1. Energy Audit

Regardless of how much you manage the heating and air conditioning systems in your home, air leaks throughout the household could mean you’re wasting energy every time you turn up the thermostat.

A home energy technician, or auditor, can come in and check every nook and cranny of your house for leaks and proper insulation. From cable lines to cracks in the walls, these technicians don’t miss a thing. By closing all the doors and windows, the auditor can fixate a fan to send an airstream out of the house. An infrared camera can then be used to see where cold air is flowing in as the house depressurizes. And let the fixing begin! A complete energy audit and repair could save 5-30 percent of your monthly energy bill.

If you can’t find a home energy technician near you, just start checking around the house for possible air leaks and insulation failures. Every little bit helps. You can also go to www.sierragreenbuilders.com for more tips and advice on weatherization, specific to the Reno/Tahoe area.

2. Keep the Cold

There are times when we waste water and don’t even realize it. It most commonly occurs when waiting for our water heater to kick in before a bath or shower. Every day, gallons of water are wasted as we stand beside the faucet, waiting for it to warm up. If saving water is a priority of yours, keep a few five gallon buckets on hand, and save that cold water for other uses. It could be repurposed to water plants around the house, soak grimy pots and pans in the sink, or, if you’re really passionate, cut off the water main to your toilet and manually refill it with your newfound cold water supply! Be creative: you can purchase buckets made from recycled materials, as well as a variety of home water storage systems.

3. Save and Pay

More and more companies are providing online banking options for their customers. Instead of having a bill printed on paper; put into a paper envelope; driven to your house in gasoline-fueled trucks; then driven away from your house in a new paper envelope equipped with a paper check—think of all the paper and gasoline you would save for the environment by simply opting in for the online billing option. As long as the billing website reads, https://, that “s” stands for “secure,” so you know your information will be safe.

4. Don’t Warm the Wash

Laundry is a necessity. But what isn’t a necessity, most of the time, is cleaning your clothes in hot or warm water. First of all, check the tags on your clothing. Some of them require that they be washed in cold water. The colder the wash, the less energy is used to heat the water, so make sure that you can wash with cold water every chance you get. If your clothes aren’t very dirty, a warm wash would often suit you just fine. And if you’re a relatively clean individual, try a cold wash and see how you like it. Cold washes also tend to prevent shrinkage and fading of your clothes, so maybe you’ll be able to wear your favorite shirt for a few more years.

5. Go Raw

Eating raw food will benefit both your health and the planet. By eating raw food, you needn’t use energy from the stove, oven or microwave. There’s less packaging and processing involved in a raw apple as compared to a microwaveable, frozen apple pie.

There is a belief that cooking food above a certain temperature, about 118°F, kills its “life energy,” and while many nutrients remain, “dead food” is being consumed. People who have gone on raw diets have reported feelings of greater energy and less fatigue during the day. Check out the “rawsagna” recipe in this issue, or visit www.hbmag.com for more raw ideas. Check out the Pneumatic Diner, at 501 W 1^st St. in Reno, for some vegan and vegetarian options as well–ask for the vegan nachos.

6. “Sleeptalking”

Cell phones typically only need just a few hours to regain a full charge, yet many of us leave them plugged in all night long. Make a habit of fully charging them up before you go to bed; and get up early enough to recharge whatever’s lost through the night so that it’s back to 100 percent before you walk out the door.

7. Road Wage

The angrier you get on the road, the more it tends to cost you. Constant accelerating and braking from aggressive driving behaviors may reduce your gas mileage efficiency by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city. Also, if speeding is a hobby of yours, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly once you hit speeds of 60mph or more. For every 5mph over 60 you drive, consider it an extra 30 cents a gallon for gas. Get more information at www.fueleconomy.gov.

8. Plant a Tree…?

Yes, that’s still a good thing to do, and not just for kids either. However, planting a tree can also have lasting energy-saving effects if planted with ulterior motives. Keep track of which part of your house tends to heat up the most during the warmer months of the year. If a tree is strategically planted to block the angle of the sun, you could naturally reduce your average room temperature by a few degrees in the summertime. Look for planting tips and ideas from a few local sources, check out: www.gardenshopnursery.com, www.drycreekgarden.com, and www.fullcirclecompost.com.

9. Paper Towels: A luxury.

Stop and think of an instance when using a paper towel was the only possible solution to solving a problem in your house. Or, try and recall a time where several rags or washcloths just couldn’t handle the job, and paper towels had to come in and save the day. Now, never buy paper towels again…or, just use them sparingly. If you do use them, try composting them. They should break down, if exposed to natural elements, within two to four weeks, according to www.ecolife.com. There are also several brands of recycled paper towels that are considered more “green” over others.

10. In the Know

The whole country is getting on board with green living, and what better source of information than the Environmental Protection Agency? Go to www.epa.gov/gogreen and put in your e-mail address to start receiving their monthly Go Green! newsletter. You can also find more tips on www.hbmag.com.

Part Three: Restoring environments, restoring hope

Written By Lissie Lyles |

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless when contemplating the implications of our changing climate. Witnessing the increase in natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, mud slides, dust storms, tornadoes, tsunamis and the devastation they cause is disheartening to say the least. Sometimes, it appears as if there are no solutions, and that one’s own individual actions aren’t enough to create the kind of change necessary for a healthier planet.

In the first two parts of this series, we discussed farming practices that have a negative effect on the land and its inhabitants, in short, agricultural practices that can be summed up as unsustainable. Contemplate the meaning of that word “unsustainable” for a moment. It means that something cannot go on the way it has been indefinitely. Why? Because it is destroying the very resources or conditions that it depends upon. In other words, unsustainable farming practices will not continue, whether we choose to abandon them or not, because they simply cannot be supported by this planet forever. The urgent choice before us is whether or not to put to rest these unsustainable practices before our communities, and even our very lives, are destroyed in turn.

Thankfully, there is a growing movement of new methods of relating to the land that could not only be sustained indefinitely, but improve the health of the ecosystem, increase the abundance of food for its inhabitants, and reduce the effects of climate change. The film “Hope in a Changing Climate,” presented by Open University, offers some stunning examples of how environmental restoration projects can create profound improvements in areas that were once suffering the consequence of unsustainable land use.

15 years ago, China’s Loess Plateau, a region of 640,000 square kilometers in North Central China, seemed like a hopeless place. Poverty was rampant and the land had been stripped of its fertility by thousands of years of agricultural exploitation. Over-grazing by domestic live stock had stripped the hill tops of all vegetation, with no chance for young trees and shrubs to grow. When the rains came, instead of seeping into the earth, the rain washed down the hillsides, taking the top soil with it. Millions of tons of silt were swept into the Yellow river, impeding its flow and contributing to floods. In some areas, the silt built up so much that floating mud mattresses were created. In addition to this, during the dry season, the light and unprotected soil was swept into the winds, causing dust storms that extended far beyond China’s borders. It’s a process that can be seen over and over again throughout the world, and it becomes a vicious cycle of reduced crop yields, natural disasters and impoverished communities.

Fifteen years ago, Chinese and International environmental experts began an experiment, to see if the damage in this region could be reversed. They worked with the citizens of the Loess Plateau; planting trees on the highest mountains, and limiting the areas that live stock were allowed to graze, making it possible for vegetation to thrive once again. The people dug slopes and terraces into the hill sides, designed to help the rain water move gradually down the hill, preventing run off. The results of these restoration efforts created dramatic improvements in the area.

The return of natural vegetation prevents the rain from running straight down the slopes; instead the rain is absorbed into the earth like a sponge, and slowly seeps through the irrigated fields and terraces below. There is a significant reduction in the amount of silt carried into the Yellow River. Restoration occurred over an area of 35,000 square kilometers, and the people of the Loess Plateau have seen much higher crop yields, a greater variety of local produce and follow up studies have shown that incomes rose, three-fold. As the vegetation returned and the top soil replenished, the amount of carbon in the air was reduced as well. Here is a method of farming that is beneficial to every being in that ecosystem. The people are enjoying greater abundance, while the land itself is thriving; everybody wins.

Similar restoration efforts are now taking place in other parts of the world, with encouraging success stories starting to emerge from communities in Ethiopia and Rwanda as well. The film “Hope in a Changing Climate,” can be downloaded for free from I-tunes U. It is a must-watch film that documents the astounding potential of restoration projects such as these, which are changing lives for the better, and healing the land in a remarkably short period of time.

Many of the farming practices used in these restoration projects could fall under the heading of what is known as “permaculture.” Unlike agriculture, which seeks to alter the land, control it, and subdue it, permaculture principles begin by observing the workings of a healthy ecosystem and acknowledging the interconnectedness of all life forms with in that system. Landscapes are then designed, using these observations, to create food systems that are truly sustainable. This means they can continue indefinitely, without depleting the resources or conditions upon which they depend. Permaculture does not just consider individual parts, but looks at the relationship between life forms as a whole. This approach to design and organization is also starting to be successfully applied to architecture, energy and wastewater systems, even villages and economics.

Challenging times are often catalysts that inspire creative solutions to problems that once seemed insurmountable. The restoration efforts mentioned above, and the development of permaculture design, offer us hope; the ability to envision how to grow a healthier, saner world. The sooner we relinquish our attachment to farming practices that are unsustainable in favor of those that honor the land, the sooner we can create a better quality of life, for all of earth’s inhabitants. Just because something may require new behaviors and perspectives does not mean that it’s impossible. The choice is ours to make, we have much to gain from making these desperately needed changes, and everything to lose if we do not act now.

References:

1. Hemenway, Toby. Gaia’s Garden. Chelsea Green Publishing Company. Whiter River Junction, 2009.

2. www.open2.net/creativeclimate

3. i-tunes U:  Hope in a Changing Climate, sponsored by Open University

Written By Lissie Lyles |

Part One:

Bred from thin air, or lessons from the not so distant past?

“Caution: It is vitally important not to make connections. When you see pictures of rubble like this week’s shots from Joplin, Mo., you should not wonder: Is this somehow related to the tornado outbreak three weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, Ala., or the enormous outbreak a couple of weeks before that (which, together, comprised the most active April for tornadoes in U.S. history). No, that doesn’t mean a thing. It is [far] better to think of these as isolated, unpredictable, discrete events. It is not advisable to try to connect them in your mind with, say, the fires burning across Texas—fires that have burned more of America at this point this year than any wildfires have in previous years. Texas and adjoining parts of Oklahoma and New Mexico are drier than they’ve ever been—the drought is worse than that of the Dust Bowl. But do not wonder if they’re somehow connected.” ~ Bill McKibben, from the Washington Post

Whether we want to submit these drastic environmental changes under the heading of “human caused climate change” or not, we have to admit that there must be some connection between the rash of “natural” disasters that have devastated our country in recent months and years. The tornadoes, floods, droughts and fires that are sweeping across this country are indicative of a planet that is not healthy, a planet that is out of balance. We can choose to ignore these symptoms all we want, but doing so will not help the situation to improve. If our own body was exhibiting multiple symptoms of imbalance and illness, we would more than likely heed these warnings if we did not want the disease to progress irreversibly. When are we going to heed these same warnings from the great body of earth, on which our fragile lives depend?

Many of us can acknowledge the links between burning fossil fuels and an increase in greenhouse gasses; however the contributing factors to global warming are numerous. How we choose to organize our food systems and our farming practices has greatly impacted our environment and climate. In this three part series, we will explore how our choices in farming practices can either harm the earth, or help it to heal. We will also show how the health of an ecosystem is reflected in the health of the community that dwells there. In order to understand how to move forward in a responsible way, we must examine our past actions and learn from them. The history of fertilizer provides us with several important lessons.

Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are the three most essential nutrients for plants. None of today’s major crops can survive without them. All of them can be found, in varying amounts, in manures and composts. For most plants, the most essential of the three is nitrogen. There are different types of nitrogen, for example, the air we breathe is composed of 80 percent nitrogen; but airborne nitrogen cannot be accessed by plants or animals. Plants depend upon fixed nitrogen, in the soil. Uncultivated virgin soils have fixed nitrogen stored in them; as the amount of fixed nitrogen is used by crops, the soil fertility drops year after year.

In the fall of 1898 Sir William Crookes, the incoming president of the British Academy of Sciences, issued a dire warning. The combination of an increasing world population, and a dwindling of available fertile soil, would pose the threat of famine and starvation as soon as the 1930′s. There was only one way out, he argued. The creation of vast amounts of synthetic fertilizer would be necessary to meet the increasing demands for food.

It must also be noted that nitre, a type of salt, also called saltpeter, originally discovered underground in caves, basements and crypts, is also essential in the process of making gunpowder. A single substance with the ability to increase crop yields, and supply a military with weapons, is a thing of value to any aspiring empire. The acquisition of it was a significant factor in the British takeover of India, for example. In addition to true saltpeter, there is also saltire, which is found in abundance throughout South America. For most of the 1800′s, many nations including the US, Britain and Germany depended on imported nitrites for both food and firearms.

Motivated by Crooke’s warning, an ambitious German chemist named Fritz Haber began experimenting with ways to extract nitrogen from the air, and turn it into a source of fixed nitrogen, in the form of ammonium sulfate. This had been attempted by other chemists without success, but Haber finally managed to do so in 1909. Then, in collaboration with Carl Bosch, they created gigantic machines capable of producing ammonia in unprecedented amounts. This discovery put Germany in a position of great advantage. It could now produce its own fertilizer, bombs and gunpowder at less expense than importing it, and it was the only nation with access to the technology.

The German government invested massive amounts of money to create two separate plants that housed the Haber-Bosch machines. These plants supplied the German Military in both world wars. Within their walls, the concept of chemical warfare was born. These laboratories created the poison gases used in the trenches of World War I and the concentration camps of World War II. Many of the key ingredients and processes stemmed from the technologies and materials used to create fertilizer.

Today, Haber-Bosch machines exist all over the world, drawing nitrogen from the air and converting it to synthetic fertilizer. These machines, and the materials they produce, have been credited with providing food to millions, if not billions of people. In some regions of the world that were facing extreme malnutrition due to famine, there now exists obesity epidemics. This has not been the only unintended consequence that has come from the use of these fertilizers.

Only some of the synthetic nitrogen stays in the soil, the rest is either re-released into the air, or into the water. Irrigation and soil run-off carries the nitrogen far from the farm fields. Nitrogen pollution in the water feeds blooms of algae that cloud the water, reducing the amount of sunlight that can reach plant life; which affects the entire food chain, killing all life below. As the vegetation dies and rots, it pulls oxygen out of the water. This affects both fresh water systems and oceans. Roughly 1.5 million tons of fixed nitrogen flow into the Baltic Sea north of Germany every year, making it one of the most polluted marine ecosystems on earth, and collapsing a once thriving cod-fishing trade. The Great Barrier Reef, Mediterranean and Black Seas are also showing effects of this pollution. The largest area of nitrate affected waters is the dead zone, off the coast of Louisiana in the US. It is an area the size of the state of New Jersey, and growing. This dead zone is one of more than 150 dead zones that have been identified around the world.

The very material that was celebrated as a substance that could end world hunger is contributing to the death of thousands of life forms that were once available food sources. Meanwhile, the use of these fertilizers in combination with mono cropping, has contributed to the processed foods that are often implicated as a cause of obesity. Furthermore, repeated application of nitrogen fertilizers strips the soil itself, making it less able to absorb water, contributing to droughts, mudslides and floods. Healthy soil is able to hold more greenhouse gasses than depleted soil. The less healthy the soil, the more carbon is released into the air.

When Crooke’s made his dire warning back in 1898, there were several factors that he failed to take into account. For instance, he failed to acknowledge the role that mono-cropping of nitrogen greedy plants, such as wheat and corn, play in reduced soil fertility. He didn’t consider the inefficiency of favoring annual food crops, which must be replanted year after year, over perennial ones, which can thrive for many years, and increase yields over time. He failed to take into account that with the increased industrialization and urbanization, comes a reduction in available land for growing food; and a higher cost to ship food from afar. To suggest that synthetic nitrogen is the one and only solution is limiting, to say the least.

Even Bosch himself was able to recognize the paradox inherent in his machine. In 1921, after an explosion at one of the original Haber-Bosch plants killed hundreds of workers, Bosch spoke candidly at the memorial, “It was precisely the stuff meant to provide nourishment and life to millions…the stuff which we produced and distributed for years, which suddenly proved itself to be a cruel enemy for reasons we do not know. It has put our work to ashes.”

To create new methods of stabilizing the nitrogen in our soil, while being mindful of the impact that is sustained by the entire ecosystem, will be numbered among the great challenges of our generation.

Part two will explore the effects of GMO seeds.

References:

1. Hager, Tomas. The Alchemy of Air. Three Rivers Press. New York, 2008

2. www.wikipedia.org/nitrogenfertilizer

3. www.washingtonpost.com

4. www.350.org

There are many reasons why people choose their home. One might look for the standard “location, location, location,” while others continue to search for the special place that just “feels” like home. But as economic strain and ecological shift become key factors in how we choose our lives, more of us are beginning to take the alternate route. This path is not new, but one that simply guides us back to our roots; to a place where alternative energy, green home design and sweat equity thrive.

That is what two families, who are local to our region, decided to do. One family spent over two years constructing their straw bale home; where the other focused energies on giving back: dedicating 160 acres to Mother Earth. Both families are living off the grid, in country settings that are “close enough” to town. Their stories are different, but share the same voice overall: change.

Teresa Howell, single mother of two, lives with her youngest daughter in Winnemucca, Nevada. She and her family built the first straw bale home in Humboldt County. With a goal of going completely off grid, this English teacher at Great Basin College is doing just that.

After selling her “city” home in Winnemucca, Teresa set out to make a life on the five acre parcel that is four miles from town and six miles from her work. With diligent research, she decided that a straw bale house would fit her budget and the lifestyle she was seeking.

Together, the Howell family spent evenings, weekends and entire school breaks building their home. They worked on numerous projects including installing insulation and the interior plaster walls. With a combination of family initiative, friends and contractors, the home was complete in two and a half years.

To insure the stability of her investment, Teresa had the home engineered and followed the Nevada permit and inspection process. She also paid a little more for upgrades in her home including a metal roof, knotty pine, good windows and slate flooring. In the end, she found that the idea of a straw bale home being “incredibly cheap to build” was a myth. The total cost was close to one hundred thirty thousand dollars.

“Before I started the process, I talked to several banks. I was told that although they wouldn’t give me a construction loan, they’d finance me once I was finished,” Teresa commented. She believes that the housing market collapse created a problem, as she was still not able to get a loan in the end.

As Teresa explained the financial discrepancies, the positive outcome of her undertaking was still present. She described working with her daughters and how you could tell who did what, as they used their own hands to work and move the plaster on the wall. It is apparent that the effort these women put into their home ties them to it, almost on a spiritual level. “I bet I bled into every single piece of this house,” Teresa said.

Now, there is a 25 ft by 30 ft straw bale home—with a 20 ft by 26 ft interior, plus loft—sitting on that five acre parcel that is just four miles from town and six miles from work. Teresa has large gardens, where she plants a variety of fruits and vegetables. Her electricity is completely off grid, coming from what she calls her “juice box.” She does not own a vehicle, but rather hoofs or bikes into work on her commuter bicycle. Her next plan: chickens, a goat or two and to not buy groceries for one year; relying solely on her gardens.

Howell “Post and Beam” Straw Bale Home Stats:

Exterior: 25 ft by 30 ft

Interior: 20 ft by 26 ft, plus loft (20 foot ceiling)

Foundation: Concrete, 3” blue foam insulation (natural heating)

Square Footage: approx 900 sq ft

Roof: gable, 7/12 pitch – solar panels mounted on top

Energy: Solar, back-up generator (propane), propane hot water, dryer and cook stove

Heat/Cooling: JOTUL Wood Stove for heating the entire home (firebox is 16” L X 12” W), strategic placement of windows, sun Roofs

Water: Well (110 volt AC pump)

More than twenty years ago, Janaia Donaldson and Robin Mallgren, of Yuba Gals Independent Media, chose to move away from mainstream and create a self-sustainable life for their family. During a time when “going green” was not a current fad or trend, these women placed value in connecting with nature.

It was during the early eighties when Janaia and Robin met at Xerox, where they both worked. Janaia was working as a graphic designer and Robin as a software programmer. After a few years, and reading a powerful book on the binding role that finance plays in one’s life, they felt a “higher calling,” they recalled. Janaia created a goal to become debt free. She envisioned complete financial independence. Robin tied her calling to nature; she grew up in Olympia National Forest and truly felt complete in a natural setting. Given the fact that they lived in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time, both of these goals seemed more idealistic than realistic. But after a few years of planning, living frugally and finding the perfect spot, the couple bought a 40 acre parcel of land in the mountains near Nevada City, CA, known as Lone Bobcat Woods.

Starting with 40 acres and a web-work of trees and nature, they began the work that was needed to build a home, a life. While doing so, they were able to keep their jobs with Xerox and work remotely. This provided the financial means to purchase land, a home and all of the materials for their projects.

Ultimately, they wanted two things: 1) to use renewable and self-sustaining resources and 2) to keep the land that surrounded their home undeveloped. This would also tie into financial freedom, as living off-grid is much less expensive in the long run.

Instead of building a home, they chose a manufactured home; with a few added eco-friendly designs of their choosing. This gave them more time to focus on implementing the first part of the plan. Robin and Janaia put their own sweat and tears into this project, as they dug trenches, laid telephone and electric wiring, hauled rocks, helped with the water and natural gas (propane) lines, etc. Over time, they added two porches, a deck and a three-car garage, and did so with many salvaged materials.

Within one year of purchasing their first parcel of land, Janaia and Robin purchased another parcel that was connected to theirs; and within five more years, the couple purchased two more parcels, making a combined total of 160 acres of land.

Far beyond the fact that these women purchased land and built a life on it, based on self-sufficiency, is the achievement they made with nature. After purchasing and paying off the land, within less than ten years, they were able to create conservation easements, working with a land trust to do so. While Janaia and Robin hold the title, or possess the main ownership of the land, the land trust they are working with holds the conservation easements that prevent development and old growth clearing. This means that no matter what happens to Janaia, Robin or the land trust, the easement is permanently attached to the deed of the land. It is now and forever, protected land.

In the early 2000’s, Janaia and Robin stopped working for Xerox. Since then, they have been living debt-free and find financial support with their current online television series, “peakmoment.tv.” The series focuses on use of peak oil, industrialization collapse, environmental concerns, living simply, financial freedom, etc.

After making the shift to an independent lifestyle years ago, and watching what was happening in the world, they wanted to provide others with the knowledge they acquired. Equipped with a mobile studio in their RV, they travel the US, conducting interviews with authors, researchers, scientists and so on. Their current plans: to continue traveling for most of the year and rent what they call their “big house” in Lone Bobcat Woods, beginning this summer. It will not only insure that their home is taken care of during their travels, it will also serve as a learning tool for others. Helping yet another family connect to their roots.

Janaia and Robin’s Lone Bobcat Woods “Big House” Stats:

Exterior: 24 ft by 44 ft

Interior: 2 bed, great room and 1 bath

Square Footage: approx 1156 sq ft

Energy: 24 Solar Panels, AC Inverter, DC (fridge and water pump) propane range and water heater, back-up generator

*An average American household uses 35kwh/day, where Janaia and Robin use about 3kwh/day.

Heat/Cooling: Wood stove (they use to cook on as well), homemade insulation coverings for each window, sky light in every room

Water: 235 ft Well (DC pump)

Energy Savers: Turn off the battery inverter at night. Hang clothes to dry outside in the spring and inside during the winter. Small, non-essential electric appliances are not needed (microwave, waffle iron, etc).

As we stare into the face of a changing world, we prepare for the worst; while making the best of what we have. Change, however, is inevitable and it is beginning…we are changing the way we spend money, but more importantly, the way we live our lives. Most people were forced into this situation, having to give up their lifestyle due to financial setbacks. But more and more of us are making this decision on our own; choosing to take our lives into our own hands, while breaking through social norms, “tradition” and the cookie-cutter phenomenon.

References:

1. www.peakmoment.tv

2. www.ahouseofstraw.com

3. www.strawbale.com.

4. www.caneloproject.com

Capitalism a Tool for Transformation

Written By Joy Taylor |

Imagine a world where we truly live and do business in integrity with our values.  Imagine a world where the most successful businesses are those that not only turn a large profit but also create positive social and environmental change. Imagine businesses taking the responsibility to transform the planet, to advocate peace, global partnerships and ecological preservation. Imagine companies that promote employee development and family values.

Business is a powerful force on the planet. Can it be used to improve life on earth? Many people blame business for the destruction of the planet and culture. Now, a growing number of eco-commerce advocates are pointing to business as the solution, not the problem.

As a business owner, trainer and consultant, I continue to engage in the conversation that we can create positive change through commerce. Model companies share inspirational stories. Entrepreneurs report that enthusiasm is building as consumers are choosing to vote with their dollars and buy products that support the environment. Green businesses are building loyalty and thriving in today’s market place. Companies that value people and employees develop deep respect and grow in prosperity.

While nonprofits and charities offer part of the solution to global issues, business may have a louder voice, thanks to careful consumers. Greenline Paper Company offers office supplies that are recycled and nontoxic. Ecomall.com is the largest environmental shopping center on line.  And Recycline offers a subscription toothbrush program where members use brushes made of recycled products. Fair Trade coffees and chocolates have become popular commodities that guarantee third world harvesters are getting paid a premium for their efforts. We are saving the planet one purchase at a time.

Amazon Herb Company is another example of this new evolved paradigm in business, offering sustainably harvested wild foods from the Amazon. Working with 14 villages in the upper basin of Peru, a relationship based on mutual respect and trust allows the indigenous people to preserve hundreds of thousands of acres while proving that the Rainforest is more valuable alive than dead. Recent studies show that an acre of Rainforest used for cattle grazing is valued at $60. That same acre used for lumber is worth $400, but when used to sustainably wild-craft herbs, its value increases to $2,400; and still remains intact, as a living and thriving environment.

“The beauty of our company is that we provide people with not only products to improve their lives, but a means to contribute to the preservation of the Rainforest. We use commerce as a powerful tool for positive change in an economically sustainable model,” states John Easterling, founder of Amazon Herb Company.

Ray Anderson, founder, chairman and CEO of Interface, Inc., a billion dollar manufacturer of products for commercial and institutional interiors, commands a unique view of the case for corporate responsibility. His recycled carpet is the best selling in his line of carpets. His factories are building towards total ecological balance. He voluntarily controls toxic wastes and improves standards yearly.  He is leading the way for billion dollar companies to set higher standards.

Other proponents of more evolved business practices include Paul Hawkins, author of Natural Capitalism and The Ecology of Commerce; Paul Newman, who donates 100 percent of profits from Newman’s Own to charities; Daniel Etsy and Winston, authors of Green to Gold; and Laurie Beth Jones, author of The Path: Creating your Mission Statement for Work and Life, who believes that by following our deepest values we can make a positive impact without personal or planetary compromise.

Conscious business is on the rise. You can make a difference by shopping wisely, supporting green business and starting your own enterprises that make our planet a healthy home for all of us and for many generations. As Paul Hawkins writes, “Ironically, business contains our blessing. It must, because no other institution in the modern world is powerful enough to foster the necessary changes.” Use business to our favor. It is not the enemy. Business done correctly is our ally.

References:

1. Hawkins, Paul. Natural Capitalism. Back Bay Books; 1st edition. December, 2008.

2. Hawkins, Paul. The Ecology of Commerce. Harper Paperbacks; Revised edition. October, 2010.

3. Jones, Laurie Beth. The Path: Creating your Mission Statement for Work and Life. Hyperion. August, 1998.

4. Etsy, Daniel; Winston, Andrew. Green to Gold. Wiley; Rev Upd edition. January, 2009

5. www.amazonherb.net

Locally owned businesses reinvest in the local economy at a 60 percent higher rate than chains, and profits generally circulate two to four times in the local economy versus leaving the state as corporate profits and franchise fees.

Consumers have the opportunity to help create a vibrant local economy by purchasing holiday gifts/gift cards and groceries from independent local merchants, and planning holiday meals and parties at locally owned restaurants, cafes, wine bars, casinos, etc.

To identify locally owned businesses, visit www.livelocalrenosparks.com when making purchase decisions, and “choose local first” whenever possible. Work on shopping at locally owned franchises first, at a chain store as a secondary choice, and shop online as a last resort.  Out of state online purchases are the worst options for the local economy, as they create no local jobs or sales tax revenue.

LiveLocal RenoSparks is one of the first in the country to build a free online directory of all locally owned businesses, and the current database includes 2,800 businesses. Local business owners can check the search engine for their free listing, and enter their company information if not already included. The website listing includes a business name, location, phone number, link to business website and search map to location. To help support this program, LiveLocal RenoSparks is building a Co-Op to offer local business owners marketing support, networking opportunities and the latest internet tools designed to help locally owned businesses succeed.

Keep Your Money Home for the Holidays begins the momentum for the “SHIFT 10% in 2011” campaign that encourages citizens to support the community by supporting locally owned businesses. Shifting just 10 percent of spending in RenoSparks from non-locally owned to locally owned businesses can result in over $350 million dollars staying in the local economy, annually. It’s not about politics. It’s about this community, and funding for schools, fire/police departments, roads, parks, libraries and all the things that make Reno/Sparks a great place to live. Remember:

THINK LOCAL. CHOOSE LOCAL. LIVE LOCAL.

References:

1. www.civiceconomics.com/localworks/
2. www.livelocalrenosparks.com/studiessources.htm

For more info, contact Dave at (775) 224-2242 or email: dave@livelocalrenosparks.com.

Find your niche market. It is crucial to know who it is that you intend to attract to your business. Consider what it is people want to buy, not just what you want to sell. Niche markets allow you to focus on meeting the needs of a smaller group of customers without compromising your chance to increase your appeal to a broader market. Successful niche players share a common set of traits. These include a deep understanding of the customers’ needs and the ability to stay engaged with them. The Ideal niche market company consistently produces quality, innovative products and possess a genuine regard for the well-being of both its customers and employees.

Get cash flowing ASAP. You must bring in more cash than you put out. The key is to make sure there is little to no gap between the time you pay for labor and stock inventory and the time you actually get paid. Ideally, you’ll find ways to get money up front and your cash gap will never be an issue. In a professional services business, you can ask for deposits on work up-front, with balances due on delivery. You can do the same in retail, especially on specialty items. Position them as an added value with a way to insure delivery by a specific date.

Keep your costs and expenses low; never pay retail, and look for used or gently used items to furnish your office or retail space. Paying vendors up front gives you leverage for negotiating better prices. Especially in this economic environment, where credit is at a premium, vendors are more willing than ever to find creative ways to finance transactions; a trend that will likely continue over time. Always overestimate expenses and underestimate revenues. Being conservative in your numbers doesn’t mean you are willing to accept those numbers, it just means you are arming yourself with realistic information…

Focus on sales and marketing. In business, nothing happens until a sale is made. From the beginning, you’ll need to find a good way to get leads, convert leads into sales and make sure you keep getting repeat sales from your customers. The way to do this is to find or create a marketing
and sales funnel system that you can work, test, and measure. This should be something that anyone in your company can utilize. Testing and measuring is key to this system. You can’t change what you don’t measure and you can’t tell if a program or strategy is working if you are not faithfully tracking your results.

Your strategy is really very simple. Always be thinking of ways to get more leads, convert those leads into customers, and increase the number of times those customers buy from you. Do any one of those things, while keeping costs down, and you will see more profits. Do all of them and you will see your business really take off!

Don’t discount, add value. Whenever you discount, you are taking money directly out of your pocket and your bottom-line profit. So don’t do it. Instead, create added value propositions all the way up and down your service line. Regardless of the industry, look to hold your price points, increase your margins with low-cost or no-cost extras and any kind of “freemium offerings”. In the end, those little things won’t cost you a lot, but will build up tremendous goodwill and word-of-mouth with your customer base.

Find a Profitable Location. Find a great location that is already frequented by your intended clientele. One way to accomplish this is by surrounding yourself with successful, like-minded business neighbors. It is Important to consider the building space; is it a space that they can build to suit?

Is there ample Parking? Is there a lot of natural light? Is it a convenient location for your customers? For example, are there good restaurants or other nearby businesses that might compliment what your own business has to offer?

There are no mysteries in business or in life; there’s just information you don’t know yet. Prepare as well as you can, knowing you will need to make changes and corrections. When equipped with the right strategy, you can cut time and get to your ultimate destination:
enjoying your own successfully thriving business.

Brad Sugars is the founder and chairman of ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business coaching firm. His “Business is Booming” tour kicks off in North America in March, and will cover 52 cities in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit businessisboomingtour.com.

Workable space means efficiency, productivity, synergy and health. It is often necessary to transform your existing office space to meet these important goals and create these aspects of workable space. Having the ability to modify the space to your needs is similar to making a house a home. For business owners who are looking for a space and location to start a business or expand, there is much to consider to be profitable.

Workable space contributes to the bottom-line of your business because when your people are healthy and happy, they will contribute more, you and your employees excel, and your business will thrive. According to the World Resource Institute indoor environments have a tremendous effect on occupant well-being and functioning, especially in regards to light and color, the sense of enclosure, privacy, access to window views, a connection to nature, sensory variety and personal control over environmental conditions.

When creating a workable business space psychological well-being is another major factor to health and happiness. Consider what positively impacts employees ability to be effective at work by reducing stress, creating job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Workspaces that are designed in terms of practicality, functionality, safety, productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness can give an overall sense of ease and pleasure to the environment. Valuable business outcomes of health and happiness then overflow to customers and other business partnerships and relationships.

Synergy is created for your business when other like-minded businesses, with a similar target market are located nearby. If a customer goes to the mall and buys a new dress and then walks past a shoe store just two stores away she is more likely to consider the need of a pair of shoes for that new dress. These businesses have purposely located themselves together to make it easy for customers to find similar and complementary services and products, which directly impacts their bottom-line. Think about the kinds of businesses that compliment your offerings. Also, the demographics (knowing the social statistics of the populations you are targeting) of your business play a major part in your business’s ability to naturally network. Through strategic location you can grow your business.

We are in a time when businesses need to educate themselves and have flexibility to incorporate more evolved practices, working with space that can be transformed to include healthy business development and practices. Work with commercial properties, landlords and other businesses who are like-minded and willing to include modifications of space to meet your requirements. Consider the importance of demographics, your location to surround yourself with like-minded businesses creating a network of similar businesses for your customers and your bottom-line.

References:

1. www.wbdg.org/design/promote_health.php
2. World Resources Institute utilizes a mixture of elements to provide a healthy work environment.
3. www.wikipedia.org

For more info, contact Connolly Properties: Chad Connolly (775) 233-2473 or Matt Connolly 1-800-455-1081

by June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

It is so important to become aware of our financial mental programming, those beliefs around money, which may be subconscious, but keep surfacing in our lives in dysfunctional ways.

What are your beliefs about money? It‘s vital to become consciously aware of them, because until we do, they can sabotage us and paralyze our dreams and goals. Most mental programs were laid down in childhood, and if repeated often became a part of our belief systems, whether they made any sense or not. If those ideas were dysfunctional, we will re-create them unconsciously in self-defeating scenarios throughout our lives.

Today, more than ever, there is a need for inner work focused directly on financial therapy, in order to reduce financial stress and improve financial health. A financial counselor will give lists of things to improve. Unfortunately, they are not trained to address hidden money beliefs.

Money beliefs may be sabotaging our best intentions around finances. Most people are not aware of their “mental tapes,” they live their lives in a significant amount of worry caused by frustration of consciously wanting to be responsible. The situation becomes worse if your spouse has different money programming than you. In fact 72% of Americans report that money is their number one stressor, ahead of work, children or health, becoming the most common cause of family disagreements.

Money beliefs are generational, and beliefs drive our behaviors. If your spouse internalized the belief “one has to work hard for money” and “it is not easy to come by”, and you have the programming “money is to be spent, not saved”…there will be considerable conflict in your family.

Write down your thoughts or statements about topics on the rich versus the poor, marriage, work, relatives, happiness, borrowing, saving, love, budgets, employers, etc. Then circle the five statements that trigger the strongest feelings. Then determine why you believe and feel that way and whether or not those beliefs are serving you. These processes bring awareness to what is hidden. It is satisfying to finally have an “ah ha” moment and understand why you think and do certain things. This is the first step to making a change. The second step is to obtain knowledge that encourages financial responsibility, and third is to be willing to change.

The term “retail therapy” is well known and joked about. We engage in retail therapy (buying things we can’t afford or don’t need) when we’re sad, stressed, angry or unhappy. Using instant gratification to temporarily feel better is unconsciously learned behavior from childhood.

In these unsure times it’s imperative to become conscious of dysfunctional childhood programming around money. One should stay abreast to help your own family feel secure and to function happily.

Is it time to understand your behavior regarding money? Yes, now is the time to address subconscious programming and the core reasons surrounding money issues and therefore receive much needed emotional and financial relief.

If you want to change your life around finances, here are some resources:

• Work with a trained hypnotherapist to receive a financial therapy session and change core beliefs around money issues.
• Work with a financial planner to organize your current finances and create future strategies.
• Work with a life coach.

References:

1. Wealth Beyond Reason by Bob Dole; Trafford Publishing (2006)
2. A Happy Pocket Full of Money by David Cameron Gikandi; Xlibris Corporation (2008)

For more info, contact June Milligan, specializing in helping people learn how to let go of unproductive thinking (775) 786-9111.

by David Branby |

People often ask me how much they should allocate for marketing. For many years, the rule of thumb was 2-3 percent of revenues for large companies (think Procter & Gamble), and 5-10 percent of revenues for small businesses, especially start-ups. Today, there are many exceptions to this rule. Thanks to the Internet, search and data-driven advertising such as Facebooks ads, plus the steady or somewhat reduced prices for traditional media these days, you can be a bit more discerning about your marketing investments and still do pretty well.

I always like to have people consider the value of their time when making some of their spending decisions. For example, if you or your designated marketing person has to come up to speed on Google Analytics, Search, Adwords or SEO, you are looking at dozens of hours learning about these great new tools. In my mind, all that futzing with analysis and keywords and conversion rates is a re-allocation of the most valuable commodity you have: your precious time. Nevertheless, if you are going to send a positive message to the marketplace and do a lot of your marketing yourself, start with a simple — yet strategic — plan.

First, figure out who the “heavy users” of your product are, or who they are likely to be. For example, if I were going to sell cigarettes (not that I would, but bear with me), I would go after people like Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. If I was selling beer, I would go after people like John Belushi’s character in the movie Animal House. The point is, 20 percent of your buyers (your “heavy users”) buy 80 percent of your goods or services, so focus on that 20 percent.

Next, figure out what your message is, and stay with it. A little “power copy” helps. In the words of ad great Jim Jordan, “the heart and the power of advertising is…a few words so skillfully targeted, so clear in their positioning, so vivid in their articulation and so memorable in their identification with a given brand…that they become people’s principal reason for buying the brand.” Think “When it rains, it pours.” (written in 1914) for Morton’s salt; “A diamond is forever.” (written in 1947) for DeBeers; and “You can do it. We can help.” (written a few years ago) for The Home Depot.

The last point is to keep it simple, and fine-tune as you go. Work closely with your media representative to tweak your message, and keep it benefit-oriented. As shallow as it sounds, we all have our own self-interest at heart most of the time, so appeal to that. Talk to real customers, and ask them why they buy from you. Whether you use a testimonial or simply write your appeals using the language your customers use, they will ring true to like-minded people, and your time and investment in marketing your business will be profitably spent.

I was talking to my favorite yoga instructor this week about what constitutes healthy business in times like these, and her take on it mirrored my own belief: business is always hard. Not surprisingly, in times like these, business is really hard. So the first rule of healthy business today is to take good care of yourself. That means eating right — because stress releases cortisol in our bodies, which makes us crave carbohydrates and fat. It also means nurturing yourself with adequate exercise and fresh air. It means getting plenty of sleep, so you have the energy to stay optimistic when everything seems to be hammering you. You can also counter some of the “fight or flight” urges that stress and anxiety bring about by doing simple actions that send calming signals to your body: Driving in the slow lane instead of the fast lane. Repeating the mantra that you are not alone; everyone is feeling the pain of this weak economy. Count your blessings, because however pinched you feel, someone else is hurting even more. And caretaking every moment by being mindfully in it, because modern neuro science proves you think more clearly and make better decisions when you are in the moment.

Having said all this, I’ll be the first to admit (and my employees will tell you, in five-part harmony, with feeling), that I am awful at managing stress. But the simple message is, I am trying, and that is my wish for you, too. Drink the chamomile tea, take a walk, say positive affirmations, commit a random act of kindness, do whatever it takes. We will climb out of this recession and we will be stronger because of it.

Speaking of being stronger business-wise, do not forget to market, market, market to let people know you are running your business. Everyone in business is keeping a close watch on spending, but consumers are still buying (they’re just watching their pennies, too) and they still need to know what you’ve got, what it can do for them and where to find it. So, do SEO, paid search and pay-per-click for your web site. Take advantage of historically low printing prices to re-do your brochures and sales collateral. And drive people to your web site, blog and social media sites by advertising. It is still the way brands are built, and a recent study shows that magazines have the highest sales per time-spent ratio in mass media these days. I am a big lover of magazines, for the content and for the ads, and I have a stack that I savor on the weekends with a cup of tea and my cat on my lap. I am inclined to think, and I know from my own experience, that when I am calm and leafing through a magazine, I spend more time really reading over the ads and collecting impressions that inform my buying decisions. Think about your own consumer behavior, calmly and serenely, and apply your intuitive knowledge of human behavior to your marketing behavior for healthy results.

References:

1. Stress Eating and the Cortisol Connection, Jane Harrison, R.D., Staff Nutritionist, myOptumHealth, 9/8/08.
2. Oprah Magazine, May 2009.
3. MPA, Magazines Deliver Most Ad Value per Minute, June 2009.

For more info, contact David Branby, specializing in marketing and affordable green printing, at (775) 323-2444.

Jungian Dreamwork Series:

Written by Andy Drymalski, EdD |

Just as the projection of one’s shadow (the disowned part of our personality) is a fundamental process in the psychology of people, it is an aspect of the psychology of groups of people. Like the individual, groups are organized around a certain identity and purpose. This identity is the foundation of the group’s persona. It is their understanding of who they are and of their role within the larger community. Although we like to think of ourselves as being independent and freethinking, the fact is that there is a very strong tendency to fall in line–like cells in a body–with the prevailing psychology of our “group.” A powerful example of this involves the country of Germany following its defeat in the First World War. Within a year of the war’s end, Carl Jung observed what he called “a peculiar disturbance” in the unconscious of his German patients “which could not be ascribed to their personal psychology.” He went on to explain, “the tide that rose in the unconscious after the First World War was reflected in individual dreams, in the form of collective, mythological symbols which expressed primitivism, violence, cruelty: in short, all the powers of darkness. When such symbols occur in a large number of individuals and are not understood, they begin to draw these individuals together as if by magnetic force, and thus a mob is formed. Its leader will soon be found in the individual who has the least resistance, the least sense of responsibility and, because of his inferiority, the greatest will to power.

He will let loose everything that is ready to burst forth, and the mob will follow with the irresistible force of an avalanche.”

Of course, Germany found its new leader in Adolf Hitler, a man whose drive to power was fueled by an unconscious sense of inferiority. But Hitler could not have ignited the conflagration he did had there not been a corresponding psychology within the nation itself. Indeed, we could say that Germany–stinging from its humiliation in WWI–was itself suffering from an inferiority complex. Unable, or unwilling, to accept their country’s defeat with humility and as an opportunity for learning and growth, many Germans instead nursed a compensating drive to power and thirst for global re-assertion. When sufficient numbers had rejected their sense of failure, vulnerability and human weakness, it was inevitable that these attributes would be projected upon others. The “others,” in this case, were the Jews. The Jews became the rejected shadow of a power-hungry nation, as the split in Hitler’s personality reflected and resonated with a similar split in the psychology of his country. Individually and collectively, the German people sought to exterminate what they refused to acknowledge as a part of themselves. Although some people in Germany were conscious enough to see through the madness that was unfolding after WWI, their numbers and resources were insufficient to contain the psychic epidemic that had been unleashed through the process of projection.

The atrocities of WWII are sometimes used as examples of the moral depths to which humanity can sink, a reminder of our capacity for evil. In Nazi Germany one can see how human/personal evil (e.g., greed, arrogance, revenge), arising from man’s egocentric nature, can become the conduit of a more transpersonal and autonomous force of destruction, what depth psychology refers to as “archetypal evil.” Jung recognized a psychopathic force within the psyche and universe, which challenges and attempts to undermine life’s creative and healing energies.

Perhaps especially in the New Age movement, there is a tendency to minimize and deny the dark side of human psychology. Although most of us readily accept the reality of deadly viruses and cancers, and of deadly creatures such as sharks and alligators, we sometimes have difficulty accepting that the psyche–which is itself a natural entity–has its own array of predators and diseases. It is as if we want to believe that if we just embrace our “lightness,” our limitlessness, our sacredness, our oneness, and the power of our good intentions, then our darkness and that of the world will just fall away.

In this regard the following story is instructive. A woman had a dream that helped her to make sense of the suicide of a male acquaintance. In the dream she and the man’s wife (her friend) are standing on the shore of a lake. The man is waterskiing back and forth in front of them, smiling, waving and showing off. Unfortunately, he is also entirely unaware of the hungry sharks swimming close behind him. If ignorance (unconsciousness) is bliss, it can also be quite costly. Jungian psychology cautions against a naive understanding of the psyche; a one-sided identification with the positive aspects of our spiritual nature only sets us up to be unconscious instruments, or victims, of its darkness. Jungian psychology encourages an objective awareness of both the light and dark within ourselves and life.

Two films that grapple with the problem of archetypal evil are “The Terminator” and “No Country for Old Men.” In The Terminator a young woman must battle a cyborg (a robot with human skin), which has come from the future–a time when machines rule the world–to kill her. The cyborg is virtually indestructible and, like evil, has an uncanny ability for regenerating itself. Carefree and naive in her view of the world, the heroine has a difficult time accepting her guardian’s warning that the terminator “can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it will not stop, ever, until you are dead.” Her denial is understandable, to an extent; who wants to acknowledge such a force within the universe? We think to ourselves, “Well, I have a conscience, certainly everyone must.” And yet, this psychopathic force does flow through society–through back alleys and boardrooms alike. It also flows quite freely through certain individuals in society, and, thankfully, much less freely through most of the rest of us.

The movie warns of the dehumanization of people in an increasingly production-oriented and materialistic world. It suggests that we lose our souls and become machines, when we buy into the notion that quotas and material wealth should take precedence over human relationship. Corporations and companies that over-emphasize profit ultimately pressure their employees to become automatons (which, of course, are easier to manipulate). But perhaps more insidious are the ways that we turn ourselves into machines by placing the values of the ego over those of the soul. We crush our individuality and turn ourselves into clones when we over-conform to the ideals of society at the expense of our inner nature. The movie indicates that consciousness must replace naiveté if one is to survive the onslaught of the psychopath.

In “No Country for Old Men” we encounter a Vietnam veteran who stumbles across a case of money from a drug deal gone bad, an emotionless killer who wants the money back, and a jaded sheriff who reluctantly tracks the killer. The killer is a symbol of archetypal evil, and the Vietnam vet, who is a hunter and expert marksman, symbolizes the way we usually try to deal with evil. Our ego does not comprehend the nature of the force it is dealing with, and we return aggression with aggression. If you are physically attacked, you need to fight back, but physical aggression is not the usual way we encounter evil in life. Most evil is far more subtle and does not wear a nametag. The encounters occur less often on darkened city streets, and more often in the dimly lit corridors of our own mind. They are the thoughts and attitudes that, like a thief in the night, steal awareness of the value and deeper purpose of our lives.

In the movie the killer executes one man by shooting him in the forehead with an air gun used for killing cattle in a slaughterhouse. The implication is that, when it comes to archetypal evil, most of us have the insight of a cow (perhaps it is time to separate from the herd). The movie ends with the sheriff’s recollection of a dream about his deceased father (a former sheriff). “We were both back in older times an’ I was a horseback [riding] going through the mountains of a night, going through this pass in the mountains. It was cold and there was snow on the ground and he rode past me and kept on going. Never said nothing going by, just rode on past. He had his blanket wrapped around him and his head down. When he rode past I seen he was carrying fire in a horn the way people used to do. I could see the horn from the light inside of it, ‘bout the color of the moon. And in the dream I knew that he was going on ahead. He was fixin’ to make a fire somewhere out there in all that dark and cold. And I knew that whenever I got there, he’d be there.” The dream (and movie) tries to provide some guidance for dealing with archetypal evil. The campfire and the light in the horn are symbols of consciousness, a level of consciousness that we have yet to achieve. The father’s preparation of a campfire and the expectation of their reunion, underlines the importance of human relationship to our lives. Consciousness and love provide some protection and warmth on life’s dark nights, when the cold wind blows.

References:

1. Jung, C.G. ed. Man and his Symbols. Dell Publishing Co., Inc. New York 1964.

2. Sanford, J.A. The Strange Trial of Mr. Hyde: A New Look at the Nature of Human Evil. Harper and Row, San Francisco 1987.

3. Stein, M. Jung on Evil. Selected writings of Carl Jung. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ 1995.

For more info, contact Dr. Andy Drymalski, Reno Psychologist at (775) 786-3818.

Reduce the Impact of Market Volatility

Written by Steve Lindquist |

Recent market swings have millions of retirees and pre-retirees seeking safe places to stash what is left of their nest egg. Some may even be contemplating indefinitely postponing retirement or re-entering the workforce to help rebuild their retirement assets.

A Possible Scenario

Emily, 66, has $500,000 of retirement savings. Following what she believed to be a sound retirement plan, she had been covering her basic living expenses through a combination of social security, pension and annual portfolio withdrawals of four percent ($20,000). Emily chose a four percent withdrawal rate because it was considered a safe rate to provide her with the income she needed, while making sure her money lasted as long as possible.

Recent economic turbulence has caused Emily’s portfolio value to decrease to $400,000. This means if Emily continues to withdraw just four percent, she will only receive $16,000 of income –$4,000 less than she had been receiving. Emily cannot cover all her basic living expenses on less income, if she continues to take the $20,000/year – this now represents five percent of her portfolio’s value – she could deplete her portfolio and run out of money.

An alternative to her current strategy would be for Emily to purchase a Lifetime Income Annuity (LIA) 1, which will guarantee her an annual income that she can’t outlive.

By using only $250,000 of her savings, Emily can buy a LIA, which will pay out approximately $22,300 per year 2 based on her age, sex, and the options she chooses. In addition, since the payout is guaranteed, Emily’s retirement income is safe from future stock market swings and can never be exhausted; inflation3 is also taken into consideration.

Using the LIA, Emily is guaranteed to receive the income she needs every month to cover her basic expenses, plus she can decide to spend the remaining $150,000 of her savings however she chooses. No matter how the financial markets perform in the coming years, Emily can have peace of mind, ensuring she can enjoy her retirement.

References:

1. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122980967456224077.html

2. http://www.newyorklife.com/cda/0,,17551,00.html?cmp=OTC-HPArticlesJan2309&att=retirementincome

3. http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/insurance/Extend-Your-Retirement-Savings-19628/

For more info, contact Steve Lindquist, Financial Services Professional at (775) 325-2225.

Licensed in NV and CA. (CA Ins. Lic. # 0G30574) Registered Representative for  NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency, at 50 W. Liberty St, Ste. 500, Reno, NV 89501 775.323.0751

1 Issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (a Delaware Corporation), a wholly owned subsidiary of New York life Insurance Company. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuer.

2 This example is hypothetical and is intended for illustrative purposes only. This payout rate is based on a Single Life Lifetime Income Annuity policy for a 66-year old female, Life Only, before

tax. Payout rates as of November 2008 for payouts starting November 2009.

3 The policy owner must elect the Annual Increase Option at the time of purchase and be at least 59 1/2 at the time of the first payment.

This material is for informational purposes only. Neither New York Life nor its agents provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal or accounting professional before making any decisions.

Payout, may be in one of several forms:
• Straight Life Annuity – You receive an income for the rest of your life. However, no payments are made to anyone, even your dependents, after your death. This is sometimes called a “pure” annuity. This type of annuity is often recommended for a person who needs the maximum amount of income and either has no dependents or has taken care of them through other means.

• Joint and Survivor Annuity: Payouts are made for as long as either you or your designated survivor lives.
• Installment Refund Annuity: Payouts are somewhat less than a straight life annuity, but they will at least equal the amount paid in premiums, regardless of when you die; any refund is paid to your beneficiary in installments.
• Life Annuity with Period Certain: Payouts are made to you for your life. However, this type of annuity features a “guarantee” provision. This means that if you die within a certain period after you start receiving income, usually 10 or 20 years, your beneficiary will receive regular payments for the balance of that period.

Annuities have many different features; there are a number of factors to examine before you buy. For example you should ask if there are charges for early withdrawals. Are there gradually decreasing withdrawal charges over a period of years?
Annuities provide an important retirement savings vehicle for many Americans. Generally, annuities are available as either variable or fixed contracts, and there are expenses and fees associated with the contracts.
A variable annuity is a long-term investment vehicle used for retirement savings. Assets allocated to your chosen investment divisions are subject to market risks and may fluctuate in value.

A fixed annuity is also used for retirement savings, but has no corresponding investment divisions. Funds in a fixed annuity contract are allocated to a fixed account with a competitive interest rate, and that money can accumulate over time, providing a nest egg from which you can withdraw. Some immediate fixed annuities can provide you with a guaranteed income stream, as well.
Please note that the guarantee associated with an annuity product is subject to the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Review the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Agent Licensed in NV and CA Ins Lic # 0G30574, New York Life Insurance Company and Registered Representative for NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency at 50 W. Liberty St, Ste 500, Reno, NV 89501 775.323.0751

To obtain a copy of the prospectus, please contact your NYLIFE Securities LLC Registered Representative, or call 1-800-598-2019. Investors are asked to consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment carefully before investing. Both the product prospectus and the underlying fund prospectuses contain this and other information about the product and underlying investment options. Please read the prospectuses carefully before investing.

References:

1.  www.newyorklife.com/cda/0,3254,10468,00.html
2.  www.newyorklife.com/cda/0,3254,8951,00.html
3. www.newyorklife.com/cda/0,3254,8952,00.html

Get To Know Your MPG

Written by James Kliesch |

Whether you’re buying a new car or nursing an ’89 Civic, there are numerous steps we all can take that will have real and lasting impacts, starting today. First, walk, bike or take mass transit whenever possible. Simply put, not driving is a significant way to save oil and money, and reduce your carbon footprint.

Second, for those necessary trips, change your driving behavior and keep your car “physically fit” through regular maintenance. And once you’ve made those changes, make fuel economy a game: The goals and rewards are to save money and reduce your consumption of oil and creation of greenhouse gases. The key is to monitor your vehicle’s mpg regularly. What causes it to go up or down? Does it change in different seasons? With different tires?

Tracking your fuel economy will empower you to make a difference and save money — two reasons to feel good, even when you have to buy gas.

Third, when it comes time to shop for your next vehicle, seek out a model with the best available fuel economy. Even if you can’t make the leap to a hybrid, a handful of new conventional models (such as the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris) are affordable and designed with efficiency in mind. If your needs lie elsewhere, remember that most traditional vehicles are available in a range of engine and transmission options. Smaller engines typically offer a few extra mpg over larger engines. Similarly, two-wheel-drive transmissions will usually do a little better than four-wheel-drive versions. Also, when possible, choose vehicle trims with fuel-efficient technologies such as continuously variable transmission with cylinder deactivation.

Furthermore, understand that even an incremental mpg improvement is nothing to sneer at, especially for vehicles with low fuel economies. Choosing a truck that averages 16 mpg rather than 14 mpg will save as much gasoline annually as opting for a 51 mpg car rather than a 35 mpg car. Fourth, lead the “drive” for better mpg by contacting your congressional representatives and insisting on a meaningful increase in fuel economy standards. Point out that the numbers used for CAFE are a far cry from what we actually get on the road.

Moreover, we’re long overdue for a significant mpg boost. Today’s average new vehicle is less efficient than the average new vehicle of 1982, in large part because fuel economy standards barely increased over the past couple decades. Boosting CAFE standards has been a notoriously difficult sell in Washington. “It’s been a little bit like pushing a Chevy Suburban uphill with your nose,” says Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club global warming program and an 18-year veteran of the CAFE struggle. That may be changing. Over the last few years, devastating hurricanes, Middle East instability and gasoline price spikes have brought oil back to the forefront of the national consciousness. At press time, there was new momentum in Congress for the notion of mandating better fuel economy, but the outcome was unclear at best. So the fight is far from over; voicing your opinion will help your representative understand the importance of this issue. Ultimately, taking a personal interest in your fuel economy is one of the easiest and most important ways to make a difference. The more you pay attention, the more you’ll find yourself seeking ways to improve the results. Plus, it’s nice to reap the rewards of high mpg when gas prices are on the rise, as fuel-efficient vehicles offer “insurance” against volatility in the gasoline market. Yet regardless of whether gas prices level off or skyrocket to $5 a gallon, continued efforts to improve fuel economy will play an important role in mitigating global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. So get that tuneup, check the tires, fill the tank, zero the trip meter and see how high you can push your mpg. It’s an open road, and you’re the driver.

Not everyone is in the market for a new vehicle. But that shouldn’t stop you from improving the fuel economy of the car or truck in your driveway. Below are a few standard maintenance tips, and the percentage improvement they can have on your vehicle’s mpg, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. For more information, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.

• Replacing a dirty air filter — up to 10%

• Getting an engine tuneup — average of 4%

• Keeping tires inflated to proper pressure — up to 3%

• Using the recommended motor oil grade — up to 2%

To keep your mpg in tip-top shape, seek out a set of “low rolling resistance” tires when it’s time to replace your treads. Most replacement tires, unlike those that come with a new vehicle, will worsen your fuel economy. Low rolling resistance tires, though, are designed to minimize energy loss that occurs when tires deform and re-form as they rotate down the road. According to Green Seal, a nonprofit group that provides environmental certifications for products, opting for a set of low rolling resistance tires can reduce  your annual gasoline use by up to 6 percent. While low rolling resistance tires cost slightly more than conventional replacements, they’ll save a typical driver between $75 and $100 in gas annually — covering  the additional cost in well under a year.

For more information and a list of specific tires, visit www.greenseal.org/resources/reports.cfm and click on “tires, low rolling resistance.”

How to Calculate Your Fuel Economy

from MotherEarth News, by John Rockhold

Even if you hate math, you can easily calculate your car or truck’s fuel economy, which is the first step to improving it. Plus, monitoring your mpg will make you more aware of what influences fuel-efficiency and signal potential maintenance needs before they become big problems; benefits that will help you save money, now and down the road. Here are the steps for mpg math, plus a few tips.

1. Fill up your tank. But don’t top off — that “extra” gas probably gets sucked back into the station’s tanks. Even if not, the backfire vapors contribute to air pollution.

2. Reset your trip meter to zero. Now you’re on the fuel economy clock.

3. Fill your tank when the time comes. In warmer months, you’ll get more gas for your money in the early morning or late evening, when temperatures are cooler and gas is densest. Cooler conditions also mean less evaporative emissions from pumping gas — smog forms more easily when it’s hottest outside. In winter months, it’s a good idea to keep your tank at least half full for safety and to prevent freezing.

4. Write down the number of gallons it took to fill your tank and the number of miles on your trip meter. A receipt is an easy place to write these down; most already include the number of gallons you bought. Reset the trip meter before you restart the car.

5. Divide the trip miles by the gallons of gas. Bingo, that’s your fuel economy. For example: 293.1 miles ÷ 8.374 gallons = 35 mpg.

6. Keep a small notebook in your car or make a simple spreadsheet on your computer to track the numbers over time. There you could also record basic notes on mpg influences such as speed, tire pressure, driving conditions and use of air conditioning. If you see a dramatic drop from one tank to the next and don’t have an obvious explanation, your vehicle might need maintenance.

Excerpted from Natural Home magazine. Read the full story at www.naturalhomemagazine.com. Copyright 2007 Ogden Publications, Inc.