State of the World 2010 is on book stands, just in time for President Obama’s State of the Union address, though I’m not sure he’s read it given his talk of economic growth to create more jobs in businesses that require more stimulus spending and more government oversight.

I’ve regularly blogged on our state of the economy, an economy inexorably based on the same life support systems that sustain every creature on Earth. At its root, the economy should be about caring for our planet in much the same way that Pope Benedict has recently proclaimed that we must care for Creation. “The different phenomena of environmental degradation and natural catastrophes, which unfortunately occur all too often, remind us of the urgency of dutiful respect toward nature, recovering and valuing a correct relationship with the environment each day,” said Pope Benedict (as quoted by the Catholic News Agency).

Our economy should be about sustainability and restoration of our fragile planet, not greed and never-ending growth. Our sense of fulfillment or happiness is rarely found at America’s Mecca (the mall). Nor will we be able to charge it on our credit card. When it comes down to it, we can buy what’s no longer available: clean water and air, healthy soil, a vibrant local community, a safe place to raise a family.

This book outlines the social experiences of living in green built environments. Focusing on social sustainability, it showcases some extraordinary communities across North America paying particular attention to communities that have integrated social and human factors into their design.

Description

Social issues are, and need to be, a central part of environmental and economic sustainability efforts. Using stories of extraordinary communities across North America, Living Green showcases the social side of living green.

The book features communities that explicitly integrate social and human factors into their design and planning, and examines the impact living in these communities has on personal health, well-being and the capacity for pursuing sustainability. It includes interviews with developers, architects and residents, highlighting personal ideals and efforts to pursue a sustainable lifestyle.

Alcohol Fuel covers every practical aspect of making and using ethanol for fuel, including permitting, planning, budgeting, setup, sourcing feedstocks, finding and building distillation equipment, storage, safety, and practical applications for converting motor vehicles, farm equipment, and space heating systems.

Description

Dwindling petroleum supplies and growing environmental concerns are significantly impacting the cost of petro-fuel and its infrastructure. The search for alternative fuel sources has led to ethanol, a gasoline substitute that is already in the marketplace as Gasohol and E-85. But large-scale production of corn-based ethanol is controversial as it threatens the world's food supply. There are alternatives, however: Brazil uses sugar cane, which is up to six times more productive in energy conversion.

After the energy crisis of the 1970s, there was a lot of misinformation about the cost of individual ethanol production. In order to achieve energy independence from gasoline, ethanol lends itself to small-scale production, and especially to cooperative ventures in rural communities, often using 'waste' feedstock.

Alcohol Fuel is a practical, grass-roots book that will give readers all the information they need, covering every aspect of making and using ethanol for fuel, including:

Permitting and planning
Budgeting and setup
Sourcing feedstocks
Finding and building distillation equipment
Storage and safety
Practical applications for converting motor vehicles, farm equipment and space heating systems

The practical, user-friendly information on basic equipment needs, fermentation recipes and distillation designs will be of interest to readers looking for information as well as those ready to make the switch.

Details
Published on: 2009-10-05
Original language: English
Binding: Paperback
288 pages

Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Richard Freudenberger was research director with Mother Earth News, managing the Alcohol Fuel Program and developing solar and renewable solar and energy projects. He is publisher and technical editor of BackHome magazine and lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

A provocative, intelligent, non-nonsense primer to everything you need to know about getting involved in the issues you are passionate about - including how to organize a successful petition, get your issue into the news, and tailoring and targeting your message for maximum effect.

Description
Whoever said you cant fight city hall, never had access to a book like this. An invaluable guide and fascinating glimpse into the life of a tireless campaigner for the planet, How to Save the World In Your Spare Time can show anyone how to fight for a cause.If you have ever tried to save a local hospital, keep a neighbourhood school open, or stop logging in a nearby forest, you will immediately recognize the benefits of this accessible handbook.

This no-nonsense yet friendly guide helps readers explore solutions to this challenging problem, from what governments and industry can do to what readers can do at home and how to get involved.

Description
Get positive suggestions for practical solutions to this heated issue.

Hotly debated in the political arena and splashed across the media almost 24/7, global warming has become the topic of the moment. Whatever one's views on its cause, there is no denying that the earth's climate is changing, and people everywhere are worried. Global Warming For Dummies sorts out fact from fiction, explaining the science behind climate change and examining the possible long-term effects of a warmer planet. This no-nonsense yet friendly guide helps you explore solutions to this challenging problem, from what governments and industry can do to what you can do at home and how to get involved.

The Practical Cyclist by Chip Haynes is a user-friendly guide to getting back on a bicycle for the most important reason of all - fun! Of course we all know cycling is also good for your health, your waistline, your pocketbook and the planet, but if you're not enjoying it the chances are good that you're not going to do it. The Practical Cyclist is the cycling buddy you need to help you get going on two.

Description

Riding a bicycle is something you never forget -- even if the last time you owned a bike, it had playing cards pinned to the spokes.

People are coming back to bicycling in droves; propelled by rising gas prices, expanding waistlines, or the allure of fancy gear, bicycling for all ages has never been more popular.

Just off press, Green Careers: Choosing Work for a Sustainable Future by Jim Cassio and Alice Rush is an exhaustive guide to establishing a career that benefits the planet while still providing satisfaction and security (and ideally a comfortable income)! Green Careers offers an incredible array of environmentally supportive job choices, whatever your aptitudes, values, interests, personality and skills.

Description

People of all ages and backgrounds are seeking work in career fields that will help save the planet, yet many people are unaware of the variety of green careers available. This unique career guidance book, based on labor market research, covers green jobs representing almost every area of career interest.

Description
What do subprime mortgages, Atlantic salmon dinners, SUVs and globalization have in common?

They all depend on cheap oil. And in a world of dwindling oil supplies and steadily mounting demand around the world, there is no such thing as cheap oil. Oil might be less expensive in the middle of a recession, but it will never be cheap again.

Take away cheap oil, and the global economy is getting the shock of its life.

From the ageing oilfields of Saudi Arabia and the United States to the Canadian tar sands, from the shopping malls of Dubai to the shuttered auto plants of North America and Europe, from the made-in-China products on the shelves of the Wal-Mart down the road to the collapse of Wall Street giants, everything is connected to the price of oil

Global warming calls for nothing less than a new energy revolution to lead the world to a peaceful, sustainable, post-carbon world. The Climate Challenge lays out practical contributions that can be made on every level of society.

Product Description
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the urgency of global climate change. But when author Guy Dauncey assembles the world's best solutions in one place, as he does in The Climate Challenge, a vision emerges of a sustainable energy revolution. He opens the door to a century of exciting change, characterized by renewable energy, sustainable farming, carbon-rich forestry, green cities, electric vehicles, high-speed trains, a blossoming of innovation, and a host of new "green collar" jobs.

The Climate Challenge draws on working solutions from around the world, and lays out the best actions for students and scientists, musicians and mayors, policy-makers and presidents, showing how it is possible to reduce our carbon footprint to almost zero by 2040. Each solution describes steps that are already being used in homes, schools, businesses, cities, and governments around the world - with full scientific references to help the reader dig deeper and push farther.

Anyone who wants to learn basic living skills the kind employed by our forefathers and adapt them for a better life in the twenty-first century need look no further than this eminently useful, full-color guide.

Description
Anyone who wants to learn basic living skills the kind employed by our forefathers and adapt them for a better life in the twenty-first century need look no further than this eminently useful, full-color guide. Countless readers have turned to Back to Basics for inspiration and instruction, escaping to an era before power saws and fast food restaurants and rediscovering the pleasures and challenges of a healthier, greener, and more self-sufficient lifestyle. Now newly updated, the hundreds of projects, step-by-step sequences, photographs, charts, and illustrations in Back to Basics will help you dye your own wool with plant pigments, graft trees, raise chickens, craft a hutch table with hand tools, and make treats such as blueberry peach jam and cheddar cheese. The truly ambitious will find instructions on how to build a log cabin or an adobe brick homestead. More than just practical advice, this is also a book for dreamers even if you live in a city apartment you will find your imagination sparked, and there's no reason why you can't, for example, make a loom and weave a rag rug. Complete with tips for old-fashioned fun (square dancing calls, homemade toys, and kayaking tips), this may be the most thorough book on voluntary simplicity available.