Renee Loux - Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home

H awaii is one of those places on Earth that reminds you that you live on a planet. The first time I met Rene, I was walking along the beach in Maui. Rene had been surfing, and she emerged from the ocean like a mythical sea goddess. A beautiful emissary from Atlantis or some other magical place, sent to our world to remind us of our higher selves. I even seem to recall seaweed clinging to her as if she were of the sea. (This may be an embellishment; however, my artistic license is paid in full.) She was fit, clear-eyed, and energetic and exuded positivity and well-being. She embodied Health.

Hi, Im Rene. Im Sheps friend, she said. She was referring to her husband, Shep Gordon. I had met Shep in 1991 while filming Waynes World with Alice Cooper. Shep is Alices manager. The type of manager who takes care of his clients diligently while at the same time maintaining his humanity and grace. He is a good friend and a great teacher. Hearing Rene say Im Sheps friend made me realize that she would soon become a good friend as well. She impacts the life of everyone she meets. Just ask Shep. Hes never looked better or lived better.

Rene is the type of spiritual seeker who not only speaks of her ideals, but lives them out as well. She believes that spirituality requires a soldiers discipline and not just a bumper stickers bromide. This book expresses her passion for living green, and my hope is that after you read this book, Rene will have convinced you how easy green living really is.

She will teach you how to create an eco-friendly kitchen, she will explain the environmental hazards in a nongreen household, and, more important, she will offer real and easy green solutions. From this book I learned that cleaning products do not have to list their ingredients even though many aerosol room sprays are publicly registered as aspiration haz ards, and that microwave popcorn bags are lined with nonstick chemicals.

I now eat air-popped popcorn and use green cleaning products in my house. I have installed water filters (eliminating plastic water bottles and the fossil fuels used for their delivery). I have switched to energy-efficient lightbulbs that produce the same amount of light while using 25 percent of the energy. I use recycled paper products. Every year, more than 900 million trees are cut down for paper and pulp mills. More than 40 percent of landfill area is paper. I purify my indoor air with houseplants, avoiding aerosols and the electricity wasted on mechanical air purifiers. In my laundry room I use biodegradable detergent, oxygen bleach, and an energy-efficient washer and dryer. I started buying organic foods to avoid the chemicals used in the cultivation of conventional foods and to save the fossil fuels used for their delivery. I continue to buy organic foods because they taste better. If I cant buy organic, which Im happy to say is less and less common, I now know a great recipe for veggie washing so I can reduce pesticide residue.

Because of this book, Easy Green Living, and its author, Rene Loux, I live more greenly. And it is easy.

Mike Myers

F irst, last, and every morsel between, to my beloved Shep, with love that no words can fulfill, you are my everything, more than anything.

To my Mama and Daddio, for always believing in me and instilling in me that the greatest treasure in life is happiness. I always hope to make you proud.

To Lyle and Erika, and my precious niece, Ella.

To Jim and Elizabeth Wiatt and Isabel and Caroline, for love and support like family, I adore you to no end.

To Mike Myers, for wit and intellect that melt and inspire, and for the dear friendship that Shep and I absolutely treasure.

To Tom Kartsosis, my closet earth-muffin pal, I promise to make you cookies no matter what.

To Margaret Hecht, who opens me to where there is no beginning and no end, and for love, friendship, and laughter not bound by this lifetime.

To Lavinia Currier, my dear friend, for always welcoming me as family and for introducing me to my husband, my love knows no bounds.

To Liz Penta, my dearest friend, for reminding me of whats right and good and for walking the talk with passion and poise.

To Marty Kriegel, for a depth of intelligence, compassion, and friendship that I am eternally grateful for.

To Michel Nischan, my hero and friend, for the vision, gifted talent, and contagious passion you share with everyone you touch. And Lori Nischan, you are something! I love you both tremendously.

To Helen Hunt, for beauty through and through, treasured friendship, and grace.

To Owen Wilson, for being an all-time good guy and true friend, mi casa es su casa, always.

To Ed McCall, for the way you walk in the world. You are the real deal and I adore you unabashedly.

To Eddie and Nicki, who infuse my body and soul with the breath of life and are with me no matter the time or miles.

To Karen Bouris, my brilliant confidant and savvy sounding board, for embodying dexterous balance with love and goddess intellect.

To Dominique Pandolfi, the lens through which you see the world is one I am honored to be in, thank you for capturing these moments and for treasured, enduring kinship.

To Kelly Tisdale, for smiles that make my toes curl with delight, my adoration runs deep.

To Alicia Silverstone, with dear affection for my best lady, you are like a sister and touch my heart always.

To Alice and Sheryl Cooper, for love like family and kindness like kin, may the good times keep coming.

To Amber Williams, for being exactly who you are and for giving me effervescent hope for the world and the next generation, I love you lots.

To Dick and Lauren Schuler Donner, we love you more on Maui.

To Jerry and Annie Moss, me ke aloha, for sharing the joyful dream.

To Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, and Nell Newman, you have stolen my heart and inspire us all on unparalleled levels, thank you.

To Willie and Annie Nelson, always generous, kind, and insisting that the world keep turning our way.

To Annbeth Eschbach and Julia Sutton, for vision and commitment to Exhale for the future.

To Lora Krulak, for being fabulous, daring to dream big, and celebrating success with genuine friendship.

To Noel Newbolt, for making everything happen with ease, you are the best and I appreciate you so much.

To Steve Murphy, for enveloping me in the Rodale family, theres no place like home.

To Joel Gotler, my keen literary agent, thank you for making it all happen.

To Pat Kingsly for taking me under the wing of PMK; Annie Jeeves, my super-woman publicist; and lovely Lauren Auslander, for mighty media support and green gusto.

To Adam Sher, my savvy and dashing agent, from the moment we met, I knew I was in good hands with a bright horizon, you rock.

To Scott Myers and everyone at Distillery Pictures, for sharing the passion, producing Its Easy Being Green, and making dreams come true.