Saving the Environment Excerpt

Introduction An excerpt from the Introduction to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saving the Environment by Greg Pahl: For better or worse the 21st century is going to be the Environmental Century. Activists in the environmental community have been warning of impending ecological catastrophe for years. Whether their dire predictions come true or not largely depends on our actions in the next few decades. Though we have made progress in some areas, we are unfortunately losing ground in many others. That's why I decided to write the Complete Idiot's Guide to Saving the Environment. But I didn't write this book for long-time environmentalists. That would be like preaching to the choir. I've written it for the vast majority of Americans who generally understand that there is a connection between our overconsumption of resources and the many environmental problems we face--but fail to make the direct link to their own individual lifestyles.

In a 1995 study prepared for the Merck Family Fund, 86 percent of those surveyed said they were concerned about the quality of the environment. Yet only 51 percent agreed that their own buying habits have a negative effect on the environment. This disconnect between environmental reality and our own personal behavior is one of the biggest remaining obstacles to making serious progress towards saving the planet--and ourselves.

But there are other difficulties. With all the claims and counter-claims made by the many special-interest groups involved in environmental debates it's often hard to know whom to believe. What's more, a large part of the scientific information is so technical that many people just can't seem get a handle on it. And many scientists and academics aren't very good at explaining these things in language that you and I can easily understand.

Another problem is that many of these issues are so interrelated that it's hard to figure out what to do. It's often difficult to fix one problem without causing another one. But though we should not underestimate the environmental challenges we face, we also should not underestimate our abilities to deal with them.

One encouraging sign is that an increasing number of individuals, groups and organization, as well as businesses and even governments are beginning to realize that dealing with the environmental crisis offers some remarkable opportunities along with the challenges. And if these groups can find ways to cooperate--some already are--there is good reason for optimism.

The fact that you are reading this right now, is another reason for optimism. If you're like most people, you probably really do care about our future--and your children's future. But like many folks, you may not have been a long-time environmental activist. And you may not have studied environmental subjects much in school either. But that doesn't have to be a problem. If you really want to learn about these issues and understand how they affect us--and the Earth--this book can help.

What You'll Learn in This Book

But you still might be tempted to ask, "I'm just one person, what can I possibly do that will make a difference?" Actually, there are lots of things you can do. And you'll find many of them right in your own home. Or in your garage. Or at work. Or in your community.

And that's where this book comes in. I'm going to give you the information you need to help save the environment while you also take care of your daily household chores or go through your busy schedule at work. Or even when you're on vacation. In many cases, you'll be able to accomplish this while saving money at the same time. That's a pretty good deal if you ask me. Here's how the book is organized to help you do this.

Part 1, "The Environment and You," looks at the many environmental challenges we face. I start by explaining basic environmental terms and principals so you can understand the larger issues. I'll also include some historical background to help put things into perspective. Then I'll cover the many problems related to the air we breathe, the water we drink and use every day, and the land we live on. Finally, I'll introduce you to the Three Rs of the environmental movement: reduce, reuse and recycle, and the Big S--sustainability.

Part 2, In "Reduce Your Use," I focus mainly on solutions to the many problems covered in Part 1. I'll go into more detail about reducing, the most important of the Three Rs. I'll explain the many different ways you can use this strategy in your daily life and why it's so important for the environment--and you. I'll also explore a number of lifestyle changes that involve some interesting types of reduction.

The second most important R is reuse. In Part 3, "Reuse It," I'll explore a wide array of money-saving reuse strategies that cut your living expenses while at the same time helping to save the environment. I'll offer many reuse suggestions that you can employ at home, at work and many other places as well.

The third of the Three Rs is recycling. In Part 4, "Recycle It," I'll explain all the basics as well as the current status of this highly visible--and controversial--strategy. You'll learn which materials are easily recyclable and which ones aren't. Then we'll look at nature's original recycling program, composting, and check out an old family recipe or two. I'll also explain how to close the recycling loop with money-saving ideas for buying recycled products.

Part 5, "A Sustainable Future," explains the concept of sustainability and how it can help us save the planet. We'll explore the hot new markets for renewable energy resources and how they can supply your future energy needs. We'll also look at transportation issues, living patterns, and population. In addition, I'll explain the exciting growth of "green plans" and why they are the wave of the future. Finally, you'll learn even more ways to get involved in creating a sustainable world.

Plus, you get appendices that include an environmental timeline to help you see the "big picture," a glossary of terms to help you with all the jargon, a list of books and publications for further reading, and groups, organizations, and other resources you can turn to for more information.