Goal For The Green

     All soy starts as three beans in a pod. The beans vary in size and colors of the flowers and pods.  It is a hardy crop that grows well in temperate climates, such as the area from North Dakota to Louisiana.  In the early 1950’s the U.S. had surpassed Asia, as the leader in soybean production.  But in 2005, Brazil surpassed the U.S.

     For more than 5,ooo years the Chinese have reguarded soy as a sacred plant, along with rice wheat barley, and millet.  The soybean curd has been consumed by both peasants and royalty, as a hosehold staple. Known for its high nutitional value, it contains eight of the essential amino acids, and is the only complete plant protein.  Soy foods are a rich source of fiber, B vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

     In 1999, The Food and Drug Administration officially recognized the cholesterol lowering effect of soy protein.  The health claim states that 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. The health claim also states that most soyfoods are low in saturated and trans fat.  The American Heart Association has also recognized soyfoods role in a heart – healthy diet.

     Research also suggests that soy may also lower the risk of prostate,colon and breast cancer.  It has also been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone health problems.  It has also been affective in treating hot flashes in menopausal women.

     While soy is a very versatile product, there is a small percentage of the population that may be allergic. Many products in the U.S. now contain warning labels if soy is present.

     It’s that time of year again when we spring forward.  Only this year, we really got a jump on it, an entire two weeks earlier.  It turns out we can thank President Nixon for the idea.  He signed it into law back in January 1974.  It’s Indiana’s first time of jumping on board in thirty years. Not the whole state though.  It seems most of the state doesn’t want to be on it. Only the population hubs came onboard, so that they are in sync with Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville.  So, most of Indiana and Arizona are the only states that stick to Standard Time.  Studies have shown in the past that DST saves energy, in many cases increases productivity at work, and may be a factor in reducing crime rates.

     The longer days don’t just mean we have to get up earlier.  It is a great time to make some adjustments around the house that can help save money.  Here are five things you can do to get started.

     Open your shades, curtains, or blinds during the day to let the daylight in.  It helps reduce both heating and lighting costs.

     Reset the timers on interior lighting and HVAC sytems to coincide with your daylight work hours and hours of operation.

     Adjust your outdoor lighting to come on when you need it.  Especially in areas of walkways and parking.

     Change your timeclocks and security systems to reflect the longer days and seasonal holidays.

     Keep anything with a photocell clean, so the lights come on only in response to darkness, instead of when the photocell is dirty.

It’s not that hard to do anymore. We hear about some aspect of “green” almost daily.  Support for the idea, has become almost second nature.  But what does it all mean?

The goal to living a greener lifestyle, is to become more energy smart, earth smart, health smart, and water smart. In other words, to strive to minimize our use of non-renewable energy, water, and other natural resources.  We make it a goal to create a healthy indoor and outdoor environment for our families. To save money and energy, we make it a point to use products that reduce harmful effects on the environment, and are preferably bio-degradable .

Creating and maintaining a healthy indoor environment is most important to anyone who suffers from allergies.  Regardless of their needs, the savvy customer knows that there are dehumidifiers, that reduce mold and mildew, and air purification/ventilation systems that can ease their symptoms.

Another way to green-up your lifestyle is to check with your power company about signing up for Green Power. Green Power is electricity that is renewable and non-polluting from sources like the wind and sun. The more Green Power we use the less harm we do to the environment, while also investing in renewable resources.

Did you know that your power company may also have a program that entitles you to a free energy check-up?  They come out and check to see where energy is escaping from your home.  If you are planning a home improvement project, they can also help you find a contractor.  The contractors are pre-screened, and can help you with your roofing, heating, cooling,windows, doors, gas fireplaces, insulation and water heaters.  They are required to participate in ongoing training on energy saving options that will help you lower your energy bills.   You may be doing yourself a favor if you check and see what your power company can do for you.

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