Eco books

Using Natural finishes by Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce

(Green Books, £20)
This is a book that tells you all you need to know about natural, lime- and earth-based finishes for the home.

While it is unlikely that you are going to replaster your London pied-à-terre, these techniques would certainly be helpful for anyone with a second home in the country or abroad who wants to renovate in an eco-friendly way.

The authors have also put together an online database of resources and suppliers at www.naturalbuildingresources.com and there is an extensive bibliography at the end.

Confessions of an Eco-Shopper by Kate Lock

(Hodder, £12.99)
If you think that your habits are not worth changing because they will make no difference to the world, then read this book.

Kate Lock managed, during the three years she spent researching it, to change her lifestyle entirely for the better, and a lot of small things will make a big difference if a large number of people buy into these ideas.

Everything from switching to environmentally friendly household cleaners to reducing the temperature of her laundry load by 10 degrees has improved her life, but most of all she has become a die-hard compost addict. She explains why with good humour and style.