The Complete Guide to Sharpening

A Guide to Being Sustainable at Home and in Life

“Gittemarie is creator that not only provides helpful tips on living a zero-waste and vegan lifestyle, but also articulates it in way that is approachable.” —Jhánneu Roberts (@Jhanneu)

#1 New Release in Upcycling & Repurposing

Reshape your conventional habits, purchases, and recipes with these simple yet effective zero-waste alternatives!

Eco-friendly living made simple. As a lifestyle guide and an introduction to sustainable living, Sustainable Badass shows you why and how to minimize your consumption while effortlessly making your habits greener. Each page has practical tips, tools and important facts about plastic pollution, overconsumption, and the climate crisis. From small changes such as pre-cycling and purchasing items with minimum to no packaging, to eliminating plastic entirely; this book empowers you to be a sustainable badass by making effortless planet-positive choices in your everyday life.

Know the cause, be the change. Gittemarie Johansen, sustainability blogger and speaker, teaches you the way to a greener, more simple and happier life by implementing self sustainable living principles, all while putting the power into your hands as the consumer to speak up and demand change for our planet.

Be sustainable at home.Sustainable Badass encourages you with some effortless principles on the best sustainable home goods. Enjoy this holistic and accessible approach to creating a self sustainable home and lifestyle, that is easy to implement, and fundamental to saving our planet.

Inside, you’ll find:

• A guide to being intentionally sustainable at home 
• Effortless and intentional steps to withdraw from consumerism
• All the knowledge you need to live a sustainable life at home and with others

If you liked Simply Living Well, Live Green, or Attainable Sustainable, you’ll love Sustainable Badass.

When it comes to home renovation, there's no substitute for experience. Renovation 5th Edition contains the collective wisdom of hundreds of remodeling contractors, architects, and tradespeople who shared their first-hand experience with Mike Litchfield as he interviewed and photographed them on job sites across North America.

As a founding editor of Fine Homebuilding magazine, the author of 16 acclaimed books, and a home renovator himself, Litchfield was able to record lifetimes of practical, field-tested solutions and trade secrets from the cream of the crop--the remodeling pros that other pros admire.

Both first-time renovators and professionals who want to supplement their knowledge of specific trades will find Renovation 5th Edition invaluable. Renovation 5 reflects the new realities of planning carefully, spending wisely, maximizing space and building durably. Its 656 pages contain extensively revised chapters on planning; doors, windows and skylights; electrical wiring; structural carpentry; masonry and foundations. Its illustrations are crisp and informative and its 1,000+ photos were selected from more than 45,000 that the author has taken over the years.

This classic work covers renovation from start to finish. Best of all, Renovation 5 is written in a down-to-earth conversational style that is clear and easy to understand. Written with a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor, Renovation 5 is not only immensely useful, but great fun to read. 

Transform your living space into a model of self-sufficiency with this captivating collection of actionable insights from Martin Holladay, a leading voice in building science and energy efficiency.

This book compiles the 50 most popular posts from his renowned blog, offering practical advice to help homeowners embrace a greener lifestyle.

With Musings of an Energy Nerd, you’ll not only gain valuable knowledge but also the tools needed to make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.

Key Features:

• Expert Insights: Holladay breaks down complex topics related to energy efficiency, making them accessible for homeowners of all backgrounds. Learn how to enhance your home’s performance while reducing energy costs.

• Practical Strategies: Discover actionable tips on improving insulation, selecting energy-efficient appliances, and implementing renewable energy solutions, all tailored to fit different budgets and lifestyles.

• Comprehensive Knowledge: The book addresses a wide range of subjects, including indoor air quality, sustainable materials, and the impact of design on energy consumption. Each post is backed by research, ensuring you receive trustworthy information.

• Step-by-Step Guidance: Martin provides clear, step-by-step instructions for various energy-saving projects, along with important safety considerations and best practices to ensure successful implementation.

• Inspire Change: Whether you're a seasoned energy nerd or a curious beginner, this book encourages readers to take charge of their energy use and create a home that is both comfortable and environmentally friendly.

If you want to tackle a home plumbing job yourself -- and save a few bucks in the process -- here's the book for you.

In Plumbing Complete, master plumber Rex Cauldwell gives you all the expert advice you'll need to handle virtually any plumbing project with confidence.

From the basic plumbing problems everyone faces to complex challenges that are a little trickier, you'll learn everything you need to get things running smoothly again. (The few projects not covered by the author are ones that absolutely should be handled by a plumbing professional.)

What's unique about this book is how easy it is to find and use the valuable information on every page -- with detailed instructions and clear, step-by-step photos that make every procedure easy to understand and implement.

You'll also appreciate the intuitive finding devices and table of contents featuring visual symbols that make it easy to find whatever type of project you're looking for -- and get started quickly.

Here's an example of what you'll discover.

• The tools you'll need for every project
• Understanding the drain/vent system
• How to clean and unclog pipes
• Repairing faucets and toilets
• Installing a new bath
• Working with kitchen appliances
• How to fix outdoor plumbing

  When you consider the high cost of even the most simple plumbing repair job, it's easy to see how this useful book can be a smart investment that helps you save on every job you handle yourself.

The extrovert of interior design and the definition of 'more is more', maximalism is an exuberant celebration of pattern, colour and texture that deliberately clash. Its roots lie in 1930s Hollywood Regency style, Rococo and Neoclassicism, as well as Greek, Egyptian and Asian styles.

With a historical overview of the decor, and illustrated with examples of notable interiors and key elements of lighting, furniture, colour palette, texture and textile, the book offers practical advice on how to recreate the look in your own home.

Most of us spend 90 percent of our time indoors, but our indoor environments could be causing us significant harm. Everything from flooring to paints to insulation contains chemicals known to contribute to health problems such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. In this book, Jen and Rusty Stout, nationally recognized healthy home building innovators, teach you how to think like a builder so that you can construct a new home or upgrade an existing one to put wellness first. Making smart choices when it comes to building materials, moisture protection, and more can make all the difference in reducing your family’s exposure to toxins and living a healthier life. Whether you are a home buyer, a homeowner working with a professional builder, a building contractor, or a DIY-er, Healthier Homes walks you through key considerations such as   • Site selection   • Designing a living space that meets your family’s unique needs   • Material choices for the exterior and interior   • Air and water quality   • Sourcing home furnishings and finishes   • Existing home upgrades   • Mold remediation