Getting green done

Environmental concern has moved into the everyday mainstream, with even suburban commuters choosing hybrid cars. Yet consultants promise that going green is simple and pays off, and many companies, households and public agencies still struggle to act on it. Auden Schendler, who has spent more than ten years working on sustainability inside real businesses, explains why the work is so hard. He takes a candid, sharp-tongued look behind the scenes of the green movement and argues that the consultants have it wrong. His example of energy-efficient lighting clashing with a boutique hotelier's sense of atmosphere shows how practical obstacles get in the way.

Schendler's central claim is that environmental progress depends on facing the real difficulty of climate change rather than pretending it is easy. The book is aimed at anyone trying to make sustainability work in practice, from business leaders to families and policymakers. Its tone is contrarian and witty, but its purpose is constructive: to show what a more realistic approach looks like.