David Bach - Go green, live rich: 50 simple ways to save the Earth and get rich trying

GO GREEN, LIVE RICH. Copyright 2008 by David Bach. All Rights Reserved

All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication, reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of the publisheror, in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agencyis an infringement of the copyright law.

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L IBRARY AND A RCHIVES C ANADA C ATALOGUING IN P UBLICATION
Bach, David
Go green, live rich / David Bach, Hillary Rosner.
eISBN: 978-0-385-67480-5
1. Environmental protectionEconomic aspects. 2. Finance, Personal. 3. Environmental protectionCitizen participation. 4. Finance, PersonalMoral and ethical aspects. I. Rosner, Hillary II. Title.
HG179.B3126 2008 332.02401 C2007-907386-7

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This book is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information on the subject of personal finances. It is sold with the understanding that neither the Author nor the Publisher is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services by publishing this book. As each individual situation is unique, questions relevant to personal finances and specific to the individual should be addressed to an appropriate professional to ensure that the situation has been evaluated carefully and appropriately. The Author and Publisher specifically disclaim any liability, loss, or risk which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this work.

Published in Canada by
Doubleday Canada, a division of
Random House of Canada Limited

Visit Random House of Canada Limiteds website: www.randomhouse.ca

v3.1

To my son Jack, I love you more than I ever
knew it was possible to love.

To my mom and dad,
now that I have a son I understand
how much you love me
and how lucky I am for that love.

Contents

Introduction

What if I told you that in just an hour or two I could share with you fifty simple tips that would have a dramatic impact on our ability to turn the tide on global warming, PLUS save you money and potentially turn you into a future green millionaire?

Most people fear global warming and want a healthier planet. I am sure you are one of these people or you would not be holding this book in your hands right now.

BUT most people also believe that going green is a luxury, an expensive choice they cant afford. What if I told you that going green doesnt have to be expensiveand, in fact, you can go green and SAVE moneyand if you invest green you can get RICH?

What if there were easy, simple things you could do that not only protect the Earth but also protect your familys finances?

Would you spend a few hours with me to learn the ways? Would you join the movement to be eco-friendlier and environmentally conscious? Would you like to GO GREEN AND LIVE RICH?

DAVID BACH

Saving the planet is the most important issue we face in our lifetime. This book looks different from any other book I have done because it is different. Please stop, turn to a page anywhere in the book right now, and see if one green thing grabs you. Then stop and ask yourself, Why not me? Why not now? Lets go green together.

Why Go Green?

YOU HOLD IN YOUR HANDS A BOOK THAT COULD NOT ONLY CHANGE your life but also help turn the tide on the devastating effect that global warming could have on our planet.

This is my ninth book in nine years, and its very possible that you have read one or more of the previous eight. There are currently more than 5 million copies of my FinishRich Books in print. Im known for my take-action advice on your finances. Ive inspired and motivated millions around the world to be smarter with their money and to live and finish rich.

So why now write a book about Going Greenand why should you read it?

The answer is simple:

GOING GREEN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE.

I believe, as many around the world do, that we have reached a turning point (or tipping point, as Malcolm Gladwell would say) on the environment. We have come to a point in time where what we do as people to change the tide of global warming and reverse its effects on our planet requires stronger action than we have taken.

Second, I believe that the world IS taking action and that the United States in particular has lagged in its actions over the last twenty years and now needs to catch up. As citizens and tenants of our planet, we cannot allow the disaster of global warming to continue. We have to change the tide of the global warming epidemic, or our lives, our childrens lives, and their childrens lives will be forever affected.

We have done tremendous damage to our planet. We have been bad tenants, and the landlord (our planet) is suffering, but in truth it is we who will suffer the most if we dont do something and take drastic action.

Third, I am convinced that WE WILL TAKE ACTION, and that the action we take to become environmentally smarter will shape the environmental and economic futures of all of us.

GOING GREEN CAN MAKE YOU RICHNOT GOING GREEN CAN MAKE YOU POOR

I AM CONVINCED THAT WE ARE WAKING UP TO THE NEED TO LIVE GREENER and protect the planet. As a result one of the biggest factors affecting your ability to build wealth over the next twenty years is going to be the global environment and what were doing (or not doing) to protect it.

If you missed investing in the computer and technology revolution in the 1980s and 1990s, you missed one of the biggest investment opportunities of the twentieth century. Well, green is the new technology. Investing green will be to the twenty-first century what investing in technology was to the twentieth century. From a financial point of view, you simply cannot afford to ignore it. This book will help you see the opportunities that exist to catch this life-changing movement.

GOING GREEN IS ABOUT OUR KIDS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR LIVES

AS I WRITE THIS, THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON Climate Change is meeting in Bali to set a global agenda for action. Earlier this year, the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) completed its fourth assessment of the science and impacts of climate change. It concluded that greenhouse gas emissions from human activity rose by 70 percent from 1970 to 2004, and continue to rise at an increasing pace. As a result, climate change is unequivocal. The impacts, according to the report, will include an increased risk of extreme-weather events such as hurricanes and drought, a decrease in the availability of fresh water for hundreds of millions of people, an increase in potentially deadly heat waves, and serious food-supply problems in Africa and other parts of the world. (I encourage you to read parts of this report at