Sustainable homes USA by Jacobo Krauel
In the past few years architecture has been invaded by green designs and save-the-planet concepts, but the truth is that people have been building “recycled” homes for decades. This book takes you on a tour of America’s most thought provoking home designs: from building with bamboo, tires, paper, and bottles to creating energy reducing systems.

Eco Craft: Recycle Recraft Restyle by Susan Wasinger
In Paul Auster’s In the country of last things inhabitants of a futuristic American town work as scavengers, recuperating other people’s junk, collecting trash that they can reuse. Although not as scary as Auster’s book, Eco Craft: Recycle Recraft Restyle is an homage to the idea that there is a secret life in even the lowliest garbage. Wasinger takes everyday objects from any household, that we usually wouldn’t think twice about dumping, and with some imagination and good taste transforms them into beautiful objects for our home. Inspired by William McDonough’s Cradle to Cradle this book is not only eco-friendly but with the times getting tough it’s a great way to turn garbage into useful things.

The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen
When I saw one of the authors of this book being interviewed by Oprah about a year ago I thought her book was genius. Not only did she team up with superstars with the like of Owen Wilson, and Justin Timberlake to make sure this book is a publishing success story but the advice she gives really is doable. For example: How many times have you taken money out of the ATM and been given a paper receipt you didn’t need, or want, or know where to stash. Did you know that “if everyone in the United States left their receipts in the machine, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator fifteen times.” If you follow this books advice, you’ll save more paper than it took to print it on.

Time to Eat the Dog : The Real Guide to Sustainable Living by Brenda Vale and Robert James Dennis Vale
Robert and Brenda Vale have been actively researching sustainable living since the 1970’s. Having first ventured into architecture, creating England’s first completely “Autonomous house”, the couple quickly realised that it wasn’t just about making buildings “green”. They make their point through well researched arguments, with tons of tables and graphs as support. This book looks at topics as diverse as transport, home appliances, activities, work and even rites of passage (weddings, funerals), and teaches us that the “green” choice is not always the choice we need to be making to save the planet. It’s not all about carrying a cloth bag to the supermarket.

Turn Me On: 100 Easy Ways to Use Solar Energy by Michelle Kodis
Petrol may come and go but the sun is going to be there for a few hundred thousands of years to say the least. In the up and coming energy crisis it may not be such a bad idea to make use of it. From the commonly known ideas like installing solar panels for heating or producing energy to the architectural principles of how to orient your home so it requires the least heating and cooling, this book will guide you through 101 ways to ‘turn it on’.

Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy by Michael T. Klare
It has long since been observed that the wars of the 21st century will not be over arms or technological advances, but over resources. The truth is that political power is shifting, and new alliances are going to be forged in the race for energy-acquisition. The supposed loser of the Cold War, Russia has more energy holdings and potential than the U.S, and China and India constitute a threat to U.S domination, which may or may not be saved through the continued occupation of Iraq.  Michael Klare writes about the urgent policy changes that are to be made if the U.S is to maintain its power in the international system, in the light of the energy war that is to come.

Ecological intelligence: How knowing the hidden impacts of what we buy can change everything by Daniel Goleman
With the ‘Going green’ trend that is developing all over the world, the purchasing power has shifted from the sellers to the buyers. We now have the right to be informed of how the things that we buy affect the planet in terms of chemical pollution, land use, CO2 emissions, etc. and the duty to say no to those products which are most harmful to the environment. It is important that we have a realistic assessment of our collective ecological footprint and this books’ author argues that the key to green consumerism is ‘radical transparency’ about the products we buy on a daily basis.

Dora Helps Save the Earth by Nickelodeon
Going green also starts with teaching our children on the environment and what they can do to contribute to saving the planet and this book is a great way to do it. Dora and all of her family and friends each contribute with their favourite tips about what each of us can do to help. What’s even better about this book is that it is printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper with soy ink.

Dinosaurs Go Green! A Guide to Protecting Our Planet by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
From recycling, to how to plant a tree, to how to find new uses for old stuff, this book contains a ton of practical advice given by friendly dinosaurs. Kids are sure to learn a few tricks from this beautifully illustrated book.