"The most practical book on the subject that I have read to date" John Pilgrim, BBC Radio 3 Counties

"A really enjoyable read. Full of fascinating facts. I will never buy another aluminum drinks can!" Susan Hughes on BBC Radio Scotland.

"Full of down to earth practical ideas" BBC Radio Leicester

"Donnachadh had reinvented the genre and brought a breath of fresh air to it" David Boyle, LD News.

"Fortunately, I have Donnachadh McCarthy's Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth, which is packed full of gossipy, easy-to-implement eco-tips." Juliet Stephenson, Green columnist, The Independent

"Buy it, read it and do it. The world will be a better place because of it." Mark Hinnells, Challenge Magazine

"I realise that many of my day-to-day habits are already a small step towards living a green lifestyle and with a little thought it is not hard to make a small difference. I may not be an eco-warrior but I will certainly keep trying to be a friend of the earth. " Hannah Goff, BBC Online (after living the "Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth" lifestyle for two weeks with her boyfriend.)

Synopsis
In "Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth - 500 simple steps to a greener lifestyle" author Donnachadh McCarthy lays out the case for urgent environmental action in a whole range of areas from home maintenance to your workplace and from reducing waste to tackling energy use.

He relates his own experiences in making his lifestyle more planet-friendly in each area, which helps bring the global arguments down to an accessible human level.

Then at the end of each chapter he lists simple practical steps that you can take in your own life. He also provides a really easy do-it-yourself environmental audit to help you get started and to monitor your success in implementing a greener lifetstyle.

He concludes the book with a fascinating description of how he moved from being a classical ballet dancer to being a passionate environmentalist through an unplanned trip into the heart of the Amazon Forest where he spent time with the Yanomami Indians.

Over 70% of the over 500 suggestions will either cost you nothing or will actually save you money. As Donnachadh says: "Saving the planet does not have to cost the earth".

Donnachadh has set a clear example in his own life with his own home in Peckham being the first private house in London to sell solar electricity to the national grid. His home is also the first home in London to receive planning permission to install a grid connected domestic windmill and over 75% of his water needs are supplied by a rain harvester on his roof.

Synopsis
Many of us are concerned about environmental issues and try to incorporate a 'green' approach into our day-to-day lives - be it using energy saving lightbulbs, making use of recycling facilities or putting a brick in the toilet cistern. However, there is usually much more we can easily do if only if we give it enough thought. In "Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth", Donnachadh McCarthy explains how to carry out an environmental audit of your life in areas such as waste disposal, gardening and home maintenance, food, work and travel to find out how 'green' you are. He then offers 500 ingenious yet practical suggestions you can follow to improve your score. What's more, for each idea, he details how much it will cost to implement (if anything) and also lists the benefits for the environment and your wallet.