Be Good to your Planet

We can all do something everyday to help protect our planet. Most of it isn't that costly, especially when you consider the cost of the bigger picture! We invite you to send us your easy-to-do ideas on being a better steward of our planet! Email us at affirmaware@gmail.com.

As the holidays approach, we thought we'd make you Aware of some astounding statistics regarding the other side of consumerism-- the waste:

**Did you know that almost 1/3 of the waste generated in America, all year round, is packaging? That's from everything you buy to everything you ship, send, receive and unwrap. This year...think of reducing by carrying your own shopping bags, refusing additional packaging, wrapping with recycled material, and recycling your packaging.

**During the holidays alone an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated... 4 million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags. So this year...vow to bring some peace, Joy and Blessings to the Earth as well: consume aware.

**Speaking of consumerism, Americans buy approximately 2 million pairs of shoes a day - that equals a 17 acre closet to you and me... filled with shoe boxes. How about this year thinking "outside the box" and gifting your loved ones with green gifts in recycled packaging?

Here are some more general ideas to reduce, reuse, recycle:

1) In the US, we buy more than a billion incandescent light bulbs a year. A 60-watt incandescent light bulb lasts about 750 hours, compared to about 7,500 hours for a compact fluorescent bulb. Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescents - you can pick these up almost anywhere now. They save money on your electric bill, reduce overall energy usage and reduce carbon dioxide output.

2) Be careful about running your faucet-- Don't run your water when you brush your teeth, use "gray" water to water your plants, soak your dishes well and use the light setting on your dishwasher.

3) Make sure to upgrade your appliances! Look for the energy star symbol to save money and generate less power. Older models drain your wallet and power resources.

4) Combine your errands and gas up in the afternoons/evenings when its cool.

5) Forget paper AND plastic-- use cloth bags to go shopping. Even at the mall, use your totes. You can get some really cool Fair Trade ones almost anywhere these days including here at Affirm-Aware!

6) Did you know we throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour? Welcome to the age of water bottles! Don't keep buying bottled water...use re-usable bottles. Fill up at home and add some lemon to help restore your body's alkaline levels at the same time!

7) Buy organic cleaners. They clean just as well if not better, have no harsh chemicals and leave a pleasant after-smell rather than make your eyes and lungs burn. Visit our links page for some cool resources!

8) Customer tip: Change the margin settings on your paper. Especially good for businesses...save paper, save trees!

9) Go paperless... ask that your bills and bank statements be sent electronically. You can always print one out if you have to!

10) Change your engine? We're researching the science and expense of keeping your current car, by switching its engine to all electric... stay tuned!