I have never been motivated enough by any book to spend time and thought writing a review but this book is the exception. The book is unusually thorough, covering its subject matter in depth and breadth. We should all read it cover to cover but its simple and compact organization invites us to browse and still get lots of ideas. Though I'm not into cosmetics, I found even that section interesting.

The book is well written and an easy read. Technical readers will find it a pleasant experience with good sentence structure and enjoyable phrasing.

Renee makes her ideas clear without preachiness or hysteria. She believes we can live the good life and do the right thing (read sustainable, healthy, thoughtful) at the same time. Life on this planet is short; we should make it as good as possible. This book helps define some ways to improve the experience. You might try one of Renee's receipies from her other books. She thinks and cooks -wow.

My favorite writer is Louise Erdrich and now in second place is Renee Loux. That's a strange pairing but I guess it's that they both talk about things important to the world.

I have never been motivated enough by any book to spend time and thought writing a review but this book is the exception. The book is unusually thorough, covering its subject matter in depth and breadth. We should all read it cover to cover but its simple and compact organization invites us to browse and still get lots of ideas. Though I'm not into cosmetics, I found even that section interesting.

The book is well written and an easy read. Technical readers will find it a pleasant experience with good sentence structure and enjoyable phrasing.

Renee makes her ideas clear without preachiness or hysteria. She believes we can live the good life and do the right thing (read sustainable, healthy, thoughtful) at the same time. Life on this planet is short; we should make it as good as possible. This book helps define some ways to improve the experience. You might try one of Renee's receipies from her other books. She thinks and cooks -wow.

My favorite writer is Louise Erdrich and now in second place is Renee Loux. That's a strange pairing but I guess it's that they both talk about things important to the world.

I've read many green living books and I have found this one to be my favourite by far. I've been surprised by the effectiveness of many of the homemade recipes and look forward to trying the rest of them.

I have recommended this book to the Richardson Public Library. It is packed with lists of eco-friendly products one can buy, and even has recipes for making one's own cleaning items. I thought I was fairly green, but believe me, there was ample room for improvement, and this book is my new friend.

I bought Easy Green Living for the recipes (like the air freshener containing vodka and essential oil - very nice) inside because I'd just read another book on being green, so I thought I had enough information. Then I started reading Loux's take on the environment, and I couldn't stop. She detailed reasons from personal health to protecting the earth's resources for becoming environmentally friendly. Loux writes well and breaks the topic down with ease without lecturing. She often injects personal stories as examples. And, she's budget conscious. She is quick to point out which options are budget friendly and which aren't necessarily. Easy Green Living is a valuable resource for anyone wishing to understand the current movement toward being environmentally friendly.

This is a great book. Lots of good info on ingredients found in cleaning and beauty items. Have recommended this book to several of my friends. Would definitely buy it again.
The only drawback to this book is that the pages started comming loose from the binding within a few days of flipping through it. No problem, though. Just took it down to the office supply store and had a spiral binding put on it for a few dollars.

With all the five star ratings previously, I had high expectations for this book. Sadly, it did not live up to those expectations and for one reason only: this book includes way too much information about chemicals and the harm they cause. Don't get me wrong, I want to know 'generally' about these things such as parabens, etc. but I don't need a complete list of every chemical manufactured on the planet and what they do. I did not find that positive or motivating. Having said that, YOU may want to know! And, I would actually buy this book again. It is a great reference book that you could go back to over and over again. And, because it is so detailed, it would really help you find anything you could possible ever need. For example, later today I will be checking a website that she mentioned that sells eco-friendly lightbulbs that can be used with a dimmer switch! And I may take a look at a company that sells reclaimed wood for replacing my floors...It really is a great book, I just felt that I was skipping over the parts which I didn't have such an interest in.

EASY GREEN LIVING arrived before expected and brand new as promised. I loved it, it was a real blessing for me and my family as we try to green our lives. Thanks

This is the most comprehensive, easy to use, guide for eco-friendly living that I have seen in years. I strongly recommend that you consider purchasing this book and using it as a handy reference for everything from personal care products to paint to household items. I have purchased several of these from Amazon after reading it cover to cover from the local library and I will be giving them as Christmas gifts this year. The book will quite simply change your life for the better.

I have a few green living books, and this one is by far the best (and makes some other popular green guides look like trendy, puff pieces).

It's informative, well set out and very practical. Everything you need to know to go green is in this book!

An excellent investment.

Greening your life seems to be a process. It's not something that you can do in one day. It's taken me a few years to slowly get rid of the things that weren't good for me, especially cleansers, beauty products, and food. Not only will using green products help you and your body, but they can help the earth as well!
This woman really did her homework. She not only stated where she received the abundance of information she wrote about, but she gave tons of resources as well!!
Even if you don't want to give up your everyday products, like: fabric softener, oven cleaner, and makeup, you don't have to!! There are many more natural and healthy substitutes you can use, by buying better products, or making them yourself!!
Greening your life is not as hard as you would think!
Recommended!

"Easy Green Living" is an absolutely wonderful book that shows you how to live green. I have learned so much from this book and have recommended it to family and friends. Everyone should use this as a guide. It's packed with very important information. Renee is very knowledgeable and tells it like it is.

This book is so down to earth and totally inspiring. It makes taking care of ourselves and our plannet a fun thing to do.

This book is an absolutely amazing resource. Renee gives well researched guidelines and tips for choosing the most eco-friendly products possible. Renee's product recommendations include some well known brands in addition to brands that can only be found online or at natural markets. Her recipes for homemade cleaners & beauty products are also great & show that "going green" doesn't have to be expensive. If you read this book all at once, you could easily feel overwhelmed, but remember that "going green" happens one baby step at a time. This book can help you make more informed decisions as you try to lead a more eco-friendly life. And ladies, after reading this book I swear I will never buy another conventional tampon - Do yourself and the planet a favor and read this book, you won't regret it.

It's easy being green... if you know where to begin. None of us consciously make the decision to harm the planet, yet many of our day to day household choices do exactly that. Easy Green Living points out the reasons why we need to change, and gets us going in the right direction.

Many common household cleaners contain chemicals that not only hurt the environment, but can do considerable harm to our bodies. The exact nature of these chemicals is explained, and alternative products are suggested that can do the job in a safer manner. And if you're into "do it yourself" cleaning products, there are recipes to make almost anything out of simple and safe ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda.

The author also focuses on other common household products like cosmetics, bedding and furniture, which contain harmful chemicals, and provides safe alternative choices to those toxic items. And using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances is encouraged, so we can all use less natural resources.

Although I've been semi-green for more than ten years now, there were many things Renee Loux pointed out that were new to me. After reading Easy Green Living, I'm now totally convinced that I can't continue being partially committed to this lifestyle, and I'll be using this book as a reference in making the switch. Our health and Mother Earth's depend on us all going green.

Reviewer: Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews

Every day I have questions about how to have a healthier household and family--how do I choose sunblock, do my laundry, be a responsible home owner, feed my children, choose a shampoo, a car, carpet, sheets....?? Phew, it is endless. But Renee Loux, in her book Easy Green Living, presents you with all of the information and choices so you can make the most informed decision possible. Nobody wants to expose their children to toxic chemicals or dump toxins into the ocean, for example, but unwittingly, we continuously do. While reading Easy Green Living, instead of inciting a major freak-out (in me!) or sounding didactic, Loux takes a heartfelt, gentle, and passionate approach--encouraging baby steps (and grand leaps, if possible) of change towards a healthy, vitality-filled life.

I have already changed my household cleaning products and rituals. (My children now lovingly wipe the counters with citrus-smelling spray, because they like the smell.) And I am so motivated to change the other things in my life that are possible to change. Loux covers everything from linens and face cream, where to dump old cell phones to retrofitting toilets, safe cookware to curbing waste, deodorant, plastics, and energy efficient appliances.

Easy Green Living truly is an encyclopedia of knowledge, soundly researched (30+ pages of footnotes..Yikes!) that will stay in my kitchen for quick reference, when it's not on my bedside table for devouring before bed.

Easy Green Living, by Renee Loux is an exhaustive guide to eco-friendly living for the home and person. Each chapter reveals the hazardous products to avoid, complete with detailed findings from research. Next, green products to use instead of dangerous ones are described. Finally, each chapter provides resources to find green products.

I like that the introduction included the following, with explanations:
Being green is not black and white
Consider the life cycle of a product
Start small
Green living is a process

The first chapter includes a basic introduction to green living and hazardous materials to avoid.

Chapter two covers the basics of green cleaning; what to avoid, 6 basic ingredients to use for cleaning and recipes and resources for purchasing green cleaning supplies.

Chapter three continues on the cleaning theme, for the kitchen and chapter four covers the bathroom.

Chapter five is about personal care products. In addition to makeup and body cleaning products to avoid and use, Loux presents the hazards of conventional antiperspirants, tampons and hair dye and more and provides
safe alternatives.

Chapter six discusses how to have an eco-friendly laundry.

Chapter seven covers green bedding and chapter 8, lightbulbs.

Chapter nine discusses furnishings and materials, including paint, flooring and carpeting, kitchen and bath counters, cabinets and candles. Of all chapters, this could be more comprehensive--however, as Loux explains in the introduction, understanding the life cycle of products should make it easy to determine how green any product is.

This guidebook will leave few questions about basic green living unanswered, particularly green cleaning.

By the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.