Eco–Tips for ’08
Part I

Whenever we begin approaching a new year, we always start contemplating resolutions for improving diets, ceasing bad habits, saving more money, developing relationships, etc. However, our behavioral modifications can be directed outwardly (to the environment) instead of inwardly (to our minds, bodies, or emotions). With the same commitment to positive change we usually reserve for our personal problems, we can reduce our impact on the world by learning how to effectively reduce, reuse, and recycle.

These strategies can be broken down into the following basic categories: personal environment (home and work), body (nutrition and overall health), and natural resources (valuable substances provided by nature). We’re going to examine eco tips for each of these in greater detail as part of an exclusive Global Healing Center 3–Part Series over the next few months. This first edition will focus on reducing waste in your Personal Environment, with tips for saving electricity, buying in bulk, recycling, and fuel conservation.

Personal Environment

We can reduce our "footprint" on both our work and living environments with simple tips that, more often than not, will save you money and time if you consider the long–term consequences.

Save Electricity

Research and purchase highly energy–efficient appliances (such as air conditioners, heater, and air purifiers) and use automatic timers to activate them around the time you leave work so it will be nice and cool (or warm) by the time you arrive. In reverse, you can use digital timers to turn off appliances (or digital thermostats for optimizing their settings) as you leave for the day in case you have pets at home.
Don’t heat or cool your entire home while you sleep. Use a small space heater (and electric blanket) in winter or an efficient window unit in summer.
Use highly efficient LED or full–spectrum fluorescent lighting instead of standard bulbs.
Purchase energy–efficient appliances , install window tinting to lower cooling bills, and turn off lights you’re not using.
You can receive government grants for investing in solar or wind–energy devices.

As a side note, if you use or work with or use RF (radio frequency) or EMF (electromagnetic frequency) emitting cellphones and computer monitors, you should minimize your exposure to them to reduce the harmful effects of long–term radiation exposure. Also, you can use special protection devices to help deflect and shield yourself from their energies. Although some studies have found no immediate health issues from using these forms of technology, long–term research is yet inconclusive on the cumulative effect of exposure to low–level radiation over extended periods.

Buy in Bulk

Avoid purchasing single–use beverages and disposable food items. Buy large quantity versions and portion them into washable containers. This can apply to water, cereals, pet food, frozen and canned goods, rice, baking goods, bath care products, diapers, and nearly anything sold in small packages.
Set the example by taking your own cup, bowl, eating utensils, etc. instead of disposable plates and cups to work and school.
Start a "bulk buying club" to split the goods and the bill. You can take turns as the designated shopper so only 1 vehicle visits the store instead of 5 or 10. Be wary, however, of large cases of individual items; this is not the same. More often than not, you’re actually paying more for wasteful packaging that harms the environment.

Recycle and Re–Use As Much as Possible

Share what you don’t use or need with neighbors, family, and coworkers. Conduct multi–family garage sales (of everything you don’t want) and donate what you don’t sell.
Recycle everything you can: plastic bottles, paper goods, aluminum and tin cans, old cellphones and ink cartridges, eyeglasses, cardboard boxes, etc.
Reuse boxes you receive to send something else later. Don’t buy "clean" envelopes; use envelopes received in your junk mail. Just make new shipping labels from scrap paper.
Buy and sell online to find items you want for a small percentage of their "new" cost. You may not get a package, but you’d just cut it open and throw it away, right?
Avoid creating extra trash by accepting eating utensils, straws, packets of condiments, or other "bonus" items when you eat out. If you typically use just 2 packets of ranch dressing on your salad, don’t take 3 or 4 and waste the rest.
Do not forget Benjamin Franklin’s advice, "Waste not what you want not" regarding conspicuous consumption. Take excellent care of everything and it will last much longer. Teach your kids to do the same—toys don’t need to be replaced every year due to neglect.
Donate unwanted or outgrown items so children–in–need can enjoy them as well.
Take recyclables home with you. You can keep a box in the trunk or cargo area of your vehicle to hold cans, bottles, and even used motor oil (stored in the original containers).

Don’t Waste Fuel

Budget your fuel–consumption just as you would your time and money. Don’t waste gas driving back and forth but map out a single, circular route. For example, complete tasks 1 and 2 as you drive away from home and 3 and 4 as you return. Plan your activities well—if you know you’ll have to visit store X on Tuesday and store Z is along the way, go ahead and complete your errands on the same day to bundle tasks.
Purchase eco–friendly vehicles instead of gas–guzzling boxcars designed to get more money out of you. Let’s face it—you may want 4–Wheel–Drive Mammoth RX, but unless you’re a farmer hauling hay, delivering furniture, or something like that, you probably don’t need a truck or SUV no matter how much you think you think you do.
Research before buying a home—try to live in an optimal location to reach work, grocery stores, community resources, etc. and take advantage of public transportation.

By helping the environment with these eco–tips, you can also help yourself because of the reduced burden on your living space, health, emotions (due to guilt), and pocketbook. "If you continue buying what you do not need, you will likely end up losing that which you require" is another piece of sage advice by Mr. Franklin we’d all be wise to adopt.

Start with cleaning up your personal environments (your work and living spaces) and continue implementing new tips gradually until you’ve incorporated all of them into your daily routine. Also, research your own eco–tips and share them with everyone you know. Take the time to teach your kids how to recycle and consider every factor critically before making a purchase. If we all make the effort, we can preserve the practical value of our ecosystem and enjoy its beauty as well for many years to come.

Next newsletter, we’ll tell you how to reduce waste by eating healthful, organic foods and using organic skin care items, such as soap and cosmetics, instead of their synthetic counterparts to reduce pollution.