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The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from The Union of Concerned Scientists
From one of the most prestigious nonprofit organizations devoted to environmental issues comes a clear, practical, and rational overview of the relationship between consumers and the environment.
Paper or plastic? Bus or car? Old house or new? Cloth diapers or disposables? Some choices have a huge impact on the environment; others are of negligible importance. To those of us who care about our quality of life and what is happening to the earth, this is a vastly important issue. In these pages, the Union of Concerned Scientists help inform consumers about everyday decisions that significantly affect the environment. For example, a few major decisions--such as the choice of a house or vehicle--have such a disproportionately large affect on the environment that minor environmental infractions shrink by comparison.
This book identifies the 4 Most Significant Consumer-Related Environmental Problems, the 7 Most Damaging Spending Categories, 11 Priority Actions, and 7 Rules for Responsible Consumption. Learn what you can do to have a truly significant impact on our world from the people who are at the forefront of scientific research.
Paper or plastic? Bus or car? Old house or new? Cloth diapers or disposables? Some choices have a huge impact on the environment; others are of negligible importance. To those of us who care about our quality of life and what is happening to the earth, this is a vastly important issue. In these pages, the Union of Concerned Scientists help inform consumers about everyday decisions that significantly affect the environment. For example, a few major decisions--such as the choice of a house or vehicle--have such a disproportionately large affect on the environment that minor environmental infractions shrink by comparison.
This book identifies the 4 Most Significant Consumer-Related Environmental Problems, the 7 Most Damaging Spending Categories, 11 Priority Actions, and 7 Rules for Responsible Consumption. Learn what you can do to have a truly significant impact on our world from the people who are at the forefront of scientific research.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 1999
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447 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 16, 2016
2.5 stars. A newer updated edition might get more.
I picked this up at one of the Little Free Libraries where I will return it for someone else to pick up.
It was a fast read though I confess I skimmed some sections. Being an old recycling hippy (back when it was considered weird to do) and a life long non-driver (yes, you can have a life and even kids without a car) and an organic gardener a lot of the information was not new to me. There have been enough changes since 1999 that an update would be useful. Nonetheless one can use the information to look at personal choices.
I think it was presented fairly well, making it clear each person needs to examine their life and choose what works and the impact and giving some information to start from.
Own a small business in a rural area? It probably won't work to not drive.
Live in the city where there are multiple options for travel? Car ownership probably not needed.
Many of the hidden environmental costs in items and activities are examined-manufacturing, fuel, transportation, water usage, types of pollution.
I liked the sections on energy use of household items and choosing energy efficient appliances when replacing.
Pros and cons of glass vs. plastic vs. aluminum packaging are laid out. Your choice may depend on where you are located and available recycling services but I enjoyed the analysis of each and the impact on the environment both in manufacture and multiple re-uses.
Environmental costs of our food both apparent and hidden are examined as well as many other household items. The effects of use of household chemicals inside and out.
I did not necessarily agree with all the choices but it's clear the writers don't expect that. Each of us has to make choices the more informed the better they will be rather than choosing via ignorance or obliviousness.
There is a section on what you can ask government (local and national) to do and how to go about it
While the research methods appendices were ok. To me the various tables were dull,convoluted and somewhat useless. I never did find how many individuals defined an "average" American household but I freely admit to skimming this section.I am not fond of statistical charts.
I do wonder what the figures would look like today, 17 years after publication.
I enjoyed the history of our mass consumption culture and how it has grown with the spread of industrialization. One quote I liked:
"Competitive culture spreads things before us and beseeches and persuades us to buy what we do not want"
~Walter Rauschenbach 1907
How relentless that scenario has become in just under 100 years!
I picked this up at one of the Little Free Libraries where I will return it for someone else to pick up.
It was a fast read though I confess I skimmed some sections. Being an old recycling hippy (back when it was considered weird to do) and a life long non-driver (yes, you can have a life and even kids without a car) and an organic gardener a lot of the information was not new to me. There have been enough changes since 1999 that an update would be useful. Nonetheless one can use the information to look at personal choices.
I think it was presented fairly well, making it clear each person needs to examine their life and choose what works and the impact and giving some information to start from.
Own a small business in a rural area? It probably won't work to not drive.
Live in the city where there are multiple options for travel? Car ownership probably not needed.
Many of the hidden environmental costs in items and activities are examined-manufacturing, fuel, transportation, water usage, types of pollution.
I liked the sections on energy use of household items and choosing energy efficient appliances when replacing.
Pros and cons of glass vs. plastic vs. aluminum packaging are laid out. Your choice may depend on where you are located and available recycling services but I enjoyed the analysis of each and the impact on the environment both in manufacture and multiple re-uses.
Environmental costs of our food both apparent and hidden are examined as well as many other household items. The effects of use of household chemicals inside and out.
I did not necessarily agree with all the choices but it's clear the writers don't expect that. Each of us has to make choices the more informed the better they will be rather than choosing via ignorance or obliviousness.
There is a section on what you can ask government (local and national) to do and how to go about it
While the research methods appendices were ok. To me the various tables were dull,convoluted and somewhat useless. I never did find how many individuals defined an "average" American household but I freely admit to skimming this section.I am not fond of statistical charts.
I do wonder what the figures would look like today, 17 years after publication.
I enjoyed the history of our mass consumption culture and how it has grown with the spread of industrialization. One quote I liked:
"Competitive culture spreads things before us and beseeches and persuades us to buy what we do not want"
~Walter Rauschenbach 1907
How relentless that scenario has become in just under 100 years!
May 2, 2007
This book is a good read for anyone worried about the environment, but who isn't quite ready to head out to the local hippie commune. This book doesn't sweat big policy issues, and is several years old, but still provides a good primer on what exactly our how our consumer society is hurting the environment and what we can do in our day-to-day lives to minimize the damage. The scientific methodology is refreshing.
Aside from offering some relief from non-dilemmas such as "paper or plastic", the book can basically be summarized with the following:
-Don't drive
-Suburban sprawl is bad
-Buy a new refrigerator if yours is over 10-15 years old
-Meat is worse for the environment than dairy or grains
-Trash and consumer disposable waste is a relatively minor problem
Aside from offering some relief from non-dilemmas such as "paper or plastic", the book can basically be summarized with the following:
-Don't drive
-Suburban sprawl is bad
-Buy a new refrigerator if yours is over 10-15 years old
-Meat is worse for the environment than dairy or grains
-Trash and consumer disposable waste is a relatively minor problem
July 2, 2007
This was an interesting read, and I like that it didn't give advice in a way that was overwhelming (such as "1001 things you can do to help save the environment" books). Instead, it just focused on the main causes of environmental harm: transportation, housing issues (heating/cooling, lawn care, construction), and what we eat. I also liked that the book made a point of stating the things where the differences in environmental effects are negligable, such as cloth or disposable diapers, or paper or plastic bags, so that consumers can focus on the areas where their actions have a larger impact. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to live in a more environmentally friendly way!
January 15, 2020
"Paper or plastic? Bus or car? Old house or new? Cloth diapers or disposables? Some choices have a huge impact on the environment; others are of negligible importance. To those of us who care about our quality of life and what is happening to the earth, this is a vastly important issue. In these pages, the Union of Concerned Scientists help inform consumers about everyday decisions that significantly affect the environment. For example, a few major decisions -- such as the choice of a house or vehicle -- have such a disproportionately large affect on the environment that minor environmental infractions shrink by comparison. ..."
~back cover
I was disappointed in this book, and that's a function of the date of publication: 1999. So much of what was written is old hat, and some was simply out of date. Amazing how much more is known about climate change and the affects our choices have on it -- twenty years has seen a quantitative leap forward!
~back cover
I was disappointed in this book, and that's a function of the date of publication: 1999. So much of what was written is old hat, and some was simply out of date. Amazing how much more is known about climate change and the affects our choices have on it -- twenty years has seen a quantitative leap forward!
January 17, 2021
This is a good practical book about helpful steps to take for individuals who are interested in their environmental impact. The Epilogue is excellent and the advice about considering our big purchases, our daily activities, and the impact of land zoning were helpful. Many of the policy suggestions have now been widely implemented (bottle deposits, appliance energy usage labelling) while other key ideas (how to price carbon, subsidizing energy) are still being debated or delayed.
September 19, 2025
A great read. This book gave me new perspectives on environmental issues and impacts from the society’s consumer behaviours, in a very scientific, facts-based way. Hard to believe this book was written in the 90s, 30 years later the core issue has been only getting worse. I resonate with this book and it’s making me actively reconsider my consumption habits.
January 11, 2026
Learned some new info on the gov & environment relationship. Even reading this in 2026 it's all relevant, even more daunting because we have foresight of not adhering to all the scientific evidence and changes needed to stop future planet disaster.
Dense writing & hard to casually read. Would be excellent to use in a college course, paper, or research.
Dense writing & hard to casually read. Would be excellent to use in a college course, paper, or research.
March 8, 2018
Good book, just outdated now.
March 30, 2018
Dated, since it was written in 1999, but still very relevant. A good discussion on what deserves your focus when trying to be a more sustainable consumer.
April 22, 2020
Excellent, but be sure to keep in mind that it was written in 1998!
January 5, 2021
It’s a little dated, but some information is definitely still applicable to this day. Heavy on the numbers, so if you’re into that you’ll definitely like this book.
April 27, 2022
A good read. Helpful to understand the fundamentals of environmental ethics. However, it was written over 20 years ago so the stats and data are irrelevant now. I’m sure it was a 5 star excellent read in its era.
January 27, 2010
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This review is for the 1999 edition. There is a digital version of the book published in 2009, but the content is not updated, just digitized.
From the back cover:
"Paper or plastic? Bus or car? Old house or new? Cloth diapers or disposables? Some choices have a huge impact on the environment; others are of negligible importance. To those of us who care about our quality of life and what is happening to the earth, this is a vastly important issue. In these pages, the Union of Concerned Scientists help inform consumers about everyday decisions that significantly affect the environment. For example, a few major decisions such as the choice of a house or vehicle have such a disproportionately large affect on the environment that minor environmental infractions shrink by comparison. This book identifies the 4 Most Significant Consumer Related Environmental Problems, 7 Most Damaging Categories, 11 Priority Actions, and 7 Rules for Responsible Consumption". Learn what you can do to have a truly significant impact on our world"
Unlike other books which overwhelm the reader into inaction with just "50 simple things to do" this book gives the reader a list of the top 11 most effective actions.
The scientists who compiled this short list explain their choices with facts and figures, including reasons why the reader should not worry about other behavioral changes often recommended but that in reality are of little environmental value.
The book is printed on recycled paper and you can even read the first chapter online for free:
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/ucs/cg-chapter-1.pdf
From page 85:
The most effective environmentally friendly actions consumers can do:
Transportation:
1. Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive.
2. Think twice before purchasing another car.
3. Choose a fuel efficient, low polluting car.
4. Set concrete goals for reducing your travel.
5. Whenever practical, walk, bicycle, or take public transportation
Food:
6. Eat less meat.
7. Buy certified organic produce.
Household Operations:
8. Choose your home carefully.
9. Reduce the environmental costs of heating and hot water.
10. Install efficient lighting and appliances.
11. Choose an electricity supplier offering renewable energy.
I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars since it is likely out of date having been published in 1999.
This review is for the 1999 edition. There is a digital version of the book published in 2009, but the content is not updated, just digitized.
From the back cover:
"Paper or plastic? Bus or car? Old house or new? Cloth diapers or disposables? Some choices have a huge impact on the environment; others are of negligible importance. To those of us who care about our quality of life and what is happening to the earth, this is a vastly important issue. In these pages, the Union of Concerned Scientists help inform consumers about everyday decisions that significantly affect the environment. For example, a few major decisions such as the choice of a house or vehicle have such a disproportionately large affect on the environment that minor environmental infractions shrink by comparison. This book identifies the 4 Most Significant Consumer Related Environmental Problems, 7 Most Damaging Categories, 11 Priority Actions, and 7 Rules for Responsible Consumption". Learn what you can do to have a truly significant impact on our world"
Unlike other books which overwhelm the reader into inaction with just "50 simple things to do" this book gives the reader a list of the top 11 most effective actions.
The scientists who compiled this short list explain their choices with facts and figures, including reasons why the reader should not worry about other behavioral changes often recommended but that in reality are of little environmental value.
The book is printed on recycled paper and you can even read the first chapter online for free:
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/ucs/cg-chapter-1.pdf
From page 85:
The most effective environmentally friendly actions consumers can do:
Transportation:
1. Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive.
2. Think twice before purchasing another car.
3. Choose a fuel efficient, low polluting car.
4. Set concrete goals for reducing your travel.
5. Whenever practical, walk, bicycle, or take public transportation
Food:
6. Eat less meat.
7. Buy certified organic produce.
Household Operations:
8. Choose your home carefully.
9. Reduce the environmental costs of heating and hot water.
10. Install efficient lighting and appliances.
11. Choose an electricity supplier offering renewable energy.
I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars since it is likely out of date having been published in 1999.
April 11, 2013
A data-driven look at how American consumers impact the environment, and hence, what the most effective steps are to reduce that impact. Woulda been 4 stars but it's a bit outdated. The economy and the environment have changed a bit since 1999, so it would be cool to see an updated version, especially given the proliferation of internet-based advice (not all of it trustworthy).
Realizing that most people only have limited bandwidth available for changing their lifestyle to be more ecological, this book aims to identify the largest consumer impacts on the environment. The big ones turn out to be connected to driving a car, eating meat and heating your home. These aren't surprising results for anyone paying attention to the environment. But it is nice to see the results put into a comprehensive framework where you can compare the impact of owning a big car to eating steak weekly to buying paper napkins. They also tell you not to sweat the small stuff -- activities where the impact is small, or where the alternative is not significantly better. E.g. if you live in an area with water scarcity, go ahead and use plastic diapers; cloth isn't radically better, just a different set of problems.
There is a rhetorical divide within the environmental movement about whether to be optimistic or pessimistic when talking about environmental problems and solutions. This book falls squarely into the can-do, optimist camp. But they are careful not to state that consumer action alone will be sufficient to the task, and include a later chapter talking up the importance of government action and calling your Congressperson.
Realizing that most people only have limited bandwidth available for changing their lifestyle to be more ecological, this book aims to identify the largest consumer impacts on the environment. The big ones turn out to be connected to driving a car, eating meat and heating your home. These aren't surprising results for anyone paying attention to the environment. But it is nice to see the results put into a comprehensive framework where you can compare the impact of owning a big car to eating steak weekly to buying paper napkins. They also tell you not to sweat the small stuff -- activities where the impact is small, or where the alternative is not significantly better. E.g. if you live in an area with water scarcity, go ahead and use plastic diapers; cloth isn't radically better, just a different set of problems.
There is a rhetorical divide within the environmental movement about whether to be optimistic or pessimistic when talking about environmental problems and solutions. This book falls squarely into the can-do, optimist camp. But they are careful not to state that consumer action alone will be sufficient to the task, and include a later chapter talking up the importance of government action and calling your Congressperson.
October 12, 2007
A great book with data outlining how consumer choices affect the environment along various broad axes (greenhouse gases, air pollution, water pollution, habitat alteration). I learned a bit about how to think broadly about how different products affect the environment. The best part of the book though is the quantitative model which allows for understanding the big picture in relative terms. This leads to practical advice, both in terms of the things you can do to lessen your impact with the biggest bang for the buck (drive less, buy light fuel-efficient cars, live close to work if possible; ensure your home is insulated well, use energy-star appliances; eat less meat, especially beef; purchase green energy from your electric company) as well as enabling you to allay any guilt you may feel about choices with relatively insignificant impacts (paper versus plastic, various lightweight disposable packaging). Overall I found the book very good, a great source of actionable data for those who want to be more eco-conscious, and the writing is clear and practical (and not heavy-handed).
September 2, 2015
A little dated, but I knew I needed this book when I flipped it open in the bookshop to page 132: "Paper Versus Plastic Bags." The main takeaway of this book is that you should base your amount of concern on how HEAVY the product in question is. You should put a great deal of research and care into making large household purchases--and in this sense the book is much more useful for homeowners (buying a house is indeed one of these large purchases)--and not worry about literally lightweight decisions. Regarding paper vs. plastic bags, "It is therefore unlikely that one choice is all that much better than the other.... Personally, we find paper sacks work best since we can reuse them in our kitchen trash containers, thereby avoiding having to purchase plastic trash liners.... But no matter what you do, it's not all that big a deal." There are also nice sections on "Think About Nonenvironmental Reasons for Reducing Consumption," "Powerboats" (hint: just don't get one), and "A Special Case: Having Children."
June 18, 2007
Although this book is about 10 years old now, it has a lot of interesting data to use in considering consumption habits, particularly those that are easy to overlook. There is so much information regarding the factors of climate change that I get overwhelmed trying to determine what I can do to reduce my impact and what changes really are meaningful. This book looks at the major categories of resource use, putting them in the context of consumption and conservation and examines various debates, such as paper vs plastic and whether organic really is better. I did not find it preachy nor did it make me feel guilty so much as it provided information that I can use to examine my choices (which I can then use to make myself feel guilty).
January 12, 2009
Two stars sounds so low, and really, this wasn't a bad book. I just didn't personally enjoy reading it that much. For me, I already knew at least half of the things talked about and have already started doing the majority of them. I also didn't care for the history of recycling, consumerism, activism, environmental degradation, industrialization, etc. etc., wah wah wah. Sheesh! I would've been happy with a simple list of do this, don't do that. But, I guess that's my fault, isn't it. After all, this IS a book, not a pamphlet. There were some things I read that were interesting and new to me...I just can't seem to remember them now. They've been expunged by the minutia of comparative risk assessment.
I think I'm just cranky today.
I think I'm just cranky today.
August 19, 2015
I was curious about the The Union of Concerned Scientists and saw that this was one of their most popular books, though now quite outdated in terms of the data they used. I'm still happy I bought it! The authors bring science to the reader in the most approachable way with direct advice. They give consumers a way to understand how their choices affect the environment, what they can do to reduce their environmental footprint, as well as what they can ask government to do. Plus for their slightly more curious, they have a thorough appendix of their methodology, the limitations and shortcomings.
The stories were a little cheesy. But, I'm still ready to buy Cooler Smarter, which is a much more recent edition of how to decarbonize your life.
The stories were a little cheesy. But, I'm still ready to buy Cooler Smarter, which is a much more recent edition of how to decarbonize your life.
May 28, 2011
Despite being dated (published over ten years ago, with research dating back to to the mid-1990s), this is a good resource for people who are interested in the "Why" component of environmental impacts. The authors examine the largest threats to the environment from human activity (air pollution, water pollution, etc) and the changes people can make that will have the greatest impact on these threats. They also discuss what not to worry about - plastic vs paper is an example they give, but without any discussion of the trend in reusable grocery bags. If you're serious about making big changes - cars, refrigerators, and so forth - this book is probably for you.
October 21, 2023
This book is a good read for anyone worried about the environment, but who isn't quite ready to head out to the local hippie commune. This book doesn't sweat big policy issues, and is several years old, but still provides a good primer on how exactly our consumer society is hurting the environment and what we can do in our day-to-day lives to minimize the damage.
The book can basically be summarized with the following:
-Don't drive
-Suburban sprawl is bad
-Buy a new refrigerator if yours is over 10-15 years old
-Meat is worse for the environment than dairy or grains
-Trash and consumer disposable waste is a relatively minor problem
The book can basically be summarized with the following:
-Don't drive
-Suburban sprawl is bad
-Buy a new refrigerator if yours is over 10-15 years old
-Meat is worse for the environment than dairy or grains
-Trash and consumer disposable waste is a relatively minor problem
July 27, 2007
True, a lot of the content of this book was stuff I already knew. But it's good to see the facts laid out in a cohesive and accurate manner, from a trusted source with data to back things up. I appreciate their emphasis on understanding which decisions /don't/ matter as much as which ones do. It makes no difference if you choose paper or plastic; they have equal environmental impact, and either is dwarfed by the impact of driving to the grocery store. For anyone attempting to navigate the ever-trickier waters of environmentally correct living, I definitely recommend.
March 24, 2008
Yeah, it's a little dull. But it's packed with useful information if you can wade through it. I especially liked the authors' focus on the most significant sources of pollution, water usage, and etc. They make the point, for example, that leaving the water off while you brush your teeth is all fine & good, but that modern agriculture actually uses (and wastes) far more water than home use does. Thus, reducing your consumption of meat and conventional produce is one way to reduce your water consumption significantly--that is something I had not considered previously.
April 27, 2010
This book is pretty much the opposite of "No Impact Man". It tells consumers to not sweat the small stuff, but instead to put a lot of thought into your bigger purchases and consumptions. I feel it is an important read for any aspiring environmental Nazi. I especially enjoyed reading about the debate between cloth and disposable diapers. Previously I thought cloth was a no-brainer, but apparently not! The beginning was a little slow, but it was a quick read. I got a lot out of chapters 4-6, and 3 was good to skim through.
January 30, 2011
I really appreciated this book for:
1) Giving the scientifically researched conclusions about what to do (and not to do) to best protect the environment in laymen's terms;
2) Including a chapter on the history of consumerism, putting our wastefulness into the context of 'how on Earth did we get to this point?' I feel that understanding this makes me feel a lot less helpless, somehow.
Although this book was written in 1999, it is still very much relevant and most of the content still holds true.
1) Giving the scientifically researched conclusions about what to do (and not to do) to best protect the environment in laymen's terms;
2) Including a chapter on the history of consumerism, putting our wastefulness into the context of 'how on Earth did we get to this point?' I feel that understanding this makes me feel a lot less helpless, somehow.
Although this book was written in 1999, it is still very much relevant and most of the content still holds true.
December 10, 2007
a quick, data-driven but still accessible, overview of what really matters and what doesn't about consumer choices and the environment. we're always bombarded with "do this, do that" messages (often conflicting) regarding our ecological footprints, and here's a no-nonsense guide to evaluating those claims.
of course, the most important environmental choices of all (which they make clear but perhaps don't emphasize enough) are public, not private, but it's important nonetheless.
of course, the most important environmental choices of all (which they make clear but perhaps don't emphasize enough) are public, not private, but it's important nonetheless.
January 4, 2009
A book that everyone should at least browse through. Talks about what really matters (car driving at the top of the list unsurprisingly). Contains an amazingly detailed appendix section that lists every activity and purchase you could think of and what its impact is. Breaks down the list not only by contributions to global warming but also toxic air and water pollution, habitat destruction and increased land use.
April 14, 2012
Read it a while ago so it may be out-dated now, but I DO remember being surprised that we spend a lot of time fretting decisions that don't make much of a difference. Paper or plastic? Disposable diapers or cloth ones? Probably doesn't make a difference. Some things kill trees and save water. Some thing poison the air while saving the soil (or vice versa).
If you really want to make a difference. EAT LESS MEAT and DRIVE LESS. If we all start there we'll be much better off.
If you really want to make a difference. EAT LESS MEAT and DRIVE LESS. If we all start there we'll be much better off.
December 3, 2007
This is a great book that helps you prioritize the things you can do to create a more sustainable world and to conserve energy. They have lots of great research on what things have a large or small impact (Driving= large impact on the environment along with you house. plastic bags vs paper bags, much less significant).
January 17, 2008
Great basic guide, and a quick read. I ended up skipping or skimming parts of it because it just contained more detail than I needed or wanted. I wanted to know how to prioritize my decisions and thinking about purchases and resource use, and this book helped me do that. Maybe after I take research methods this semester some of the charts and graphs will be more interesting to me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews