Building a Green Community.

Janet Collins is a freelance writer in Sechelt, British Columbia.

With all the talk about global warming, there is a growing quest for alternative ways to find and use energy resources. Authors of the Energy Revolution series provide some useful suggestions, ranging from how energy is harvested in other countries (such as the geothermal power used in Iceland), to the idea of building “green” communities, and suggestions for what individuals can do to make a difference.

In addition to explaining how heat stored deep within the Earth can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels, Geothermal Energy provides a historical perspective on the energy source as well as examples of how different areas of the world use the resource. Drawbacks to geothermal energy—time and money needed to find suitable sources—are also presented.

There is more to Building a Green Community than simply constructing energy-efficient housing. This book in the series explores some of the other issues facing urban centres such as pollution, land conservancy, water conservation, recycling, and “green” shopping. Taken together, the topics discussed offer suggestions on how any community can become healthier from an ecological point of view.

Readers wanting to know what they as individuals can do to make a difference will likely find How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint a good introductory guide. After outlining some of the issues surrounding energy challenge and greenhouse effect debates, the book explains how to calculate your current carbon footprint and then offers easy-to-do suggestions for reducing its impact.

All of the books are heavy on full-colour photographs and illustrations that assist with understanding some of the more complex information. Glossaries, indexes, and timelines are thoughtful additions that will increase the usefulness of the text. Carefully placed “conservation tips” will help readers understand what they can do to help reduce their reliance on energy sources. The fact that current popular personalities such as Barack Obama are included in the text and illustrations underscores the timeliness of the content. Recommended.