Time Management Tips for Inbound Phone Calls

Part 1: Time Management Telephone Tips

By Susan Ward, About.com Guide

Inbound phone calls can eat up a lot of time and seriously decrease your productivity by pulling you away from other tasks. But just as there are ways of handling outgoing phone calls that will improve your time management, there are ways of handling inbound phone calls to cut down on the amount of time you burn up speaking on the phone. These phone answering tips will help.

Time Management Telephone Tips For Inbound Phone Calls

1)      Answer your telephone with a proper business phone greeting.

For instance, when answering the phone say something such as, "Cypress Technologies. Susan speaking. How may I help you?" This not only lets the caller know that they've reached a business, but puts the onus on him to answer the question, saving time on exploratory questions such as, "Is this Cypress Technologies?", and idle chit chat.

2)      Think and prioritize as you speak.

Is the call best handled right now or later? Many of the telephone calls businesses receive are quick inquiries that are easily answered, such as, "How late are you open?" But others involve more complex and time-consuming answers. If that's the case, tell the caller so, and ask when it would be convenient to call her back to discuss it.

3)      Use techniques such as paraphrasing and summarizing to keep phone calls on track.

If you're speaking to someone on the phone who seems to want to chat or stray from the point, say something such as, "So what I hear you saying is..." or "So the key points are..." or "Is (insert summary) a fair summary of what you were saying?" It's hard to be chatty with someone who refuses to chat.

4)      Get in the habit of closing each inbound phone call with a summary of whatever action you and the caller have agreed to take.

While this will only take seconds in most cases, it can save you a lot of time by avoiding errors and the need to double-check. For instance, after a conversation during which you arranged a meeting with a client, you might say, "Good. I'll meet with you at your office at (insert location) at 10 a.m. tomorrow and we'll go over the samples together."

There are another six time management tips for handling inbound phone calls on the following page; click "next" to continue on to page two.

More Telephone Tips

Here are more time management tips to handle inbound phone calls efficiently. (See Time Management Tips for Outgoing Phone Calls for more time-saving ways to handle calls.)

5)      Keep a message pad and writing implements by all your phones, so you can jot down details during the inbound phone call.

This is not only good time management at the time, helping to keep you focused on the call, but a help to time management later if you need to find and/or review the details of a particular conversation.

6) Give your clients and customers the email option.

Many of them will use email to contact you rather than phoning if they know what your email address is. Ensure that your company's email address is prominent on your business cards and on your website, if you have one. If you have their email addresses, send email to your current clients and customers, mentioning the email option and presenting it as a way to improve communications.

7) Use technology to manage the time you're spending answering the phone.

As a minimum, your business should have an answering machine and voice mail. Set these up with appropriate business scripts, and use them to answer the telephone for you when you're out of the office or need to work on something uninterrupted. Then schedule time to answer these telephone messages each day. In terms of time management, you'll gain valuable time by grouping telephone calls together.

8) If you're running a home-based business, get a separate business phone or line.

You need to have a second "business-only" telephone with its own "business-only" answering machine and/or voice mail. Not only is this more professional, but it will save you the time it takes to wade through messages and determining which ones are business-related.

9) It's always best to have a person answer the phone.

Having a machine pick up or worse, an automated "choose one of these numbers" system is a real turn off that will cost you business when people don't bother to leave messages or call back. If answering inbound phone calls is taking up too much time during your day, consider hiring a receptionist or a professional answering service to answer the phone for you. The cost of having someone else do it may be more than offset by the increase in your productivity and better sales.

10) Keep a written script of frequently asked questions (and answers) posted by your phone.

It saves you and your employees time t have to search for answers or think about how to answer a particular request when answering the phone.

Telephone Tips Summary

Remember, the telephone is supposed to be a business tool, not an intrusive timewaster that rules your working day. Handling your inbound phone calls according to these time management tips will help you better manage your time, improve your productivity, and put your telephone back in its proper place - helping you run your business rather than

Prepared by SANN RAKSMEY.

Home Pregnancy Tests

Compiled by Terri Isidro-Cloudas

Eight Signs of Pregnancy

* Urine Pregnancy Test

* What to Expect at Your First Prenatal Visit

If you suspect you're pregnant, chances are you're considering taking a home pregnancy test. And why not? They're readily available, easy to use, and can buy you peace of mind — not to mention quick results!

But before you head to the pharmacy to buy a home testing kit, learn the answers to some basic home pregnancy test questions from the National Women's Health Information Center.

How soon after conception is a pregnancy test effective?

Pregnancy tests, which are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, have come a long way since the early to mid 1900s when toads, rats, and rabbits were actually used in testing. Today, over-the-counter home pregnancy kits provide privacy and fast results. They can detect pregnancy as soon as six days after conception or one day after a missed menstrual period. This is a major advantage in allowing women to seek the earliest prenatal care possible.

How do pregnancy tests work?

Pregnancy tests detect the presence of a hormone produced by pregnant women after conception, called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In the 1970s, a method called ring or tube agglutination testing used a test tube containing prepackaged red blood cells to detect hCG in urine. If a ring showed at the bottom of the tube after addition of a urine sample, the test was positive. These tests are very sensitive to movement and human error so they're rarely used today.

The test kits you find in your drugstore today are much more sophisticated. Brands such as e.p.t. and First Response contain special antibodies that detect minute traces of hCG in urine. The antibodies are molecules coated with a substance that bonds to the pregnancy hormone if it's present. The tests are easy to use: A urine sample is combined with the antibodies in a special container and the test is timed. A color change indicates a positive or negative result.

Products such as Clearblue Easy use a testing method called "rapid assay delivery," which can give results in only three minutes and even inform the user if the test hasn't been done properly. This method combines a biochemical process with antibodies that detect hCG in a pen-shaped instrument.

How accurate are home pregnancy tests?

Although most manufacturers claim that home pregnancy tests are 99 percent accurate, inaccurate results may be more frequent due to improper usage, use of a product past its expiration date, exposure of the test to sunlight, and the presence of cancer in the user. It's very important to follow the package instructions exactly for results to be accurate. Regardless of the brand used or result obtained, most manufacturers recommend repeating the process a few days later to confirm results, because levels of hCG following conception are so low. The strength of each test varies, and the test may not pick up the amount of hCG hormone present the first time you test. You should definitely make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you think you're pregnant. It's important to get prenatal care as early as possible, for your sake and for your baby's.

Prepared by SANN RAKSMEY,,,

The Truth About Babymaking Sex

By Deborah Gaines

* Ten Tips for Optimal Conception

* Eight Surprising Fertility Facts

* Pros and Cons of Ovulation Predictor Kits

Basal thermometers. Ovulation predictor kits. Cervical mucus. Are you hot yet? If not, you're not alone. While babymaking sex sounds great in theory (no worrying about birth control!), couples who've been there are more likely to describe it as "mechanical," "unromantic," and "a big turnoff."

What's the problem? One husband explains, "When we threw away the condoms, I thought that meant we'd get to have spontaneous, uninhibited sex. Instead it was just the opposite. We had to schedule intercourse to correspond with my wife's ovulation, and limit ourselves to a couple of positions because they offered maximum penetration."

The experience can be equally frustrating for women. "I wanted it to be a beautiful thing — that we loved each other enough to create a baby together," says one mom-to-be. "But the reality was more like some weird science experiment."

Expert Advice

              According to psychotherapist Lenore Pomerance, the key to a better sex life is learning to separate fertility from sexuality. "There's a vast difference between sex for pleasure and sex for conception, and couples who recognize this can avoid blaming, feeling guilty, or getting turned off by sex for conception," she says.

Pomerance points out that this separation is most essential when your efforts aren't immediately successful. "I've had couples express fears that they couldn't get pregnant because the sex wasn't good enough, or the love failed — which, of course, has nothing to do with fertility. When partners start feeling flawed or inadequate because they haven't conceived right away, they grow depressed and their sexual feelings are affected."

Three Tips for Better Babymaking Sex

1. Start learning about "reality sex."

 Pomerance says, "Couples who are disappointed by babymaking sex are often hanging on to a fantasy about what lovemaking is 'supposed' to be — romantic, spontaneous, always satisfying, and not requiring communication or effort to get or stay that way. The reality is that sex can be many, many things. If a couple is connected enough emotionally and physically, they can let go of the fantasy and learn how to make the reality feel good."

2. Keep your sense of humor.

Viewed objectively, sex, conception, and becoming a parent are three of the funniest conditions in the human experience. Couples who can laugh at themselves often end up closer, sexually and otherwise, than they were before trying to conceive. One new mom who had to undergo two years of fertility treatments says that laughter is what got her through. "In spite of all our best efforts, we ended up having to conceive by intrauterine insemination. If we hadn't been able to joke about the 'turkey baster,' we'd probably be divorced now instead of expecting our second child."

3. Have hot, spontaneous sex the rest of the month.

By definition, you can only have babymaking sex during the three- to five-day window when you're fertile each month. That leaves nearly four weeks for recreational fun! Try to get in some tender lovemaking as well as swinging from the chandelier. And take time to share your feelings about your sexual connection. Couples who start working to keep it healthy now reap big benefits when they become parents.

Prepared by SRS...

Eight Conception Myths

By Deborah Gaines

   If you're trying to get pregnant, chances are you've been overwhelmed with tips and advice. Books, magazines, Web sites, and well-meaning friends and relatives are full of suggestions. But how do you separate the myths from the facts? Here are some common misconceptions about conception.

1. You'll have a better chance of conceiving if you relax and stop worrying about it.

   Even assuming this were possible, there's no clinical evidence that it makes a difference. While extreme stress can affect your ability to ovulate in very rare cases, "worrying about it" — especially if that worry takes the form of monitoring ovulation and timing intercourse to coincide with your most fertile time — can only help.

2. Drinking Robitussin before you ovulate will make you more fertile.

   The theory is that guaifenesin, the expectorant ingredient in Robitussin, will help thin your cervical mucus in the same way it thins the mucus in your lungs, making it easier for the sperm to swim through your cervix and reach the egg. While guaifenesin may, indeed, result in thinner mucus, it's not clear that thin mucus alone will make you more fertile. The quantity of mucus is as important as its consistency, and Robitussin will not affect this.

3. You'll conceive more quickly if you make love during the day, with the lights on.

   While studies have shown that sperm levels are somewhat higher in the morning, there's no clinical basis for keeping the lights on. (If you enjoy it, of course, that's another matter.)

4. Having sex every day increases your odds of getting pregnant.

   You can have sex 10 times a day and it won't result in pregnancy unless it's timed to coincide with ovulation. And even if you've timed things correctly, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) reports that a major study found no difference in pregnancy rates between couples who had sex daily and those who had sex every other day.

5. If you have sex early in your fertile period, the baby will be a boy; later, a girl.

   There's an old wives' tale that "boy sperm" (those with Y-chromosomes) swim faster than their female counterparts, but the NEJM study found no difference.

6. Bike riding will reduce your husband's sperm count.

   If your partner is an Olympic-level, long-distance cyclist, it is theoretically possible (although not clinically proven) that the extra heat, jostling, and grinding on the testicular region will affect sperm count. Recreational cyclists need not worry, however.

7. Eating nonorganic bananas can make men sterile.

   This claim is based on a report that chemicals used in growing bananas had a negative effect on the sperm of farm workers. There is no clinical proof that men who eat the bananas could be similarly affected.

8. Cooling your husband's "jets" with an ice pack can increase his fertility.

   Like many conception myths, this one has a basis in fact: Sperm counts tend to rise in cooler temperatures. For this reason, men who are trying to conceive are advised to wear loose underwear (boxers instead of briefs), and avoid long, hot baths, saunas, and hot tubs. However, since it takes at least two months for a man's sperm count to be positively affected by cooler temperatures, using an ice pack on his genital area is hardly a practical solution.

   Sources: New England Journal of Medicine; American Society of Reproductive Medicine, http://www.asrm.org/

   The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.

Prepared by SANN RAKSMEY.

5 Categories For Effective Time Management

                   5 Categories For Effective Time Management

Don't Just Track Your Time; Manage It!

By Susan Ward, About.com Guide

See More About:

• time tracking
• time management
• increasing productivity
• working smarter

    Many people mistake time tracking for time management. They religiously keep track of everything they do each day, for weeks or even months. And then they stop doing it because they haven’t realized any positive changes. But keeping track of how you spend your time isn’t time management. Time management is about making changes to the way you spend your time. For effective time management, you have to apply a time management system that will help you see where changes can and should be made. Keeping track of your many daily activities is just a preliminary step to effective time management. The first step of time management is to analyze how you actually spend your time so you can determine what changes you want to make. This is where many people’s attempts at time management fail. They look at a specific day in their Day-Timer or Outlook calendar or on their Palm which is packed with activities from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and don’t know what to do with it. So they fall back on the tried and true techniques and eliminate a few events and prioritize others. But they haven’t really managed anything; they’ve just rearranged it. All the perceived problems and frustrations of the day’s activities are still there – and at the end of their day they’re still frazzled and frustrated.

Manage Your Time With Time Management Categories

   How do you actually manage time? The secret is in the categories. Look at your calendar for tomorrow. It’s probably already full of events and activities that you’re hoping to accomplish. As you work or afterward, you’ll be filling in the blank spaces.

   Now look at the list and categorize it. How much time during your working day did you actually spend:

1) Putting out fires. An unexpected phone call. A report that’s necessary for a meeting that should have been printed yesterday. A missing file that should be on your desk. How much of your day was actually spent in crisis mode? For most people, this is a negative category that drains their energy and interferes with their productivity.

2) Dealing with interruptions. Phone calls and people dropping by your office will probably top the list when you’re assigning events to this category. Once again, for most people, this is a negative category because it interferes with (and sometimes kills) productivity.

3) Doing planned tasks. This is the most positive use of time during your work day. You are in control and accomplishing what you intended to accomplish. Planned tasks can include phone calls, meetings with staff, even answering email – if these are tasks that you have put on your agenda.

4) Working uninterrupted. You may not be working on a task you had planned to do, but you are getting to accomplish something, and for most people, this is a very productive, positive work mode.

5) Uninterrupted downtime. Those times during the work day that are used to re-energize and regroup. Lunch or a mid-morning break may count IF they’re uninterrupted. If you’re lucky enough to work with a company that offers on-site work-out facilities or nap rooms, that would count, too. Everyone needs a certain amount of uninterrupted downtime built into their day to be productive during their work time.

A Week Of Your Past Is The Key To The Future

    Now that you understand the time management categories, it’s time to use them to analyze your “typical” work week. Using whatever calendar system you use for listing appointments and activities in your daily life, go back and select a recent typical week. Go through the entries of each working day and categorize them according to the time management categories above. Keeping a running total at the bottom of each day will make it easy to see just how you’ve spent your working time each day.

   Now you have the data you need to make changes to the way you spend your time at work. Are you spending too much time putting out fires? Then you need to make the organizational or physical changes to prevent or defer these constant crises. Clean up and reorganize your desk, for example, so you can find the files you need easily, and establish a routine of putting the files you need for the next day out on your desk before you leave for the day. Not getting enough uninterrupted downtime during your working day? Then you need to build it in. For instance, stop eating lunch at your desk and physically leave the building for your stipulated lunch time.

   By applying my work categories of time management, and making the changes you need to make to spend more of your time during your working day in the positive categories and less time in the negative categories, you’ll truly be able to effectively manage your time at work – and accomplish the true goal of time management, to feel better.

Prepared by SANN RAKSMEY

Ten Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy

Ten Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy By Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum

          As mothers tend to sacrifice during their lives to meet their children's needs, a mother's body will give up its own essential nutrients to provide health and growth for her developing baby. Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is often so nutritionally deficient that even this sacrifice does not guarantee adequate nutrition for the unborn baby.

Fortunately, there are a number of tips that, if followed during pregnancy, can help both baby and mother stay healthy and vital!

Here is my top 10 list for ensuring a healthy pregnancy. It includes recommendations on nutrition, vitamins, minerals and other common-sense tips that can lead to a happier, healthier and more vital pregnancy:

1. Zinc

   Inadequate zinc is the most common and problematic deficiency during pregnancy. Zinc is critical for two reasons: proper growth and for developing a healthy immune system for the baby. Studies suggest that inadequate zinc may even cause immune deficiency in the next generation (i.e., your grandchild) as well. Be sure to get at least 15 milligrams per day of zinc in your diet, which can be found in high protein foods such as meat and beans.

2. Folic Acid

   Getting enough folic acid is critical both before and during pregnancy to help assure proper growth and to prevent birth defects. It is present in deep green, leafy vegetables. Women should get at least 400 to 800 micrograms per day. 

3. Magnesium

   Magnesium deficiency is routine in the American diet and can increase the possibility of high blood pressure and seizures during pregnancy, a condition known as eclampsia. To prevent this deficiency, take 200 milligrams of magnesium in the glycinate form daily. Whole grains, green leafy and other vegetables and nuts are good sources of magnesium. Taking the proper amount of magnesium a day also helps to decrease the leg cramps and constipation often experienced during pregnancy. In addition, magnesium is critical for more than 300 other body functions and will generally help you to feel a lot healthier.

4. B Vitamins

   These are critical for energy, mental clarity and to prevent depression. B vitamins have also been found to improve pregnancy-related complications such as gestational diabetes. Taking 200 milligrams a day of vitamin B6 can improve the health of those women suffering from this form of diabetes. But please note that only women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy should take this high level of B vitamins, and should drop the level of consumption to 100 milligrams per day during the last month. For all other soon-to-be moms, take approximately 25 to 50 milligrams a day of B vitamins and plenty of vitamin B12 for normal nerve function.

5. Fish Oils

   The human brain is made predominantly of DHA, an essential fatty acid found in fish oils. Perhaps this is why there is an old wives' tale about fish being brain food. Regardless, DHA deficiency is very common and it is critical that pregnant women get adequate fish oils so that their baby can develop healthy and optimal brain tissue. DHA may also decrease the risk of postpartum depression. Unfortunately, though, the FDA has raised concerns about high mercury levels in the same deep sea fish (salmon and tuna) that have the highest levels of these oils. An excellent alternative for those who'd rather not risk it is to take one half to one tablespoon of Eskimo 3 fish oil. This is a special form of fish oil that actually tastes good (most do not), and has been tested to make sure that it does not have mercury or other problematic compounds.

6. Calcium

   Ideally, pregnant women should ingest 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. It is best to take this at night (it helps with sleep) in the liquid, powdered or chewable form. Many calcium tablets are simply chalk and do not dissolve in the stomach, and therefore are not absorbed properly. Each cup of milk or yogurt contains 400 milligrams of calcium.

7. Iron

   Approximately 18 to 36 milligrams of iron per day can be helpful. Interestingly, iron deficiency can sometimes cause infertility. Also, pregnant women who don't get enough iron are at risk for anemia, fatigue, poor memory and decreased immune function.

8. Water

   Be sure to drink plenty of water. When pregnant, blood volume can increase about 30 percent and it is easy to become dehydrated. If your mouth or lips are dry, drink more! Adequate salt is also helpful in preventing dehydration (less so if you have problems with fluid retention).

9. Check Your Thyroid

   Millions of women suffer from an underactive metabolism, also known as hypothyroidism, which often goes undiagnosed. This results in fatigue, weight gain and simply feeling like you've run out of gas. Hypothyroidism accounts for more than 6 percent of miscarriages and can be cause for learning disabilities in the child. Treating a low thyroid is both safe and easy during pregnancy. The earlier it is treated the better. Either once you start trying to get pregnant, or as soon as you know you're pregnant, take a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) blood test to check your thyroid. Most doctors do not yet know that the TSH has to be less than three — anything above and you need treatment — so look at the test result yourself (many doctors still use the dangerous and outdated criteria of a TSH over five being abnormal). If you like, you can get a lab requisition for a TSH to take to your lab by visiting www.Vitality101.com (click on "online program" then on "Laboratory Requisition Form"). If you were on thyroid medication before getting pregnant, it is normal to increase the dose during pregnancy (the TSH should be kept between .5 and 2.0). If your doctor is not familiar with the new guidelines, he or she can send an email to the Web site above and a copy of the guidelines will be sent to them.

10. Things for Pregnant Women to Avoid

   A few cautions for pregnant women: avoid taking more than 8,000 units of vitamin A per day. And don't partake in anything that can raise your body temperature too high (hot tubs, saunas or steam rooms). These have been implicated as possibly increasing the risk for birth defects. Most pregnant women are also, of course, aware that smoking, drugs and alcohol should all be avoided during pregnancy. Exercise, on the other hand, has been shown to be very beneficial and results in babies and moms that are quite healthy.

 Prepared by SRS...

What shall we do with Environment in Phnom Penh?

What shall we do with Environment in Phnom Penh?

As to join hands with organization, government and other people, I decided to list the things I have been doing lately to be more environmentally friendly. Hopefully this will inspire others to make some changes in their lives.After moving to Oregon I decided to try live healthier. Part of that was weight loss, and another part was reducing my footprint on the planet. Here are some changes I have made and why they're important.

   Stopped drinking bottled water: American’s purchase 28 billion water bottles per year, and 80% of those end up in landfills. The bottles water industry also consumes 17 million barrels of oil per year, and contributes 2.5 million tons of CO2 into our air. And these numbers are growing dramatically every year.

Since I have been working on weight loss, more water has been essential. But I now just own a couple sturdy water bottles and fill those up with the filtered water from my refrigerator. Not only is this better for the environment, but I am also saving nearly $70 per month on bottled water.

  Bring my own bag shopping: Both paper and plastic bags cause significant drains on the planets resources. We use about 4 – 5 trillion plastic bags per year, and only .06% of those bags are recycled. This build up of bags have effects that range from wildlife eating the bags and of course dying, to helping cause a major flood in Bangladesh.

And if you think paper is better, be aware that paper bags are usually made of virgin fibers that cause en estimated 14 million + trees to be cut down each year.

It’s not always easy to remember to bring a canvas bag with me, especially for non-grocery shopping. So I keep some in my car, and when I forget, I punish myself by not using a bag. I’m sure that when you look at how many bags you use, you see it’s a small step to make a big difference.

   Use CFL light bulbs: Lighting is one of the primary drains on electricity. So why is it that a product that costs about the same as a regular light bulb, yet saves people 75% off their lighting bill only has a 6% adoption rate in the US? Seth Godin wrote a great article exploring that issue. He also mentions that if everyone switched to CFL bulbs, we would eliminate the need for foreign oil without lifting one Hummer off the roads.

I have replaced all the bulbs in my house and it looks to be making a nice big difference. It’s an easy step to take to reduce power consumption in the country, and the bulbs are now nearly $1 per bulb at some stores. This more than pays for itself in no time, so put this on your list of things to do next weekend.

   Energy Efficient appliances: Every now and then the government does something useful for the environment, although not so much lately. Back in 1992 they started the Energy Star program as a voluntary labeling initiative to inform consumers that the product had met energy efficient guidelines. The EPA is estimating that this saved $12 billion in energy costs in 2005 alone. Another appliance technology that has come to market recently is HE washing machines. These machines use 20% – 66% of the water a traditional washing machine uses. But you have to use HE labeled laundry soap.

Here is something I thought was interesting; you save more water by using an efficient dish washer than washing them by hand.

All my appliances are Energy Star compliant, and my washing machine is HE. My last place didn’t have those things, and I notice a big difference on my electric bill.

   Eco-friendly cleaning products: Obviously toxic chemicals rarely help the environment. So using an eco-friendly laundry soap and cleaning supplies can help cut down on the amount of toxic waste the planet has to deal with.

Also, using smaller container of concentrated liquids help reduce the amount of package waster, and shipping weight.

For example, I use non-toxic laundry soap in a big concentrate gallon that is HE complaints. I use white vinegar as a natural fabric softener.

   Tankless water heater: Heating water account for 14% of the average Americans energy budget. That can be significantly reduced by using a tank less water heater. Traditional water heaters sit around, sucking up power to heat water your not using. Tank less heaters heat water as needed. This is obviously an even better value if you travel and go long periods without needing hot water.

I have a tank less water heater that works great. Less maintenance, and never ending hot water in a sometimes shower busy house. I hate cold showers! I do have to wait about 2minutes for the water to heat up occasionally, but that isn’t usually much of problem.

   Purchase Green Tags: We have a program here in Ashland that allows us to purchase Green Tags. This is a small price increase to run off of renewable electric energy. Because we are very efficient now, we pay very little difference for this, I expect my electric bill will remain under $100 per month, and it’s nice to know that our home is running of clean, renewable power.

I’m not sure who widespread this program is, but it may be worth checking out to see if there is something in your area.

   Recycle: Most cities now have decent recycling plans, we just need to take advantage of them. I have found this isn’t as difficult as I once thought it to be. Just be conscious of the fact that whatever I put in the trash has to go somewhere is enough to keep me recycling. But you can also go the extra mile and look for products that come from recycling as well. Obviously when you purchase paper products you should be looking for the little recycled logo.

   Being conscious: Simply being conscious is a big part of the effort. Making sure to keep lights off when not in use. Walking to the grocery store, video store and movie theatre has made it where I only have to fill up my tank once per month. Consolidating trips so that I can make less of them, and use less trash all starts to add up to not only reducing waste, but being healthier and saving money.

Here are some the areas I would like to improve in:

   Buy a hybrid: I honestly looked at Hybrids, but didn’t see what I needed. I needed a small SUV with AWD. The hybrid SUV’s I looked at didn’t really seem to save much gas and cost a lot more. I really liked the RX400h, but there is no Lexus dealer within 2 hours my house. So I went with the best I could find. I’m averaging about 20 MPG, which considering I only fill up once per month, is better than most people.

   Buy more local groceries: I am aware of the issues in trucking groceries across the country. I’m trying to be better at buy more locally grown foods, but it’s not as easy as it should be.

    Solar panels: I have to admit that I think I just like the tech of solar panels more than I think it will help, or be worth the money in my case. If I spend less than $100 per month on power, and I already use renewable power from the city through green tags, then  more eco-bling than anything else. But I do like the idea of it.

Hopefully this will be helpful to anyone looking to make some simple changes to be more eco-friendly. You can check out my other Blog Action Day.

 Prepared by SRS...