January Newsletter: Happy New Year!

Safety Moment
Physical activity and exercise can have both immediate and long-term health benefits. Most importantly, regular activity can improve your quality of life by allowing you to enjoy the following benefits:

1. Reduce your risk of a heart attack
2. Manage your weight better
3. Have a lower blood cholesterol level
4. Lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers
5. Have lower blood pressure
6. Have stronger bones, muscles and joints and lower risk of developing osteoporosis
7. Lower your risk of falls
8. Recover better from periods of hospitalisation or bed rest
9. Feel better – with more energy, a better mood, feel more relaxed and sleep better.

A Healthier State of Mind
Numerous studies have shown exercise can also help with depression and benefit your mental health by:

1. Blocking negative thoughts or distract you from daily worries
2. Exercising with others provides an opportunity for increased social contact
3. Lifting your mood and improving sleep patterns
4. Changing chemical levels in your brain, such as serotonin, endorphins, and stress hormones

Aim for At least 30 Minutes a Day
To maintain health and reduce your risk of health problems, health professionals and researchers recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days.

Ways to increase physical activity
Increases in daily activity can come from small changes made throughout your day, such as:

1. Walking or cycling instead of using your car or bike for short trips
2. Visiting Bermuda’s walking trails or scenic areas with your spouse, kids, and or loved ones
3. Spending more times outdoors and sitting less

These small changes can help to get blood flowing throughout your body and remind yourself of how good it feels to sweat.

See Your Doctor First
Pre-exercise screening is used to identify people with medical conditions that may put them at a higher risk of experiencing a health problem during physical activity. It is a filter or ‘safety net’ to help decide if the potential benefits of exercise outweigh the risks for you. See your doctor first if you; are 45 or over, pregnant, or have a past medical history of heart disease or asthma.

Make 2022 your year for personal betterment. Your mind, body, and family will be happy you did!

FAR Decrease
With the approval of the Regulatory Authority, the Fuel Adjustment Rate (FAR) will decrease from the existing rate of 16.612 cents per kilowatt-hour sold for October to December 2021 to 15.572 cents per kilowatt-hour sold for all meter readings taken on or after January 1, 2022, until further notice.

Living Sustainably
If you are cleaning out your home and considering throwing items away this New Year, consider repurposing them instead! Upcycling is the practice of repurposing unwanted materials and transforming them into useful products.

Examples of Upcycling:

1. Make a funky key hanger from old Lego
2. Make some stylish shelves from a handful of old books and wall mounts
3. Convert an old bicycle wheel into a wall hung clock
4. Convert old light bulbs into wall hung flower vases
5. Hang up parts of an old wooden pallet to make a stunning wine shelf unit

Benefits of Upcycling:

1. Eco-friendly: Upcycling reduces the amount of waste going into landfills and saves energy in the production process. The fossil fuels used to transform raw materials, assemble items and transport to stores is all reduced through upcycling.
2. Low Cost: Giving your old things a new lease on life or repurposing them into something completely new can save you tons of cash. There may be some costs involved, such as the cost of paint, but overall, you can make some beautiful pieces cheaper than buying completely new.
3. Creatively Fulfilling: Upcycling encourages creativity and innovation – by finding new ways that you can save money and be eco-friendlier with the goods in your home. It can test and expand your creative and practical skillset – often leading to an even bigger sense of satisfaction once you have completed it.

Community Support

Toy Drive
Dates: December 1 –December 10
BELCO held a toy drive to contribute to the Coalition for the Protection of Children’s annual ‘Toys for Tots’ initiative. Employees donated numerous toys, which included cars, crayons, tea sets and more.

Food Drive
Dates: December 1 –December 10
BELCO held a food drive to contribute to the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s Christmas food drive this past holiday season. Employees donated 284 food items.

Meals On Wheels Volunteering
Date: Thursday, December 16, 2021
Location: Meals on Wheels
BELCO partnered with Meals on Wheels to package 164 gift bags and 192 candy bags to gift to the seniors in our community this holiday season.

WindReach Volunteering
Date: Friday, December 17, 2021
Location: WindReach
BELCO partnered with WindReach Bermuda to assist in cleaning and restoring the living quarters and surrounding areas of the WindReach therapy animals.

Partner Payment Centre Change
As of February 4, 2022, our Partner Payment Centre at Somerset MarketPlace will no longer be in service. However, as of February 7, 2022, our customers will be able to utilise the following Western Partner Payment Centre instead:

Somerset MoneyShop
Location: 66 Somerset Road, Sandys
Tel: 4412320176
Mondays – Fridays: 9:30am-5:30pm
Sundays: Closed for BELCO payments

We would like to thank the Somerset Marketplace for the years of partnership and thank the MoneyShop for the convenient alternative location.

Energy Efficiency Tip
Timers and occupancy sensors help conserve energy by ensuring energy is only used during times required. Some areas to consider using timers or sensors are as follows:

1. Indoor and Outdoor Lighting
2. Air Conditioning/Heating Systems
3. Water Heaters

To learn more visit belco.bm. 

Connect & Join the Conversation
We would love to connect with you. Our online platforms aim to keep you informed of what we are doing at the plant!

BELCO Facebook: @BELCOBermuda
BELCO Twitter: @BELCOBermuda
BELCO Instagram: @BELCOBermuda
BELCO LinkedIn: BELCO Bermuda
BELCO Youtube: BELCO Bermuda

And don’t forget our website is a hub of information on all things BELCO – belco.bm!