Switch off the main power source Standby power accounts for up to 10 per cent of home electricity use. Ensuring the mains are switched off could save you about $50 a year.

Too much salt raises your blood pressure and thus increases your risk of heart diseases and stroke. However, avoiding salt may be tough. 75% of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, for example, breakfast cereals, sauces, soups, not to mention chips and other fast foods. The best tip is to read the label and avoid processed food in the first place. Choose unrefined sea salts instead of processed salt.

Many spices like Basils, Coriander, Rosemary and Chilli can be easily grown in your own house with a simple pot and some sunlight. This can cut down the food miles; it’s also much more convenient and could be available anytime you need it. They are not only pleasing to the taste but also pleasing to the eyes. Seeds are available at many supermarkets and organic stores.

1 tonne of recycled paper saves 17 trees

Most packaged juices have been pasteurized which means that while killing all the germs and bacteria, lots of vitamins, minerals and enzymes could be destroyed too. The process of pasteurizing produces much more carbon footprint than eating the fruit fresh or using a simple juice squeezer.

Substituting beans for meat could reduce climate cost by at least 60%. Choose from a variety of beans, peas and lentils and add them to soup, stews and sauces. They are rich in protein, high in fibre and can help to reduce blood cholesterol. Replacing meat with beans also help to reduce risk of having heart diseases, diabetic condition and cancers. For those who love soup, adding raw cashew nuts or soy bean could give your soup a sweet taste without the undesirable health effects of meat.

5 recycled plastic bottles can make 1 square foot of polyester carpet

Research has shown that eating nuts five or more times a week reduce the risk of heart attack by 60%. There are also many other health benefits as nuts contains lots of proteins and micro-minerals. They might be high in fat, but people who eat them regularly are also more likely than those who don’t. Choose those nuts that are organic, baked and unsalted.

Instead of letting your car idle, turn off the ignition. It uses less gas and emits less CO2 to stop and restart your car than to let it run. In fact, idling uses twice as much gas as driving! If every driver in Canada avoided idling for five minutes a day, we could prevent 1.6 million metric tons of CO2 from being emitted.

While stocking up on new fashions at the Great Singapore Sale, remember that last season's trends also required resources such as natural material. Instead of letting these clothes go to waste in your closet, recycle them. Give them away, or sell them at flea markets. Buying second-hand clothes also increases their lifespan, and ensures the resources that went into producing them are stretched further

For those who seek to reduce their calorie intake without the need to give up sweet treats, artificial sweetener seems to be a logical answer. But, while these artificial sweeteners may be more or less calorie-free, they are high in carbon footprint and are full of chemicals that are linked to possible health risks.

SingPost offers residents the choice to opt out from receiving advertising mailers, catalogues and brochures - online. To opt out, call the SingPost hotline on 6845-6210 or e-mail singpost@singpost.com.

A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. Greenhouse gases cause global warming, which studies show will increasingly lead to catastrophic disasters—like droughts, floods, hurricanes, rising sea levels, and disease outbreaks—unless we drastically reduce the amounts emitted into the atmosphere. (GoVeg.com)

Stick with the bar kind. Why it's good for the Earth: Many liquid soaps, though convenient, contain triclosan, an antibiotic agent toxic to wildlife. Why it's good for you: You can easily overdo it with liquid soap, which can dry out your skin and make it susceptible to germs. Plus, antibacterial soaps don't always deliver the germ-killing benefits they promise.

Use double-sided printing, and think twice before printing out e-mail.

Producing one calorie of animal protein requires more than 10 times as much fossil fuel input—releasing more than 10 times the amount of greenhouse gasses—than it takes to produce one calorie of plant protein.

Most white sugar are over-polished, low in nutritional value and high in calories. We absorb most of the sugar from processed food like deserts, soups and drinks especially carbonated drinks. According to USFDA, a person who consumes one carbonated drink a day has 50 times higher risk of getting diabetics compare to a person who consumes only one carbonated drink in a month!

Carbonated Drink accounts for more than 28% of all drinks consumed in the US and more than 25% in Asia. These drinks are very low in nutritional value and high in sugar and potentially harmful chemicals. Even if you recycle the can, the energy and resources to produce a can drink is still incredibly wasteful. So do yourself and earth a favor, next time when you think of a carbonated drink, get a glass of water instead.

Revive your walls with eco-friendly paint. Most conventional paints contain subs­tances called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are bad for your health a­nd contribute to global warming, so opt for low-VOC or VOC-free paint options in­stead. If possible, look for biodegradable paints, which are non-toxic; or recyc­led paints, which reduce landfill waste.

1 recycled aluminium drinks can saves enough energy to run a TV set for 3 hours

Second-hand smoke is a major indoor air pollutant and health hazard. When you quit, both you and your family will lead longer and healthier lives.

Give your body a treat and invest in a good juicer. Fruit and vegetable juices contain loads of minerals, vitamins and enzymes essential for a healthy and vibrant body. In fact, juicing can increase availability of some substances like carotenoids from carrots. From time to time, doing juicing with our Indigo Juicing Program helps one regain youth and get back in shape miraculously within surprising short time. Remember to put in a good blend of fruits & vegetables like Green Apple, Carrot, Lemon, Beet Root and Celery for best results.

Seeds contain the life force that supports healthy cell growth and increases our immunity. Popular seeds like pumpkin and sunflower seeds can be found easily in local health food store. Adding these seeds onto our salads not only increases the nutritional value but also greatly enhances the taste. Try buying the raw seeds and bake or roast them using your own oven. Delicious!

1 recycled plastic bottle saves enough energy to light a 60W bulb for 6 hours

Taking a bus or train cuts individual carbon emissions. Use trip planners available online at www.sbstransit.com.sg to help save travel time. With rising fuel costs, taking public transport not only helps the environment, but it also makes economic sense.