Living Green: Your Questions Answered (Q&A Health Guides)

This book makes "green living," as it relates to teens and young adults, an approachable subject. The information and resources it comprises make it valuable for anyone who is interested in living a more sustainable and environmentally friendly life. Our actions have a powerful impact on the environment: how we heat and cool our homes, the types of cars we drive, and even the foods we consume all contribute to the health of the planet. Living Green: Your Questions Answered, an installment in Greenwood's Q&A Health Guides series, provides clear, concise answers to readers' questions about living a more eco-conscious life. In addition to explaining fundamental concepts such as carbon footprint, climate change, and sustainability, this book offers practical steps readers can take in their everyday lives to reduce their environmental impact across a number of areas, including energy usage, transportation, food and water, and even fashion and personal care products. Each book in this series follows a reader-friendly question-and-answer format that anticipates readers' needs and concerns. Prevalent myths and misconceptions are identified and dispelled, and a collection of case studies illustrates key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. The book also includes a section on health literacy, equipping teens and young adults with practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the internet-important skills that contribute to a lifetime of healthy decision-making. Makes the subject accessible to readers by means of a simple Q&A format Helps readers hone their research and critical thinking skills in a Guide to Health Literacy section Provides real-world examples of concepts discussed in the book through case studies Dispels popular misconceptions in a Common Myths section and directs readers towards accurate information Points readers towards additional books, organizations, and websites for further study and research in an annotated directory of resources homesteaders herbal compa What is "green living?" What is "sustainability?" What's the deal with carbon? Is climate change real? Are global temperatures increasing or not? Why is the ozone layer important? What does the government do to protect the environment? Where does our power come from? What are fossil fuels and why aren't they considered green? What are emissions? What is bad about air pollution? What are some green sources of power? Can renewable sources produce enough energy to meet our needs? What are some ways to use less electricity at home? How does transportation affect the environment? What are some ways to reduce air pollution from transport? Is ethanol green? Is air travel ever green? Are there ways to offset the pollution it causes? What happens to garbage after it gets picked up? How can I reduce the amount of garbage I produce? How does recycling work? What is the best way to compost food and yard waste? Does agriculture harm the environment? What is organic agriculture? Is meat production bad for the environment? Is seafood green? Are organic foods really better? Is vegetarianism or veganism the greenest way to eat? Is local food really greener than food from far away? What sort of shopping bag should I use? Could I produce my own food? Can restaurant food be green? Do I really need to worry about water? How can I use less water? How can I make my laundry less environmentally costly? What does it mean that a product is certified "green"? Should I worry about indoor air pollution? Is there any benefit to using green/natural body care products and cosmetics? What is eco-fashion? Is ecotourism actually green? I am overwhelmed! how do I set priorities? How can I help persuade corporations and businesses to protect the environment? "The purpose of this book is to help clarify some of the key issues and give readers some ways to think about how they live. It does not begin to cover the full range of information or issues; people can do entire degrees in environmental science and policy. It is intended merely as a quick resource and a jumping-off point. Readers can and should investigate these issues more fully - the Internet abounds in good sources and active debate"-- Provided by publisher