Summer will be here before you know it.  One way to be a better guardian of the Earth and to follow the Jewish imperative of bal tashchit (do not waste) is to take some simple steps to keep your home naturally cool in the summer months. 

Here are a few ways to make that happen:

• Close your curtains:  During the heat of the day, close your curtains or blinds.  This blocks the sun’s rays so that less air conditioning will be needed to cool your home.
• Keep the oven off:  As much as possible on hot days, use the microwave, toaster oven and/or the outdoor grill for cooking needs.  Or, make cold soups and entrees when it is very warm out.  This will keep your house cooler and could reduce your energy use by 50 percent during the hottest months of the year.   

Many people may not think about common purchases made at the grocery or home improvement store and their impact on the environment.  However, as Jews commanded to till and tend the Earth and not to waste resources, we need to be mindful of the environmental and health effects of many products we routinely buy. 

Judaism teaches us to be sensitive as to how we treat the Earth and all of Earth’s creatures.  When choosing personal care items, keeping this principle in mind can truly make a difference. It also can benefit your health to use natural rather than chemical ingredients whose long-term  effects may not be known .

Below are some tips for eco-friendly ideas for the purchase and use of personal care items. Many thanks to Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI) Teen Group member Dena Selig for her contributions to this blog.