GREEN HOME ADVICE:
Some ways to save energy in your home.
Change the air filters in your home’s cooling
and heating system. A dirty filter can mean
higher energy bills and a less healthy home
environment for your family. Also, have your
system checked at least once a year to be sure
it’s running as efficiently as possible.
Tighten up your home. Add
new weather stripping and caulking
around windows and doors.
This can reduce your energy bill
up to 20 percent. Look for other
air leaks in your home and seal
them up to prevent unnecessary
heat loss. If you’re in the market
for new windows, look for ones
that have earned the ENERGY
STAR. They will help keep your
home warmer in the winter and
cooler in the summer.
Set your hot water heater at
the “normal” setting - no higher than 120
degrees. This can save up to 11 percent of
your water heating costs. To save more, buy a
hot water insulation kit to wrap your water
heater with.
Consider replacing your refrigerator if it is
10 years old or older. Refrigerators use more
energy than any other appliance in your home.
A new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator
uses less than half the energy of a 10-year old
conventional model.
Make your next light bulb or
fixture an ENERGY STAR®
qualified one. ENERGY
STAR-qualified lighting is 75
percent more efficient than
incandescent bulbs. Replacing
the most often used light bulbs
in your home will save you money and time
spent on buying and replacing bulbs. The
ENERGY STAR label is given by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.
Department of Energy to appliances and products
that exceed federal energy efficiency
requirements.
Run your clothes washer and dishwasher
only when they are full. It takes the same
amount of energy to run them when they’re
half full as when they’re completely full. So
take advantage of all the capacity you’ve got.
Also, use the energy saver feature on your
dishwasher.
LIVING GREEN- SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY:
You dont have to be an environmental guru to save the earth. Here are some very easy things you can do right now to help save the earth:
Save Water. Water is a precious resource that we all waste every day. Conserve water easily by:
Put a brick in a plastic bag and place it in the back of you toilet. You ll save up to one gallon of water with every flush.
Fix leaky faucets and pipes right away. In the meantime, save the drips in a pan and use it to water your plants, wash the dog or even cook supper. After all, it s clean water.
Only wash full loads of laundry.
Install low-flow faucet aerators on all your faucets. They’ll save you 50% (or 3-5 gallons of water a minute), and the flow will seem stronger.
Collect rainwater in barrels or tubs and use it to water your household plants or dry lawn areas. It’ll use a lot less water than the sprinkler.
Conserve Electricity. Cut down on wasteful electrical use by:
Turn off lights and appliances when leaving a room.
Turn off your computer monitor before bed. A monitor left on all night uses enough electricity to print 5,300 copies.
Look for the Energy Star rating when buying new appliances.
Wrap your water heater set your water heater at 130 degrees.
Wash clothes in cold water as whenever possible.
If possible hang clothes outside to dry once in awhile.
Turn down your heat by 1 degree for every hour you’ll be away from home.
Replace traditional light bulbs with newer longer lasting/low energy ones.
Don’t stand with the refrigerator or freezer open while you decide what you want.
Unplug unused appliances.
Go Green. Going green doesn t have to change you re life. There are things you can do right now to live in a more earth-friendly fashion:
Plant a tree. It s a great way to save the earths oxygen.
Use homemade or all-natural cleaning products.
Buy recycled products.
Use both sides of a sheet of paper before discarding.
Reuse envelopes and junk mail for writing notes and keeping lists.
Ditch the Disposables. It takes more than 100 years for a plastic sandwich bag to biodegrade in a landfill. Pack sandwiches and snacks in reusable containers, or rinse and reuse the disposable ones. Using permanent containers will not only save the environment, it will save you time and money.
Here are a few other things to try:
Replace plastic utensils, paper plates and Styrofoam cups with permanent ones.
Recycle mayonnaise jars, margarine tubs and other food containers to store leftovers and other supplies.
Use washable cloth kitchen towels instead paper towels.
Use Rechargeable Batteries.
They may cost a little more, but replacing your disposable batteries with rechargeable ones will save you 10 to 20 times their original cost in the long run. Want to prolong the life of your batteries? Use a plug or adapter for radios and other small appliances.
More Green Environment Articles at http://TheEnvironment-Today.com. Get Your Own Successful Niche Website Network at http://eWebCreator.com. Get the Best Adsense Tool with eWebCreator.comScroll down for FEATURED ARTICLES and HEALTH NEWS at the bottom of this page:
4 Ways to Prevent the Most Common Women's Health Problem
You have permission to freely publish this article electronically or in print as long as the resource box below is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
Title: 4 Ways to Prevent the Number One Women's Health Problem Author: Julie Lenz URL: http://www.pcoscoach.com Word: 446 Author's Email: Julie@pcoscoach.com Article Category: Health, Women's Health, Heart
4 Ways to Prevent the Number One Women's Health Problem by Julie Lenz
What disease kills more American women than any other?
If you answered anything except heart disease then you must read this article. According to the American Heart Association heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of women. They are two of the many cardiovascular diseases that kill nearly 500,000 women each year. That's more than the next seven causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
1. Get your cholesterol tested every year. Many women don't know they have high cholesterol. They assume that heart disease is a man's problem. Even many doctors don't realize the risk that women have of heart disease so they fail to suggest testing.
2. Increase your weekly exercise. We now know that as little as 10 minutes of exercise three times a week can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk the dog a little bit longer each day. Get your heart pumping by dancing to your favorite music while you clean the house. Walk during your lunch hour instead of eating at your desk.
3. Eat more fruits and veggies. Fruits and vegetables are low in fat and high in fiber. They contain heart healthy nutrients. Leafy greens are particularly healthy. Orange juice is high in folic acid, a nutrient known to protect the heart and prevent birth defects. Add one vegetable or fruit to every meal and you will likely double your current intake. You can make it easier by keeping prepared vegetables in the refrigerator to throw into a salad or munch on for snacks.
4. Learn about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS affects as many as 5-10% of all women. It is one of the most common endocrine disorders and is one of the most common causes of infertility. PCOS is a cluster of symptoms that can include: unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight, depression or mood swings, painful or irregular periods, absent periods, acne, hair loss, unexpected hair growth (face, arms, stomach, etc.), infertility, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and more. Untreated PCOS can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and endometrial cancer. Protecting your heart is easier than you might think and it will reward you every moment of every day. Take care of yourself. You are worth it!
Julie Lenz is a life coach who helps professional women cope with the effects of chronic illness. She writes the weekly e-newsletter "PCOS Success!" She is also the author of "A PCOS Daybook: Daily Meditations for Coping With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" to be released May 2004. You can learn more at: www.pcoscoach.com
About the Author Julie Lenz is a life coach who helps professional women cope With the effects of chronic illness. She writes the weekly e-newsletter "PCOS Success!" She is also the author of "A PCOS Daybook: Daily Meditations for Coping With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" to be released May 2004. You can learn more at: www.pcoscoach.com
