CONTENT2010 Green ChallengeEarth Day 2010Healthy LivingMeatless Monday Dishand more

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Welcome to ECCO Magazine’s April e-newsletter. In this and every issue we look at our 2010 Green Resolution, where we ask you to try to implement a few new green steps in your routine to help make Jamaica a greener, healthier place to live. This month we look at ENERGY CONSER-VATION, how energy conservation can not only save you a few bucks but also reduce our impact on the environment.

On April 22nd, we mark the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. An International event geared at inspir-ing awareness and appreciation for the Earth. The event brings together millions of people across the world all geared celebrating and helping to protect and sustain the environment. Be sure to check out a few Earth Day events this year. Also in this month’s ezine, we look at Healthy Living, a feature contributed by Shakti Mind Body Fitness in this our Special Earth Day ezine. Mental and physical activity is another way to be green, the health of one’s mind and soul is very important.

Stay tuned and up to date with ECCO Magazine™, Jamaica’s premier green lifestyle magazine. Happy reading!

Go Green Army!

Shelly-Ann Dunkley, E.C.C.O. MagazineCel:(876)378-1257 Fax:(876)926-8152

Lower Electricity bill

Lower maintenance fees. Preserves appliances by not keeping them plugged in and preventing them from power surges.

Less fuel burnt to process electricitLess fuel burnt to process electricity. Therefore lower economic burden on the society to import oil while low-ering air pollution.

Benefits of Energy Conservation:

As defined by Wikipedia.com: Energy conservation is “achieved through efficient energy use, in which case energy use is decreased while achieving a similar outcome, or by reduced consumption of energy services”.

By reducing emissions, energy conservation is an important part of lessening climate change. Energy conservation facilitates the replacement of non-renewable resources facilitates the replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy.

According to PCJ if 500 homes in Jamaica switched off their non-essential lights for ONE hour that would be a savings of JMD$9,239. Doesn’t sound like much, consider the cumulative effect of one hour per day for 365 days, JMD$3,372,235 and that’s only 500 homes for the year.

If 500 businesses flipped their switches on non-essential If 500 businesses flipped their switches on non-essential lights for one hour per day that would be a cost savings of JMD$85,748. For one year that would be a savings of JMD$31,298,020 for ONLY 500 businesses. The Carbon Emissions saved for the year would be over 1040 tonnes. (One tree over its lifetime can consume one tonne of carbon dioxide).

What is energy conservation?

Installing ceiling fans will cut air conditioning costs by 40 percent in summer

Install a timer on the hot water heater. If it is electric, turn off hot water when not in use.

Replacing light bulbs with CLFReplacing light bulbs with CLF’s can have a huge impact. One bulb can save at least USD$30.00 in electric bills over its lifespan and 5 bulbs can save 50 percent on annual lighting bills.

Solar outdoor lighting is maintenance free, and after initial costs, the lights are free to run

Plug your appliances into a power strip and turn oPlug your appliances into a power strip and turn off the power strip when not in use

Tips on how to be more energy efficient

• Heating: 34 percent• Appliances and lighting: 34 percent• Water heating: 13 percent• Electric air conditioner: 11 percent• Refrigerator: 8 percent

Let us look at the major energy hogs in our homes:

Do you turn on the room light even when there’s enough daylight to guide your way? Do you turn on the light and then walk out of the room? Paying attention to your use of electricity for lighting will more than likely save you a few dollars, help you break a few bad habits while helping to conserve on the use of oil to light our homes.

Currently Jamaica relies heavily on oil. Our importation of oil accounts for approximately 90% of our energy usage. Oil import cost in 2008 totaled a whopping US$771.3 million.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

2010 Green

Challenge

April Newsletter

www.ecomii.com www.care2.com

Sources:

We won’t see it happening, but when we flip the switch or take a steaming hot shower (as relaxing as it maybe), greenhouse gas emis-sions from the burning of fossil fuels rise into the atmosphere from the power plants supply-ing the electricity that allows us to do these things. Energy Conservation is very important in helping to preserve our planet for genera-tions to come. There are simple steps we can take to help light our homes without flipping that switch. Try to use as much natural light as possible: strategically placing decorative wall mirrors so that the light reflects daylight into the room. And if you’re remodeling, install larger win-dows and skylights.

Open the blinds pull back the curtains, let the light in!

“Harvesting” daylight in your home can help reduce your usage of electricity to light your home

Replacing old appliances with energy eReplacing old appliances with energy efficient, Energy Star appliances can significantly reduce the impact on the atmosphere. According to the EPA, if just one in 10 homes in the US used Energy Star ap-pliances, the impact on the atmosphere would be comparable to the planting of 1.7 million trees.

Any device that has a power adapter or feels warm after it was been switched off for a while, is an energy vampire

Individual appliances and devices only consume a few watts when not in use, but throughout a day and over an entire year, a few watts can add up to almost 20% of a home’s power use.

Unplugging electronics or using a power strip that Unplugging electronics or using a power strip that can turn off multiple devices can significantly reduce your energy bill

EARTH DAY2010

Earth Day, April 22nd, 2010 marks the celebration of the environment and a time for all mankind to assess the work still needed to protect the natural gifts of our planet.

6.8 BILLION people, on planet Earth.

Climate Change and Global Warming are currently affecting our way of life and will affect us many years to come. Whether you believe mankind to be the CAUSE or a contributor to climate change or maybe you don’t believe in climate change but we need to be mind-ful of how our existence impacts on the environment we live in.

Clean green energy leads to less pollution, less dependence on fossil fuels to run our power supply and green jobs, all helping our economy and helping to save the planet, creating a ‘local green economy’.

Earth Day 2010 marks a new day, an awakening for many of us, Jamaicans. We need to be more conscious of our impact on the environment and find ways to correct the damage we have already caused and reduce our already impacting lifestyle. This is a time of awakening.

Everyday should be Earth Day; to build a better future for the environment we must Everyday should be Earth Day; to build a better future for the environment we must commit to protect our environment on a year-round basis.

This Earth Day brings together hundreds of countries, millions of people, inspiring change in legislation and creating consumer activism by helping to increase awareness to the status of the Earth’s environment and the issues that threaten its survival.

This year, in Jamaica, help us keep Jamaica beautiful and forever, the ‘land of wood and water’.

Getting enough of the right kind of exercise and sleep purifies both your mind and your body.Cardio: Besides being a major calorie-busting workout, a cardio routine is also good for anger management.

YYoga: Yoga is one of the most popular exercises for a de-stress, detox lifestyle because it eases the mind, decreases blood pressure, increases your respiratory efficiency, helps digestion, improves focus and posture, and helps you sleep better.

Pilates:Pilates: Like yoga, pilates can boost energy and your immune system without requiring a sweat-inducing cardio workout.

Reduce your body fat: Besides looking more in shape, reducing your body fat, which is where a lot of toxins in your body are stored.

Swimming:Swimming: The website The Natural Path describes swimming as a good exercise for detox, as it works out your muscles and heart but also "increases your breathing and your body temperature, thus aiding in your internal cleansing." Try to swim in a pool with as

possible, or in a natural body of water.

Sweat: Pick an exercise that makes you sweat, which cleanses some toxins from the surface of your body.

Exercise the right way: Make sure you are following the routine or fitness plan exactly; otherwise, you might injure yourself.

Keep a regular sleeping schedule: Keep a regular sleeping schedule: This schedule should include a routine for preparing for bed and making yourself sleepy, as well as waking up at around the same time each morning.

Exercise for sleep: Maintaining an active lifestyle can wear your body out just enough to ensure a restful sleep.

Protect your sleep environment:Protect your sleep environment: Polluting your bedroom with TV, artificial light from your computer and work materials can interfere with your sleep.

Lift weights! A strong body equals a strong mind!

Exercise & Sleep

Both ECCO Magazine and Shakti Mind Body Fitness will agree there's nothing better for you than good, clean, healthy living. From being active to incorporating environmentally friendly practices into your everyday life, living the good life has ripple effects that make our Earth a great place to live. (article adapted from www.wellsphere.com)

Healthy Living

Drive an eco-friendly car: An electric car is good for the environment and your health, since you won’t have to breathe in toxic fumes at the gas station.

Walk or bike to work: Another way to prevent inhalation of gas fumes is to walk or bike to work, if you can find a route that doesn’t involve riding behind other gas guzzling vehicles.

Grow a garden: Grow a garden: Grow your own vegetables to cut back on pesticides and environmentally harmful packaging and delivery methods.

Make your own household cleaning products: There are a lot of recipes online for concocting your own supply of household cleaning products, free of dangerous chemicals and chlorine.

Composting:Composting: Recycle your waste and feed your garden by composting.

Keep plants indoors: Having plants indoors increases oxygen production and zaps up extra carbon dioxide, purify-ing your air.

Aromatherapy: Natural aromatherapy can be a great help to simple ailments and colds, and it’s also a good stress re-liever.

Throw away pet waste: Clean out the cat’s litter box and pick up after your dog, even in the backyard, to prevent the spread of bacteria that can make you and your family sick.

Air quality: Make sure the air quality in your home or office is healthy by ventilating the rooms, changing out your air fil-ters and using natural home furnishings and carpet.

Sustainability: Sustainable living is an ethical and practical way to live, as it saves you money on energy costs and is good for the environment.

This list features different ways that you can purify your environment and ensure that your home, office and commute are free of all kinds of pollutants.

Purifying Your Environment

Waste management is the collection, transportation, processing, recycling or disposal, and monitoring of waste materials. Garbage Disposal & Sanitation Systems Ltd. (GDSS) has over thirty-five (35) years experience in the collection, transportation, and disposal of industrial, commercial and domestic waste and since 1973, J. Wray & Nephew Ltd. (JWN) and GDSS have worked together to ensure the proper management of their solid waste. In more recent times, GDSS has added the processing, recycling and monitoring of waste materials to its repertoire in its effort to become true waste managers.

Environmental stewardship is defined as the responsibility for the environmental quality shared by all whose actions affect the environment . It is this sense of responsibility that guides and maintains the partnership between GDSS and JWN.

JWN, because of their commitment to environmental management, has made strides to implement waste management strategies based on the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, which are used to classify waste management strategies according to their desirability.

When JWN decided to standardise and certify their environmental management programme (ISO 14001:2004) in 2007, GDSS was When JWN decided to standardise and certify their environmental management programme (ISO 14001:2004) in 2007, GDSS was asked to assist in monitoring their waste generation in order to obtain a baseline, and to ensure that their solid waste was being managed in an environmentally sound manner.

As a part of their commitment to the environment, JWN has contacted their suppliers in order to ensure the quality of their rawmaterials, which will improve their ability to reduce the quantity of waste now generated. In addition to this reduction, JWN reuses or materials, which will improve their ability to reduce the quantity of waste now generated. In addition to this reduction, JWN reuses or donates for reuse, some portions of their waste, such as pallets, and through their partnership with GDSS, JWN currently recycles the glass that is generated as waste. Throughout the years, JWN and GDSS have worked on recycling whatever was practicable given the constraints of our local situation, including paper and cardboard.

This initiative taken by JWN shows their commitment to being good corporate citizens. GDSS and JWN hope this will be replicated This initiative taken by JWN shows their commitment to being good corporate citizens. GDSS and JWN hope this will be replicated and encourage all to become good environmental stewards and to help preserve and protect our island paradise.

Partners for Environmental Stewardship

Meatless Monday Dish

INGREDIENT

S

2 Cans of Chick

peas

2 Medium Swee

t Potatoes, peel

ed

and cut into cub

es

1 Large onion, f

inely chopped

2 Carrots, peele

d and finely chop

ped

3 3 Cloves of Ga

rlic, sliced

3 Celery stalks,

finely chopped

2 Tins Chopped T

omatoes

2 Tsps Cumin

Salt and Pepper

to taste

2 Tbsps olive oil

4 Cups Water

CCilantro, choppe

d for garnish

Method:In a large pan, heat the oil and add the onion, celery, carrots, sweet potatoes and garlic and cover and cook gently until the vegetables begin to soften, roughly 15 minutes.Add cumin plus salt and pepper and cook for a couple of min-utes.Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas and water and bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.Blend some of the soup but leave some chunks of vegetables for texture.Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Bon Apetit!

Jacqui SinclaiJacqui Sinclair, known as the JuicyChef, is a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef, food stylist, recipe developer and food writer. She writes a weekly food column for the Jamaica Observer, is currently writing a cookbook and developing other food projects.

Sweet potatoes are a recommended carbohydrate for their lower glycemic index. This soup makes a wonderful starter or full on meal with some crusty bread followed by a salad. I think my both my vegetarian friends and those who suffer from diabetes will appreciate this

one. I first published this recipe in my Jamaica Observer weekly column.

JuicyChef’s Chickpea and Sweet Potato Soup

About TradeWinds CitrusTTrade Winds Citrus is a vertically integrated agri-business that specializes in citrus products and juices. Located in Bog Walk, St. Catherine, they own a plant nursery, citrus groves, a packing house, juice plant and 3 juice brands. They are a privately owned family operated business which manu-factures, Tru-Juice Premium Quality Juices, Freshhh Fruit and Juice Drinks and Wakefield Juices.

CONTACT:Kim LeeHead of Marketingrade Winds Citrus Limited Bog Walk, PO, St. CatherineTel: 708-2155-60, cell: 881-6455

consumers are completely satisfied with its products.

“From the grove to the bottle, our juice is 100% juice and 100% Ja“From the grove to the bottle, our juice is 100% juice and 100% Ja-maican, fresh never frozen. We are happy to say that we have always been strong supporters of local agriculture and business and Our Tru-Juice brand has certainly grown into its own over the years as one of the premier fresh juice products on the market.” Mr. McConnell said.

“In today’s competitive world, we have to do what it takes to stay on top. For us that means pleasing the consumers and listening to their requests and comments,” he added.

Tru-Juice 100% Freshly Squeezed Orange is available in the 475ml / 16oz, 945ml / 32oz, 1.89L/ 1/2 Gal, 3.78L / 1 Gal, 18.9L / 5 Gal sizes at all local supermarkets.

Trade Winds Citrus is proud to announce Orange Season, where the consumer can enjoy Orange Juice that has been bottled within 1 day of reaping. Our unsweetened orange juice is freshly squeezed, delicious and 100% pure Jamaican. It’s naturally sun sweet flavour is not the only reason to enjoy a thirst quenching glass.

Orange juice is not only an excellent source of calcium, it is also an Orange juice is not only an excellent source of calcium, it is also an excellent source of three heart-healthy nutrients: Vitamin C, folate (folic acid) and potassium. All three nutrients play a vital role in re-ducing the risk of heart disease. Studies have also shown that a daily glass of orange juice can help increase your levels of HDL, or good cholesterol. The potassium content in orange juice may also help lower the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

Folate is a particularly important nutrient for mothers to be. It re-duces the risk of neural tube birth defects. The most frequently con-sumed dietary source of folate is orange juice, even more reason to have another glass with breakfast. Fresh juice is a great nutritional foundation from the very beginning. For years Tru-Juice has been building a name that Jamaicans have come to know and trust for quality products.

When Trade Winds Citrus launched its flagship ‘100% freshly squeezed orange juice’ in 1991 the love affair grew even more. So much so that today many consumers refuse to purchase juice from any other manufacturer.

According to Peter McConnell, Managing Director of Trade Winds Citrus, the company has embarked on a campaign to ensure that its

Fresh SqueezedJamaican PrideTru Juice 100% Orange Juice