Go Green, Live Rich Book Review

While there are a lot of people who are trying to go green for the benefit of the planet and its inhabitants, let’s face it - there are some people who can only be persuaded to go green for the financial benefits.  If you’re one of those people, or know someone who is, there is a fabulous book that you’ve got to read - Go Green, Live Rich.

 

 

I really enjoyed this book.  It’s filled with fifty widely different ways to start saving the Earth while at the same time padding your pockets.  I don’t need to be persuaded to be more environmentally friendly, but many people just need a gentle push in the right direction.  Go Green, Live Rich is that slight nudge that will have you composting and buying low flow toilets in no time.

David Bach, author of five New York Times bestsellers on how to become wealthy, wrote Go Green, Live Rich after converting to a greener lifestyle himself and realizing how much damage we were collectively doing to the environment.

The great thing that Bach points out, though, is that most efforts to be environmentally friendly will actually make you money, and he lists a specific dollar figure that you will save beside each tip.  The tips are listed in categories such as energy, going green at work, green investing and shopping green.  In each tip, usually just a page or two long and written in plain English so it’s easy to understand, Bach reveals shocking statistics that show how much money Americans are wasting every day by engaging in practices that damage the environment.

For example - Did you know that $4 BILLION dollars of energy could be saved if workers simply turned off their computers at night before leaving work?  $4 Billion dollars.  And all we would need to do is flip a switch.

So you might be asking, well, how exactly do I get rich from going green?  Bach has got that answer already calculated for you.  He says if you do just four of the tips in the book -

• Improving Your Car’s Fuel Economy
• Sealing the Leaks in Your Home
• Adjusting Your Thermostat by Three Degrees
• Bringing Your Lunch To Work

then you’ll pocket a savings of $3,758 each year.  If you invest that amount of money each year and receive a 10% annual return, then you’ll have earned $678,146 in 30 years.

Granted, you’ve got to invest that money every year, but look at the return!  You can create a retirement savings while saving the planet and creating a better world for you to retire in.  It’s a win, win situation for everyone involved.

If you’re searching for one book to put into perspective the financial benefits of going green, there’s likely nothing better than Go Green, Live Rich.  It will inspire you, empower you and put a few extra dollars in your bank account along the way.

 

Kimberly Button is a green consultant with greenWell, a green consulting company that helps families and businesses create healthier, greener, non-toxic living and working environments by providing eco-wellness consultations, in-home parties and professional speaking engagements.