Imagine living with no electricity, no motorised transport, no non-local food, no toilet paper, no TV, not creating any rubbish or buying anything new for a year. Sounds impossible in this day and age, but not for New York author Colin Beavan who embraces a carbon-free, environmental friendly lifestyle for his new book and becomes No Impact Man for a year.

Before the project began Colin and his family were typical upwardly mobile, fast-food eating New Yorkers. He decides to 'walk the talk' and make his political convictions line up with his way of living by embarking on project with the goal to make as little environmental impact as possible. His espresso-guzzling, shopaholic wife Michelle Conlin and their two-year-old daughter Isabella are dragged along for the ride, which at the beginning sounds like a great idea but soon becomes an experiment in how much one woman is willing to sacrifice for her husband's dreams.

The entertaining feature documentary No Impact Man, directed by Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein, presents an intimate and emotional portrait of a couple struggling through a severe and protracted change in their way of life. Over the course of one year the filmmakers document what happens to the couples emotional life and how they cope with the constant stress and downfalls of such a rigorous way of living.

As well as the problems at home the film documents the impact of the huge media attention which explodes after the New York Times runs an article on his experiment, Beavan is soon being interviewed on every major TV show as well as becoming a regular guest on the Good Morning America show. Soon along with the encouragement and support of fans on his blog comes the criticisms and he finds himself spoofed and ridiculed leading to more emotional stress and doubts.

Described by The Observer as "like a real-life American version of The Good Life but funnier, less smug and more instructive," No Impact Man will be released on DVD in the UK on 25th October 2010 by Dogwoof at the RRP of £14.99. Special features will include:

• No Impact Dating: Colin and Michelle on No Impact nights on the town;
• Urban cycling: Bike activism in NYC;
• Freeganism: The virtues of gleaning food from the trash;
• Audience Q&A: Colin, Michelle and filmmakers discuss the film at the Sundance Film Festival;
• Fruit vinegar: Colin's easy to follow recipe.