Review by Meghan Mast
Many people claim to support the goals of environmentalism, but only a small percentage of these individuals act on these sentiments. Crissy Trask, author of a€?Ita€™s Easy Being Greena€? recognizes these inconsistencies and has decided to provide some guidance. By offering tangible ways to reduce pollution production, Trask aims to make environmental action simple for individuals.

Formatted as a handbook, Trask clearly maps out where changes can be made. Specific tasks covering both at work and at home are provided in checklist form, intended to further simplify green living for the reader. Some examples include setting the refrigerator near thirty-seven degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer near three degrees Fahrenheit. Also, by turning the oven off ten to fifteen minutes before cooking time is finished, the food will continue to cook and energy will be conserved.
Online shopping is another way to save energy and also reduce land development. Not only is shopping online an earth-conscious alternative, but it also is more appealing for the busy person. She provides an organized list of earth-friendly web businesses for further simplified purchasing.
Even while shopping on-line individuals should make conscious decisions about what they buy. One of the largest contributions to pollution is consumer ignorance. People buy products that are hazardous to the environment without realizing the harmful consequences. Laundry detergent often contains phosphate and chlorinea€”both of which produce considerable ecological damage. Alternatives are available and it only takes one label check to discover whether a detergent is without these toxins.
When a product is vague about its impact on the environment, Trask recommends contacting the manufacturer for answers. This can be a time consuming process, so the simpler alternative is to use the clearly earth-friendly businesses that Trask recommends.

Some will contest the practicality of “living green,” and Trask addresses some of these doubts in a way that ultimately further supports her cause. Individual action is what is going to ultimately effect change. Become informed! Take political action! Begin living a “green life”! As Trask quotes Mahatma Gandhi saying, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”