Use Less Stuff While Shopping; Save Money and the Environment

Use Less Stuff While Shopping; Save Money and the Environment


If the desire to “go green” leaves you feeling a bit overwhelmed, keep it simple with a “less is more” attitude, advises Bob Lilienfeld, sustainability expert and author of “Use Less Stuff.” You’ll be amazed at how simple lifestyle changes can affect your impact on the environment and your budget.


Recycling has long been touted as the centerpiece of environmentally conscious behavior, Lilienfeld notes. But the truth is that recycling by itself can't solve the environmental issues we're now facing. “The real key to saving the planet is to shop smarter so that we manage our consumption and stop creating waste,” he says “Beyond recycling, we need to reduce and reuse in all areas of our life.”  



Here are Lilienfeld’s tips on how to shop with a “use less stuff” mindset:



Make a List, Check it Twice



The best way to get what you need -- and not what you don't -- is to start from a list. Doing so keeps you from purchasing impulse items that you really don't need and have to pay for. And, if you include items that you're almost out of, you'll prevent yourself from having to run out for that one thing you either ran out of or forgot to buy. So, you'll save time, money, and gasoline.



Less is More



Concentrated products are better for the environment because they use fewer natural resources. Concentrated products not only mean less waste, but also less weight you have to carry around. Concentrated products use 22 percent to 43 percent less packaging and up to 44 percent less water in the formulation than before, so you get a product that is a better choice for the planet, without any performance sacrifice.  



A great place to find concentrated products is the detergent aisle. There are a number of top brand detergents, like Tide, Gain, Cheer, Era and Dreft that have been recently reformulated to provide the same number of loads in detergent bottles that are about half the size, resulting in a more convenient product that is easier to carry, pour and store.  



Reduce, Reuse, Refill    



Buy refills for your favorite products. Take a spray bottle for example. You really don't need a new sprayer, just more cleaner. Buying the larger refill bottles means you throw away less, get more product, and save money, too, since you're not paying for a spray top that you really don't need.



A Bright Idea



Invest in the just-introduced, second generation compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. They last 16 times as long, use 75 percent less energy, and now provide light that's as natural looking as standard incandescent bulbs.



For more information on how using less stuff can help the environment, visit www.use-less-stuff.com.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Go Green with Your Holiday Gift Giving

Go Green with Your Holiday Gift Giving



Even in the grip of holiday shopping fever, Americans are concerned about the environment. “Green gifts” – products that appeal to consumers’ environmental consciousness – are everywhere this holiday season, and have made their way into retail locations across the country.



“According to a 2006 poll by Global Market Institute, 90 percent of Americans are concerned about the future of the environment,” says Jenny Belknap, Vice President of Global Marketing for Origins, a company that has always embraced the connection between Mother Nature and human nature. “Consumers are not setting that concern aside for the holiday shopping season. Rather, we’re seeing increasing demand for environmentally friendly gift products.”



In fact, in 2005, natural and organic products made up more than 10 percent of all retail sales of personal care products in the United States, according to the Natural Marketing Institute. The organization anticipates that figure will more than double by 2009.  Increased celebrity attention and broad public interest are contributing to the trend.



So what’s hot in green gifts this year? Here are some eco-friendly gift ideas to appeal to everyone on your list, whether their interest in the environment is passionate or passing:



* If the green-lovers on your list are losing sleep over their responsibility for eco-friendly living, you can help them rest easy with organic bed linens. Retail giants like Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond have bowed to the organic movement and now offer organic cotton sheets and even sets made from bamboo. They are available in deep-pocket versions to fit today’s thicker mattresses. For more information on organic bed linens and other eco-friendly gifts, visit www.treehugger.com.



* Looking to incorporate an organic beauty regimen in your eco-lifestyle?  Available worldwide at Origins retail stores, department stores and online, Origins offers a variety of natural and organic products for women and men.  These include gift sets and products from the new Origins Organics collection, a complete line of organic skin, body and hair products certified according to USDA National Organic Program standards.  They also offer free recyclable gift wrapping to minimize stress during the busy holiday season.  For more information, check out www.origins.com.



* Hoping to introduce someone to the joys of environmentally responsible living? Check out www.gogreengift.com, where you will find a kit for the eco-neophyte on your list. The Eco-Starter Kit includes such basic eco-friendly items as a low-flow shower head, compact fluorescent light bulbs, a GoGreen EcoGuide, and organic fruit leather, coffee and tea. Or, pick up a copy of “The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time,” available at bookstores everywhere.



* Candles are a timeless, classic gift year-round and are even more appropriate during the holidays, when twinkling lights and robust aromas underscore the spirit of the season. If you’re concerned about giving the candle-lover in your life a candle with artificial scents and a questionable origin, try an Akeewakee Personal Candle, available at Origins retail stores.



First made in 2003 in New Orleans’ French Quarter, the candles are crafted from natural soy and beeswax with a wick of all-natural plant fibers designed to reduce soot and carbon.



* Finally, if you’re looking to go grand with your eco-friendly gift, consider giving the tree-hugger on your list an eco-friendly vacation. Tourism companies now offer tour packages to areas of environmental interest. Some travelers opt to soak in the natural beauty of the locale, while others become actively involved in local projects designed to help the environment.



Or send your loved one to a location closer to home for a stay in an eco-friendly hotel. Many hotel chains and independent facilities have instituted a range of environmentally responsible practices, from using eco-friendly laundry products to banning smoking throughout the property.  For more information visit www.travel.discovery.com/ideas/outdoors/outdoors.html.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Practical Tips for Traveling Green

Practical Tips for Traveling Green


(ARA) – Winter travel season is approaching and kids and parents look forward to days off from school and work. With more people becoming interested in environmental issues, green travel options are starting to be a popular choice. With a few simple steps, traveling green is easier than you think.



“Choosing green travel options is an easy way to enjoy the winter travel season and respect the environment,” says Sue Pinera, Environmental Programs Director for The Hertz Corporation. “Through small steps at home, on the road and during your stay, you can really make a difference.”



* Leave a Green Home While You’re Gone

Preparing your home or apartment before you leave can help conserve energy and the environment. Remember to turn your water heater down to “vacation” mode or the lowest level. Appliances such as televisions and stereos can draw energy even when they are off, so you should unplug them. Also, stop your newspaper. Check to see if you can donate it to your local school or library.



* Rent Green Automotives and Get Better Mileage

When renting a car, consider renting a hybrid. Hertz is one company that is leading the way in offering a “Green Collection” of rental cars. Try renting a Toyota Prius hybrid or other environmentally-friendly vehicles such as the Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata -- which feature an average Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highway fuel efficiency rating of 31 miles per gallon. Hertz Green Collection vehicles can be specifically reserved by make and model so you are sure to get what you want for your winter travels.



* Driving Green Saves on Fuel

The way we drive can have a big impact on how much fuel is used, costing us more money and putting more pollution into the environment. When traveling, try to pack light. The extra drag on your vehicle will cost you. Also be aware of the speed limit, and rapid acceleration and hard breaking, each of which increases fuel usage. Also, remember to choose the octane fuel recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Premium, high-octane fuels don’t necessarily provide greater fuel efficiency. If you are renting a car, be sure to ask the agent what fuel type works best.



* Book an Eco-Friendly Hotel

If your winter travels require you to stay at a hotel, choose one that values the environment. More and more hotels are becoming “green” by using natural materials and processes at their locations. Remember to participate in the hotel linen program and use your towels and sheets over again. This helps save water and helps reduce the amount of toxins put into the ecosystem through soap and bleach washing. If the hotel participates in a recycling program, ask them the process and use recycling bins. Finally, when you leave your hotel room, lower the heat and turn off the lights, TV and radio.



* Use Digital Rather Than Disposable

Because travel and the holidays are so important, we always want to capture those special moments in a photograph. The widespread availability of digital cameras offers a great way to take photos and reduce waste. Disposable cameras are wasteful, expensive and generally take a lower-quality photograph. Film and unused printed pictures can also be reduced by using a digital camera. For extra green points, use rechargeable batteries.



“From renting a car to reusing a towel, traveling green today will ensure that our earth remains healthy for future generations to enjoy through their travel adventures,” adds Pinera.



For more information on the Hertz Green Collection of environmentally sound vehicles, visit www.hertz.com.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

America Recycles Day is November 15

America Recycles Day is November 15
The goal of this day is to encourage Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products.

The first step to managing waste is to accumulate less stuff in the first place. Your shopping can keep your community cleaner, your family healthier, and your budget going farther. It all starts with reducing waste. Before shopping give reuse and repair some thought. Consider quantity, packaging, and how you take food home. We've put together suggestions to help unleash your creativity — and keep our communities great places to live.

Allergies at School are No Sneezing Matter

Allergies at School are No Sneezing Matter


(ARA) - When parents send their children to school, rarely do they think of the many allergy triggers lurking in the classroom or the playground. The culprits include indoor allergens like dust from the chalkboard, mold in the locker room and dander from class pets, as well as outdoor allergens like pollen, which can travel from the recess field to the classroom on clothing and hair.



Many kids have trouble concentrating on schoolwork because they are distracted by their allergy symptoms. In fact, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, up to 40 percent of American children have allergies.



“Kids miss about two million school days a year due to bothersome symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose,” says Dr. Paul Ehrlich, pediatric allergist and associate chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. “They can get frustrated when allergy symptoms interrupt their day and prevent them from doing the same things their friends do.”



It’s a good idea to have a plan in place to treat your child’s allergies before they leave home. Dr. Ehrlich explains that choosing the right allergy medication is key to making sure your child stays focused while at school.



“Some allergy medicines can make children drowsy or jittery,” he says. “I suggest using Children’s Claritin since one dose lasts the entire day without making kids feel jittery or drowsy. It’s safe for kids as young as two, and it’s available in several forms including easy-to-take grape chewables and a grape syrup.”



So what else can you do to relieve your child’s allergy symptoms and prevent them from flaring up during the school day? Dr. Ehrlich offers the following tips:



* Identify the specific allergens that trigger your child’s symptoms so he or she will be able to avoid contact with them.

* Tell your child’s teachers, school nurse, coaches and caretakers about his or her allergies, triggers and medications.  

* If your child is seated near classroom pets or plants, ask the teacher to change his or her seat.

* Remind your child to wash his or her hands frequently to avoid spreading allergy -- causing dust, pollen, pet dander or other substances.

* Before your child leaves for school, treat allergy symptoms with a non-sedating antihistamine, such as Children’s Claritin, that will last through the school day without making him or her drowsy. That way your kid can enjoy recess and all the other activities throughout the day.



Speaking of school, allergy education goes right alongside treatment of those pesky symptoms. Kids are inquisitive by nature, and it’s important to help them understand the causes of their symptoms so they can concentrate on their schoolwork, not their allergies.



“Casey and the School Day Sneezes” is an educational story designed to help kids understand the indoor and outdoor allergy triggers they may encounter during the school day, while providing tips on how to manage them. Parents and teachers can visit www.claritin.com to order a free copy.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Are You Ready to Change Your Life ?

Are You Ready to Change Your Life?</b>

Feel like there is something missing from your life?  Do you ever hear yourself saying, “If only I could (make that change, loose ten pounds, had more time/money),” or “If my (spouse, child, parent, friend) would only ‘blank,’ then I’d be happy?”



For Jane Freres, it wasn’t so much an “if only” or something that was missing, but the struggle to get through a major transition period in her life. After going through a difficult divorce, she had to figure out who she was, what she wanted in life and how to be her own person.



“I spent a lot of my life working hard to take care of others, but when my kids went away to college and my marriage came to an end, I didn’t know how to take care of myself,” she says.



Freres tried working with a therapist, but that didn’t improve her situation, nor did talking  to other people change the way she was feeling. Then, one day, a close friend returned home from “The Mountain Experience” and convinced her it was something she should try. “It really transformed my life,” says Freres.



The Mountain Experience, offered by The Garden Company, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, is a unique personal growth program that, over the course of five days, teaches people how to overcome the obstacles that are holding them back. The program was created 20 years ago and is taught by Kyle Mercer and Janice Lindgren, who are constantly refining the techniques and tools of the original process.



“The people who come to The Garden Company have an awareness that there is something in their lives that they would like to change. They are intent on finding a way to make that happen. Our knowledge, care and experience provide clients with the best-known tools to make it possible,” says Mercer.



Here’s how the process works: days one and two of the Mountain Experience are the self-discovery phase, during which you will get a clear and accurate picture of your current life, identifying what’s working and what’s not working. Exercises clarify if and how you are hard on yourself. You expose areas where you are not giving yourself choices, which creates a trapped, frustrated feeling. You begin to understand what’s behind difficulties in your most important relationships, and how a shift in awareness can create a more loving and fulfilling connection.



Days three and four are dedicated to learning and practicing the art of letting go of emotional baggage. When we let go of the persistent, heavy emotion, from the past, which creates unhealthy patterns in our lives, we experience freedom and possibility. Letting go is a skill you will be able to use repeatedly, retain for a lifetime and teach to young children.



Day five is devoted to showing you how to take what you’ve learned and integrate it into your life, preparing you for your return home. You learn specific tools for making decisions easily, communicating effectively, leading in your career, deepening relationships and engaging in life with energy, awareness and intent.



“There are a lot of different programs that talk about personal transformation and motivation,” Mercer says. “Our effectiveness is what sets us apart. We’re unique in our capacity to teach people how to make lasting change.”



It wasn’t a personal problem that brought Dr. Michael Feldman, a dentist from Hewlett, N.Y., to the Mountain Experience, but his sense of curiosity. “I was taking a consulting course several years ago and was very intrigued by what one of the speakers, Janice Lindgren of the Garden Company had to say: ‘Some days you wake up and know it will be a bad day. Others, you wake up and know it will be a good day. How would you like to have more good days?’ That really hit home for me,” says Dr. Feldman.



So, he signed up for the course and came away with a better strategy for coping with stress, which used to run rampant in his life. “The Mountain Experience was instrumental in helping me better understand and accept myself, friends, family and coworkers, which in turn helped me create a process for eliminating the cause of stress,” he says. “Now, I know how to step back and look at things from a different perspective and I have a lot more better days.”



To learn more about The Mountain Experience and the difference it can make in your life, sign up for a free one hour personal consultation by calling (877) 554-6836 or log on to www.gardenco.com.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Gender’s Role when Heeding Health Warning Signs

Gender’s Role when Heeding Health Warning Signs


(ARA) - We’re all familiar with the saying ”A stitch in time saves nine” -- in other words, take care of a problem when it first comes up so it won’t become overwhelming later on.



“Whether repairing a leaking faucet, mending a small tear or getting the car in to the mechanic, people understand the importance of recognizing symptoms and taking appropriate action,” says Denise Pozen, creator of the SO TELL ME ... personal health organizer. “However, when it comes to medical symptoms, there seems to be a gender gap. Not only can symptoms vary by gender, but the response to those symptoms can also vary.”



For example, the classic symptoms of a heart attack -- a crushing feeling on the chest, shortness of breath and pain radiating down the left arm -- are now recognized as being more common in men. Women may experience more subtle symptoms such as:



* Mild or severe pressure in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes;



* Nausea, lightheadedness, or a sudden cold sweat;



* Extreme fatigue.



But both men and women may experience discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach and shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.



While women’s symptoms may sometimes be more subtle than men’s, their “stitch in time” approach to health is not. According to the Centers for Disease Control, women are 100 percent more likely to visit the doctor for annual exams and preventive services than men. And men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death, possibly because they do not go to the doctor as often as women.



“Men may consider some symptoms to be the normal aches and pains of ‘weekend warrior’ activities or an active lifestyle, but it’s important for men as well as women to consult with their doctor when they feel something is ‘different’ or when they experience certain symptoms,” says Pozen. "By recording noticeable changes in your health, you will be better prepared to discuss symptoms with your doctor. You may even identify a symptom before the medical issue becomes severe."



Maintaining a personal health record allows you to map out any changes in your health and provide a corresponding timeline to your physician. It can also prepare you to discuss what illnesses are part of your family's health history. A binder system with pre-printed forms such as the SO TELL ME ... personal health organizer (www.sotellme.com) makes it easy to organize all your health information, including appointment histories and test results -- and note any new symptoms. A CD version is available for those who prefer computerized record keeping.



Because of the often more strenuous and physical activities men engage in, they may tend to ignore many of the following symptoms and relate them to lifestyle. However both men and women should take very seriously symptoms like unintended weight loss, blood in the stool or urine, persistent abdominal pain, changes in urination habits, swollen extremities and skin lesions that change shape or color.



Be sure to take your health symptoms seriously. Create a personal health record that is specific to you, schedule regular check-ups with your doctor and ask how to recognize the warning signs for your gender.



For more information on organizing personal health records or to purchase the So Tell Me ...  personal health organizer, visit www.sotellme.com or call (888) TELLME2 (888-835-5632).



Courtesy of ARAcontent