April 21st, 2009 · No Comments

By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now

Buying used is one of the greenest things you can do. It saves trees and manufacturing costs, and it just makes sense. Books can be read, and read again. Find a good used book to warm your heart, save your cash and pad your green cred.

Buy used at:

• Better World Books This seven-year old online store, based in Mishawaka, Indiana, is offering a 20 percent discount on used books sold on Earth Day (that’s just for April 22; use the code EARTHDAY09). But BWB has a lot to offer on any day because the company contributes to global literacy; so far more than $6 million, according to its website. It partners with Books for Africa, Room to Read, and other groups that promote literacy in the U.S. and around the world. Buy used or new. See the “green festival” book category to catch up on your eco-reading.
• Half-Price Books While not online, Half-Price has expanded its stores into 15 states, serving neighborhoods from Dallas to Chicago. The bookseller focuses on used books, and offers some overruns. The chain has environmental initiatives that aim to save trees and reduce paper and plastic use.
• Abe Books This veteran used bookseller was acquired by Amazon in late 2008, and operates as an independent subsidiary of the titan Amazon. It was founded in the 1990s by partners from Victoria, BC, to connect sellers of collectible and hard-to-find books with buyers anywhere, becoming a true Internet survivor. It hosts several book forums and online clubs.

Another way, don’t buy at all, trade books. Zero cash outlay, but you might have to wait until someone is ready to sell what you’re looking for. See BookMooch for more.

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

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