I’m not one to judge a book by its cover, but when they look this swank, it’s hard not to! The Little Green Book … series is written by two female authors, Diane Millis and Sarah Callard, and published by Carlton Books.

Each book (see the first four in the series at left) covers a general topic and offers 250 tips to making your life a bit more sustainable. Since the books are published in the UK, they do have some tips and statistics that are Euro-based and, as an American, can be a bit tough to relate to.

Despite this, I highly enjoyed each edition and the many helpful hints they contain. To boost its eco-cred, each book is printed on paper from sustainable forests. In January 2009, Carlton released two new books to The Little Green Book … series, on Nutrition and Health, that I haven’t had the pleasure of reading – but I bet they are just as great as the first four!

Keep reading for a round-up of 3 of my favorite tips from each book and a chance to win all four for your own library!

The Little Green Book of Shopping by Diane Millis

#9 :: Be Wary of Eco ‘Junk’ :: Being green is about saving the planet, not your status. Don’t fall into the trap of buying goods that are labeled as ‘eco’ or ‘fairtrade’ just because they are ‘worthy’. Whereas many of these products are perfectly legitimate, you may not actually need them and the best thing you can do for the planet is not to buy things you don’t need in the first place. Find ways of reusing what you do have or trading with someone else instead.

#27 :: Remember the Four Rs :: Few products seem to be built to last and many of us don’t know how to carry out basic repairs. Before buying, you should check whether a products is Rechargeable, Repairable, Refillable, or Reusable.

#184 :: Wash Clothing Less :: Even the most eco-friendly garment, such as an organic cotton t-shirt, can be costly in green terms due to the frequency it needs to be washed. Try to get several uses out of a garment before washing it, and sponge off small stains and marks rather than washing the entire garment.

The Little Green Book of Gardening by Diane Millis

#60 :: Use Your Old CDs :: Put those unwanted CDs to good use by hanging them over your plants or newly laid lawn to scare away the birds. String them up on a length of twine supported by bamboo canes.

#90 :: Leave the Leaves :: Use your lawn mower to mow over leaves on the lawn with the grass box off – the shredded leaves will soon disappear into the lawn. Or keep  the grass box on and add the chopped-up mown leaves and grass to a compost heap. They will rot more quickly than whole leaves.

#228 :: Eat Your Weeds :: Perhaps this will help encourage you to get on your knees and start pulling them up – some weeds make tasty additions to salads. Try eating varieties such as dandelion, purslane, and lamb’s quarters when young and tender, but don’t pick them at the roadside where they may be affected by dirt and pollution.

The Little Green Book of the Home by Sarah Callard

#63 :: Choose Powdered Detergent :: Liquid detergents generally contain a great deal more surfactant than powders and usually they also come packaged in plastic. Surfactants, commonly used in household and bodycare products, have been found to be slow to biodegrade as well as damaging to plants and animals. Both powder and liquid compacts use less detergent per wash than other forms.

#163 :: Rediscover Your Library :: We live in a consumer culture but do you really need shelves and shelves of books and DVDs that you rarely watch again? Libraries lend CDs and DVDs and are a great way to cut back on your conspicuous consumption without missing out on the latest releases.

#174 :: Buy Cheap, Buy Twice :: It makes much more sense to buy fewer, better-quality items that will last longer and perform better than to purchase a lot of cheap things. This is true for everything from clothes to kitchen appliances. Cheaper definitely isn’t always better, and can often mean that workers aren’t being paid affair amount for their labor.

The Little Green Book of Beauty by Sarah Callard

#17 :: Use Perfume Sparingly :: To cut back on chemicals, cut back on perfume. If you can’t live without your favorite scent, try to reduce the number of times you apply it. Instead of spraying it on day and night, keep it for special occasions and nights out. There are a growing number of natural and organic perfumes on the market so look out for these.

#197 :: Use Sage for Healthy Teeth :: Traditionally the herb sage has been used for dental care. It is thought to whiten the enamel of the teeth as well as strengthen the gums. The herb is often included in natural toothpastes and mouthwashes but you can make your own handmade products by mixing sage, fennel and cinnamon essential oils with water.

#234 :: Look for Shampoos with the Fewest Ingredients :: Detergents in shampoo can be problematic because they may break down into formaldehyde during storage. When formaldehyde-forming agents mix with other ingredients they can form nitrosamines, which are linked to cancer. Avoid this cocktail effect by choosing formulas containing minimal ingredients.

And now … the EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY!

What will you win? A set of the first 4 books (Shopping, Gardening, Home, + Beauty) from The Little Green Book … series!

How to Enter :: It’s easy! Just comment on this entry with your answer to this question – “Tell us the strangest eco-tip you’ve ever heard. Did you try it?”

That’s it! Make sure to include your e-mail address in the space provided or I can’t contact you if you win.

The Rules/Fine Print :: One entry per person, per e-mail address. Winner will be selected at random via Random.org.

Contest runs from today, Tuesday, April 21st til next Tuesday, April 28th.