Doris Romano is a registered nurse and nutritionist specializing in sports nutrition and weight management. As a Sports Nutritionist, Doris is also the creator of The Athlete’s Toolkit™, a unique coaching program to assist recreational and professional athletes attain a high level of nutrition in order to improve their performance and achieve their personal best.
In addition to her private consulting and coaching practice, Doris works several days a week in the Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic at York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill, and at the Shulman Weight Loss Clinic In Thornhill.
Doris is Level 1 certified in sport and exercise nutrition through Precision Nutrition. She teaches Sports Nutrition at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and is a writer for http://LiveStrong.com. She has been a member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario since 2001, and she is currently also a member of the Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals, the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition Alumni, and the Nutritionists Networking Group.
By Doris Romano, RHN and Mima D’Alelio
These suggestions will help save you money, improve your health, and reduce CO2 (a greenhouse gas and the main contributor to climate change
eco-SOLUTIONS AT HOME
By Doris Romano, RHN and Mima D’Alelio
These suggestions will help save you money, improve your health, and reduce CO2 (a greenhouse gas and the main contributor to climate change)
1. Think “green” when you clean. Many household cleaning products are made from toxic chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and your health. Switch to more environmentally-friendly products or clean your home with household items like baking soda and vinegar (the ultimate softener and anti-cling substance!). For a list of 6 safe housecleaning substances go to : www.homefamily.net/index.php/categories/consumersmarts/environmentally_friendly_cleaning_products/
2. Recycle and buy recycled products. You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste. As well as recycling, buy goods made from recycled materials, such as tissues, toilet paper, cutlery, and plateware. Using recycled plastics vs. non-recycled plastics reduces pollution and energy usage by 70-80% (National Resources Defense Council).
3. Reduce hot water use. Wash your clothes in cold or warm water – it takes more electricity to heat the water than it does to run the washing machine! Also, rinse your dishes with cold water and wait till the dishwasher is full to run it.
4. Use a clothesline. By air drying your clothes for 6 months of the year instead of using a dryer, you can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide.
5. Compost. “It is estimated that the average Canadian household produces one ton of organic waste per year. If every household started composting, the volume of material being sent to the landfill would be reduced by approximately one third” (York Region Environmental Alliance).
6. Change your light bulbs. Replace regular (incandescent) light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, saving 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. The fluorescent ones use about one-fourth the electricity, produce more light per watt, and last many years before needing replacing.
7. Reuse your bags. More than one billion single-use bags are handed to consumers every day and it takes a 15-year old tree to produce just 700 paper bags. Reusing shopping bags significantly reduces both carbon emissions and waste. Bring your own bags when shopping. Whole Foods Market stores offer a nickel-per-bag credit and Loblaws a penny-per-bag credit to encourage you!
8. Turn off electronics. Turn off your TV, DVD player, stereo, and computer when you’re not using them. As well, unplug those that you use infrequently; some electronics use electricity even when turned off. This will save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year!
9. Choose energy efficient appliances. Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most efficient ones. If each household in Canada traded in its old, high energy consuming appliances for energy efficient replacements, we’d eliminate a million tons of carbon dioxide emissions on a yearly basis!
10. Adjust your thermostat or install a programmable thermostat. You could save 2,000 pounds of CO2 by moving your thermostat down just 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer. A programmable thermostat will automatically lower the heat or air conditioner at night and raise them in the morning, which can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.
11. Plant a tree. One tree will absorb one ton (2,000 pounds) of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Planting deciduous trees on the south side of your property to shade your house in the summer can reduce your air conditioning bill by 10-15%. To save even more electricity, set your air conditioner at 26 degrees or higher in the summer and use it only when necessary.
12. Build your home “green”. Seek out home building supplies provided by companies that recognize the barriers to sustainable building and that thrive on healthy building with style! Canada’s first green building store, The Healthiest Home, was founded in Ottawa in 2003.
13. Use Organic Cosmetics
The skin is the largest organ of the body, so it is important that we look after it properly! It protects the internal organs, eliminates waste and helps regulate the body temperature and metabolism. Its sensory receptors alert us to touch, temperature and pain. Complimentary practitioners believe that the skin provides valuable clues to the body’s general health. If the skin plays such an important role in eliminating waste and provides us with vital information about our general health and wellbeing, then the last thing we want to do is overload itheapsof“external” toxins
Conventional toiletries and bodycare products are loaded with unnecessary chemicals and additives which are absorbed into our body through our skin. Some experts believe that 60% of what goes on our skin is absorbed – that can be anything up to 2kg of “waste” from lotions, make-up, hair products etc a year. These toxins are particularly harmful to baby skin, which is five times thinner than our own.
Read “Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information Products and Services in Canada” by Adria Vasil, 2007)
Check out Eartheasy - Simple, Sustainable Living. for more information on safe home cleaning.
For more information on the government sponsored Flick Off campaign go to:
Whole Foods Market for more CO2 Eco-Action tips;
Conservatree - Recycled and Environmental Paper Information for gift card and wrapping paper retailers who sell post consumer recycled or tree-free products
Office of Energy Efficiency / Office de l'efficacité énergétique for more tips on how to make your home more energy efficient.
A cleaner, greener Ontario with a strong economy is important to all Ontarians. Each of us can play a part in achieving this. You and your family can take small steps to reduce the size of your carbon footprint. Wash your laundry in cold water, buy local produce, ride your bike instead of driving, look for the ENERGY STAR symbol when buying appliances, plant a tree, turn off your computer at night or consider a solar paneled water heater. These easy options can help you go green.
powerWISE® is a partnership between the Ontario Government and the six participating local electricity distribution companies listed below. Check out our website to find special offers and lots of tips about how you can save.