Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying)
By David Bach with Hillary Rosner
(Broadway, 2008)

David Bach has produced seven bestsellers, most of which are in his Finish Rich series. His latest is Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying), which he wrote with Hillary Rosner, a journalist who covers the environment and worked on former Vice-President Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth.

The strength of this latest Bach book is that it's comprehensive and portable, and perhaps that's the best reason to buy it as well. It's a digest-size compendium—replete with websites—of how to "green" your life and save cash doing it.

And if you're a "green" novice in this area, all the more reason to pick it up, because the information Bach and Rosner lay out may be quite eye-opening. However, if you've been reading newspapers and magazines, watching television and surfing the Web for the last five years, you've probably heard most, if not all, of the 50 tips presented here. Remember, recycle paper and plastics, brownbag it, think before you print, take the train instead of a plane and, at hotels, reuse towels.

What's most relevant to financial advisors in Go Green is the section on investing, which undoubtedly some of your clients have inquired about. According to the book, socially responsible investing (SRI) accounts for $2.3 trillion, and it's growing. Goldman Sachs has set aside $1.5 billion for green investing and CalPERS and CalSTRS, California's teacher retirement pension plan, have earmarked more than $1 billion for SRIs. Many mutual fund companies also have green investments.

But, even though Bach endorses green investing, he does not recommend putting too much into those accounts, as some are too narrowly focused and volatile to be profitable. As always, due diligence is the critical component.

On the point of "Get Rich Trying," I'd like to know more about how rich I'd be if I followed all 50 (or at least those relevant to my life) suggestions. For instance, Bach writes that annually you can save $72 by fixing drips in the bathroom, $798 on gas if you keep your car in tip-top shape (having regular tune-ups and maintaining proper tire pressure, driving slower and traveling light), $215 if you work at home one day a week and $600 a year if you give up your gym membership and instead, exercise outdoors.

Frankly, what would have been very useful is tabulation of overall savings, based on various families—for example, mom, dad, two kids; single urbanite; or a couple. Then, the reader would have a clear idea of whether he or she would end up with deeper pockets or simply be richer in spirit.

In addition, I have to disagree with Bach's statement that green products are often cheaper. In my unscientific survey—when I shopped in the organic section of Fairway Market on the upper west side of Manhattan—I saw that every green and organic product cost more than its "regular" counterparts. (Note: I seldom buy the most expensive product and shun brand-name goods when all other things are equal). My review included cleaning and paper products, produce, canned goods, dairy and bread. I bought them anyway, because I support a green lifestyle. But what's most baffling about Bach's latest effort is the physical book. After all, it's a book about practicing a "sustainable" lifestyle and, as a result, reaping its financial rewards. So why isn't Go Green printed on recycled paper and, if it had been, how much richer would the author and publisher be?

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