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Summer, 2016
20 Pages
The Hope Botanical Gardens are the largest public green spaces in the Kingston metropolitan region, and are home to Jamaica’s most popular collection of endemic and exotic botanical collections.
HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR CHILD TODAY? Fresh Magazine
Summer, 2016
Switch to using Vinegar around the home instead of toxic chemicals for cleaning
Use eco-friendly baby diapers
Use re-useable shopping bags and gift-bags
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Start with an Energy Audit An energy audit of your home and/or business helps you determine how you are using energy and what steps you need to take to help reduce your energy bill and become more energy-efficient. The energy audit helps you pinpoint where your house is losing energy and what you can do to save money. In addition to providing you with a pathway to greater energy efficiency, a comprehensive energy audit provides you with a ‘big-picture’ view of how a building works. In this era of fluctuating energy prices, volatility in the energy markets and increasing concern about climatechange and the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to it, energy efficiency buildings are enjoying an increased demand. Investing in energy efficiency improvements will ensure that your home fetches a higher resale value. Fresh Magazine
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SAVVY Shopping Why we should “Go Green”
“Go Green” is a catch-all phrase that’s used to simplify the complex task of finding solutions for the multifaceted nature of the environmental problems the world’s population faces. It is meant to signify that the actions needed by individuals and nations to reverse the damage that has been done and continues to be done to the environment, must be geared toward conservation of all the world’s natural resources: land, water, air, and all living things.
In general, behavioral change is difficult to effect. It is easier to convince someone that a change in their personal behaviour will save his/her life than if they are told that the same change in their behaviour will save planet earth. Although both things are not mutually exclusive, human beings are naturally selfish creatures so, as difficult as it has proven to be, throughout time, to get some people to act in their own best interest, nevertheless,
the individual is ground zero for the global imperative to “go green”. This edition of Fresh! Magazine, as usual, is chockfull of useful and consumerfriendly information. Our “Go Green” feature includes some important ‘how to’ information about energy conservation at the micro level, such as the POWER you have at your fingertips as a consumer of energy. At the level of business and industry, we look at the need for insurance coverage for ‘green” products and how Guardian General is leading in this field. In the meantime and as always, remember to shop wisely and well. And tell us about it. We welcome your feedback you.
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Summer, 2016
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The ‘Green’ energyefficiency advantage More and more home-owners are taking advantage of the opportunity to retrofit their homes to make it more energy-efficient and to reduce their overall energy bill. There is no doubt that the global energy imperative for this generation is the transition to renewable energy. However, according to a 2014 report from the global nonprofit, REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century), renewables contributed just 19 percent to humans' global energy consumption and 22 percent to their generation of electricity in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In other words, there is much scope for more consumer buy-in. There is a major ongoing shift in the way consumers as well as industry experts view the importance of renewable energy, as well as the type and amount of energy consumed both at
Fresh Magazine
work and home. Many home-owners and mortgagers are actively retrofitting homes to make them more energy efficient. And as part of this global energy conservation initiative, the Jamaican government launched a US$20M ‘Energy Diversification, Efficiency & Conservation’ programme which forms part of its overall imperative to cut energy costs at both the micro and macro levels. The “go green” imperative is a global effort to combat climate change which scientists agree is largely a man-made problem which must be reversed. Individuals should “go green” because we get to save the earth by preserving natural resources like trees and water sources. We also improve our health by eating more organic food and we save money from reduced home energy costs and other adjustments.
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You have the
P WER Refrigerators:
Stoves:
Make sure refrigerator door seals are intact to prevent cool air from escaping. Use an Energy Timer to turn off freezers and refrigerators at nights when they are not in use. Cut down on the number of times you open the refrigerator - constant opening forces the fridge to work harder to keep things cool.
Turn off the electric burners several minutes before completing the allotted cooking time. Don’t boil water in an open pan - it takes much longer and uses more energy. Use a pressure cooker to reduce cooking times whenever appropriate.
Entertainment Units: Place your TV, DVD players, audio systems and game consoles on a power strip so you can turn them all off with one flick of a switch when not in use. Use the radio instead of the TV if it’s just music you want to hear. Turn off or unplug idle cable boxes - they’re burning energy when you’re not looking. Fresh Magazine
Energy conservation activities are not enough to control your monthly electricity bill. Despite shutting down and turning off, many people still complain that these efforts are not reflected in their bill. But there are additional things that you can do to reduce your energy bill. One of the most effective first steps is: invest in energyefficient appliances and equipment. Here is how you can monitor your daily energy usage:
Bulbs: Refrigeration and lighting are the two areas that account for most of our energy use. Look for opportunities to save in these areas by replacing incandescent or fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs, which can save you thousands in energy costs.
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Guardian Group takes lead in renewable energy insurance There is no doubt that the global energy imperative for this generation is the transition to renewable energy; that is, alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. However, according to industry research, less than a quarter of the world’s energy comes from renewables. So there is tremendous scope for consumer, business and government buy-in for renewable energy. While renewable energy is still considered an emerging industry, it is one of the major growth industries for the 21st. century and is, in fact, expanding all over the world and involving major global players. Consequently, the global need for reliable and comprehensive renewable energy insurance to support the projects, products and services of the sector is of crucial importance. In Jamaica and the Caribbean, one of the leading players in the business of renewable energy insurance Fresh Magazine
Wigton Wind Farm is the island’s largest grid-tied, wind power generating facility. This state-owned facility is situated in the central parish of Manchester. Wigton is perhaps the largest renewable energy insurance client of Guardian General Jamaica. is Guardian General Jamaica (GGJ). Operating in 22 Caribbean islands, the Guardian Group is one of the largest insurance providers in the region, offering the gamut of insurance coverage for individual, corporate and government entities. GGJ began offering coverage for alternative energy less than four years ago and it was a seamless effort and commonsense decision, according to Guardian’s Assistant Vice President, Business Development, Ms. Sheraley Bridgeman.
“We’ve made accommodation under our existing policies to cover our clients’ alternative energy equipment and other associated risks,” she said, explaining that there was no need to go to the drawing board for new concepts in insurance coverage. Ms Bridgeman said, however, that much greater effort was needed to inform and educate both consumers and business about the financial benefits of converting to the many alternative energy products available. In addition to pro-
Summer, 2016
viding insurance coverage for renewable energy products, GGJ offers Commercial, Liability, Residential, Auto and Marine insurance. Home owners looking to reduce their energy bill are encouraged to invest in renewables, such as solar because not only are there loan products available from financial institutions, but such assets are well protected with insurance coverage from GGJ. “Our main objective is to protect our customers’ assets,” AVP Sheraley Bridgeman 8
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Jamaica’s Public Gardens Jamaica is called the “flora paradise” with its remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems and boasting some of the most majestic gardens across the Caribbean. The history of Jamaica’s botanical gardens dates back to the 1770s with the establishment of Mr. Hinton East’s private garden, the Liguanea Garden, that was located near Gordon Town Road in Kingston. However, at a later date, the first public botanical gardens were established by the government at Bath in St. Thomas. Other public botanical gardens of interest that were established include: Castleton, Hope and Cinchona. Not only can the beauty of Jamaica be explored in its gardens, but its splendor is also exhibited at scenic avenues such as Holland Bamboo Grove and Fern Gully.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture
Cinchona Botanical Gardens St. Andrew
Castl e St. M ton Garde ary ns
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Shaw Park Gardens Ocho Rios, St. Ann
Hope Botanical Gardens Old Hope Road, Kingston
Hollywell National Park St. Andrew
Fern Gully St. Ann Bath Botanical Gardens Bath, St. Thomas Fresh Magazine
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Using Renewable Energy for Your Business
By Rick Gueli All it takes is for the cost of a barrel of oil to spike up, and once again everyone starts talking about renewable energy. Then just as fast as whatever it was that caused the price spike goes away, the conversation dies down. It really is all ridiculous too because the future is coming and it is renewable energy. Fresh Magazine
By far the easiest type of system to set up is a photovoltaic solar system that uses solar panels. Now while they are quick to install and get online, they do none the less have a few shortcomings that you will have to contend with. The first is that they only generate power in the daytime and electricity is ex-
pensive to store in batteries, but it can be done. The option that most people take though is to direct excess production back into the grid during the day, get credited for it and then draw it back out at night. Now if your business is in an area where you have a steady supply of wind, then you need to know that a lot of pro-
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gress has been made in wind turbines. New off the shelf, high tech turbines that can be generating energy for you in about the same time as it takes to set up solar panels. The nice thing about wind turbines is that they operate 24 hours a day, just as long as the wind is blowing. [Visit: myriadceg.com ] 12
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May Is CHILD MONTH
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YOUR Let ScotiaMINT
$
MONEY
help you with your
child’s
Maximise on lump sums
There is an old saying, “If you fail to plan, then plan to fail.” These wise words are very relevant if you have financial dreams that you would like to realize. Wishful thinking will not allow you to accomplish what you want out of life; you have to make and carry out a specific plan of action. Goals that are far ahead in the future such as saving for a home deposit or your children’s education will require careful planning. Let’s look at some simple strategies for long-term goal achievement, and how Scotia Insurance can help you to realize your financial dreams.
Seek expert advice One of the challenges with working on long-term objectives is that you may not know exactly how much, or how best to save towards these goals. When you’re planning for periods in excess of five years, it’s best to get expert guidance from your Scotia Insurance agent.
Get a customised plan For long-term goals, a ScotiaMINT policy is an ideal solution as it gives you a financial plan that’s tailored to your needs. Your Scotia Insurance agent will discuss where you are now and what you want to achieve, and then generate a unique plan that outlines your required steps.
Make regular contributions Your plan will recommend a specific amount of periodic savings in order to attain your target, but don’t be discouraged if your budget doesn’t allow you to contribute that much. Get started with whatever amount you can afford; you can always increase your regular premiums in the future. Fresh Magazine
Education
If you have some funds that you would like to utilise for your long-term goal, then you can put this money on your ScotiaMINT policy as a lump sum premium. You have the ability to get higher rates of interest than on regular savings accounts and even many term deposits.
Stay ahead of inflation When saving long term, you need to consider how inflation will affect the future spending power of your money. ScotiaMINT offers an automatic increase in premium amount annually on your policy anniversary, in line with the Jamaican inflation rate, so that your savings don’t lose value.
Benefit from life insurance In addition to a targeted savings plan, your ScotiaMINT policy provides a special life insurance package which requires no medical tests. The ScotiaMINT Gold policy also allows you to buy an additional $4 million in life coverage to increase your level of protection.
Have long-term flexibility Sometimes, people find it difficult to maintain long-term savings as urgent short-term needs or emergency situations may crop up. Instead of cashing in your ScotiaMINT savings and derailing your goals, you have the option of using your policy as collateral to get a loan. So when you are thinking long-term for your goals, the ScotiaMINT policy offers a complete package to help you accomplish your objectives.
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Health&Wellness â&#x20AC;&#x153;All FRUITS Ripeâ&#x20AC;?
Local Cantaloupes: Farm Gate: $77 - $132 Wholesale: $198 - $330 Retail: $279 - $461.3
The Jamaica Agricultural Marketing Information System (JAMIS) is a public service which provides weekly unbiased market information pertaining to over 50 agricultural products. Market information such as prices, availability and quality is uploaded to the JAMIS website where it is available to the public through reports. Visit JAMIS online @ ja-mis.com.
Sugar Loaf Pineapple: Farm Gate: $99 - $176 Retail: $329 - $329 Watermelon: Farm Gate: $66 - $132 Wholesale: $110 - $220 Retail: $164.99 - $369.59
Ripe Bananas: Farm Gate: $33 - $110 Wholesale: $75 - $95 Retail: $66.99 - $204.6
Sorrel: Farm Gate: $198 - $330 Fresh Magazine
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Grow Your Own FOOD Many people think they cannot plant anything because they do not have plenty of land. This is not true. You can improve the family pot by planting vegetables in a little space near your house. You do not need more than 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122; by 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122; space with 10-12 inches of soil to grow lettuce, callaloo, hot pepper, green pepper, tomatoes, a few okra plants and garden egg plants, cucumbers, parsley and escallion. Thyme is also a good candidate for container gardening, but it is difficult to grow on the hot lowlands in Jamaica; in the hills it can grow well. The important thing is to make sure your small space has very rich soil. This could be a good mixture of soil, sand and of rotted vegetables, leaves and grass cuttings for example. Remember that you can make good compost if you save all the fruit and vegetable peels from your cooking, and place them deep into the soil so that they rot quickly and provide nutrition for the soil. A 40 gallon drum cut in half can provide a space in which to grow vegetables. These are the ones in which many persons prepare jerked chicken on the sidewalk in the towns in Jamaica. It is a good idea to start lettuce, tomatoes and parsley seeds in an appropriate box - such as an egg container. You can subsequently transfer them into a small bed or another container. Okras can be sown straight into the soil. These are more appropriately placed toward the back since they tend to grow tall. Organize tomatoes in a row, string beans in another row, lettuce in a separate row and escallion and thyme in the front of the bed.
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