Tip Tuesday: Earth Day is This Thursday!

Did you know Thursday marks the 40th year we have been celebrating Earth Day? This pivotal event is a silent reminder to not only stay healthy as individuals, but work towards creating a healthier, more sustainable environment now and into the future. With many new diseases and disorders popping up each year, many due to environmental factors, why not use Earth Day as a means to make healthier "greener" decisions? You'd be amazed that just a few minor changes can make a huge impact on our environment AND our overall health.

Some action steps you can take in 2010 to make a difference:
1. Walk
2. Drink more water
3. Take shorter showers
4. Eat salads
5. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products
6. Abstain from meat at least one day a week (in order to curb carbon emissions from the livestock industry)

There are also some great tools out there to help all of us maintain a "greener" lifestyle every day! For instance, do you know how clean the air is in your city today? Click here to check your local air quality conditions and forecasts.

You can also visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency Web site for more information and to download some Earth Day Home Kits for you and your family.

Today, I'll leave you with some great Green Tips to help reduce our environmental footprint!

1. Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up errands and shopping trips so you need to drive fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you can work from home at least some days, and you'll reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and save money.

2. Protect yourself from sun overexposure! In summer, always apply sun block SPF 15 or more to protect your skin from solar UV radiation. Just five or more sunburns can really increase your risk of developing skin cancer. The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so at the times, seek shade or wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt.

3. Heading to the beach? Check out the beach water before you go! We Americans take almost two billion trips to the beach every year, but people who swim at the beach sometimes get sick because the water is polluted. The good news is in the state where the beach is located, you can check with the state office to find out about the beach water - before you go.

4. Make it a full load! Run your dishwasher only when it's full. Don't pre-rinse dishes - tests show pre-rinsing doesn't improve dishwasher cleaning, and you'll save as much as 20 gallons of water per load. When you buy a new dishwasher, look for one that saves water. Water-efficient models use only about only about 4 gallons per wash.

5. Just bag it! Help protect the environment when you shop. Keep reusable bags on your car seat or near your door so they are easy to grab when you go. And you can even combine shopping bags - just tell the cashier that you don't need a bag, then put all your purchases together in one bag… just be sure to hang on to your receipts! Don't have your own eco-bags? Give Benefit Advisors a call at 352-479-0944 and we'll give you one of our BA green bags!

Are you planning to go green this week? If so, I'd love to hear your story!

Until Next Week,
Michelle D.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/