can help the environment > How a
garden can harm the environment > Understanding your ecosystem > What to plant >
Natives verses exotics > Flora for fauna > Backyard bullies > Controlling weeds > No-dig
gardens > Water in the garden > Water-wise gardening tips > Rainwater tanks > Grey
water > Recycling in the garden > Compost > Mulch > Worm farming > Going organic in
the garden > Pest control > The basics of pest control in the garden > Garden pest control
– critter by critter > Garden decor > Pets > Making your pets wildlife friendly > Eco-
friendly pet products
Life style 2
>> Green building and renovating 181
What makes a house green? > Building a new house > Location > Orientation >
Planning and design > What goes where? > Building materials > Windows and shading >
Insulation > Flooring > Green fittings > How hard is it to build green? > Buying an
Existing Home > Green renovations > Green renovating tips
>> Green shopping 197
The basics of being a green consumer > To buy or not to buy > Good bag, bad bag >
Reading between the lines > What to look for on labels and in advertising > Avoiding
chemical cocktails > Tips for avoiding chemical nasties >Buy right, recycle right >
The surprising results of our recycling efforts
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CONTENTS ix
>> Green grooming 211
Greener grooming products > What’s in a name? > Don’t be blinded by science > It’s only
natural! > How to read cosmetics labels > Cosmetic ingredients: the usual suspects >
What to look for > Animal welfare issues > Animal testing > Are these tests reliable or
necessary? > What alternatives are there? > What can I do? > Animal ingredients >
Sun-safe skin > Choosing a Sunscreen > Packaging > What you can do > DIY green
grooming
>> How to have a green baby 229
Tips for a low-toxin pregnancy > Green food preparation > Doing the laundry > Choose
safe toys > In the bath > The great nappy debate > Disposable nappies > Cloth nappies >
Nappy wash service > Plant a tree > Set an example
Hot topics
3
>> What’s up with the planet? 245
Acid rain > Air pollution > Biodiversity > Ecological footprint > El Nino > Energy:
renewable > Energy: non-renewable > Extinction > Fossil fuels > Genetically modified
organisms > Global warming & climate change > Greenhouse effect > Hazardous waste >
Health issues > Kyoto > Land clearing & deforestation > Lethal litter > Material
resources > Nuclear energy > Oil Spills > Ozone depletion > Salinity > Saving the
animals > Sustainability > Trash > Water pollution > Water: supply and demand
>> Epilogue: a step further 267
Notes on the text 268
Further information 279
Acknowledgements 294
Index 295
About Planet Ark 305
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