Buy A Real Tree
People tend to buy fake trees thinking that they re-use them over and over each year but little do they know that the materials used to make your fake tree are not biodegradable. This means your Christmas tree and its toxins are contributing to the tons of waste that we produce that we can’t get rid of. The truth is that even though its wasteful to farm trees just to sit in our living rooms for a month, these trees are producing oxygen while growing and there are great recycling programs for Christmas trees out there. Find out where to recycle your tree at earth911.com.

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Eat Less Meat (Or More Local Meat)
Meat is one of the top contributors to greenhouse gas production in our country. Meat production is bad for the environment from the large amounts of waste the animals produce during their lives (that pollute our water supplies and then our crops) to the amount of gas it takes to transport the meat thousands of miles to your supermarket. Eating less meat can help reduce our carbon footprint. If you can’t give up the turkey or the ham, try to buy from a local farmer so you know where your meat is coming from and that the least amount of pollution was produced to get that meat to your place.

3 Simple Tips For Throwing A Holiday Party

Use LED Christmas Lights
This simple trick will save you money and help you lessen your impact on the environment. LED lights consume 75 percent less energy than incandescent lights which means your electric bill won’t soar this holiday season. They come in all colors and are shatterproof and waterproof. Add a timer to make sure your light turn off on a schedule to save energy.

Use Recycled “Wrapping Paper”
Don’t buy new wrapping paper to wrap your presents in. Instead, use paper items you have lying around your house or things you can find from the thrift store like outdated maps, paper bags, fabric or old calendars. Click here for more ideas.

Make Your Christmas Gifts, Instead of Buying Them!

Make Your Own Decorations
Instead of buying all your decorations each year, you can be more environmentally responsible by making your own decorations. Stockings, garland and ornaments can all be made by hand and are fun activities for the whole family. Click here for more ideas.

Give Green
Let’s face it, you’re going to buy things for your loved ones. Here’s a green holiday gift guide for your whole family that can having you spending a little more responsibly this year.

Cheap Ways To Decorate Your Bathroom This Christmas

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Finding ways to save water will not only cut down on your monthly water bill, but will be a boost to the environment as you conserve one of Earth’s most valuable resources. Here are some ideas from realsimple.com:

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

Why it’s worth the effort: Low-flow showerheads cut water use in half. If you take a five-minute shower using this type of showerhead, the showerhead would save enough water in a year to fill a 15-foot aboveground pool. Plus, you save all the energy that would have gone into heating the shower water.
Your one-year effect: 4,550 gallons of water saved.
The effect if everyone in the U.S. did it for one year: Enough water to fill about 2,100 Giants Stadiums.

Buy Recycled-Paper Products

Why it’s worth the effort: Products made from 100 percent recycled paper require much less water in their manufacturing than do those made from virgin paper. If your family goes through four rolls of paper towels a week, choosing recycled reduces waste significantly.
Your one-year effect: 637 gallons of water saved.
The effect if every household in the U.S. did it for one year: More than the amount of water that cascades over Niagara Falls in a day.

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Water Your Lawn in the Early Morning or Evening

Why it’s worth the effort: If you irrigate in the middle of the day, evaporation prevents 14 percent of the water from reaching the plants’ roots. Watering the lawn in the early morning or evening can save the typical home owner 87 gallons a week.
Your one-year effect: 4,524 gallons of water saved.
The effect if every household in the U.S. did it for one year: Equal to nine times the annual rainfall in Seattle.

Water Your Lawn With a Hose, Not a Sprinkler

Why it’s worth the effort: The average single-family home pours at least 25,000 gallons of water a year on the lawn-more than double the amount used inside. People are smarter than automatic sprinklers: Watering with a hose is at least twice as efficient.
Your one-year effect: 12,500 gallons of water saved.
The effect if every household in the U.S. did it for one year: Equal to the volume of water in Shasta Lake, in Northern California.

Eat One More Vegetarian Meal a Week

Why it’s worth the effort: It takes a lot of water to grow the grain to feed the cow that ultimately produces a hamburger. Replacing just four ounces of beef in your diet a week with a vegetarian option can save more than 3,000 gallons of water.
Your one-year effect: 171,704 gallons of water saved.
The effect if everyone in the U.S. did it for one year: More than twice the volume of water in the Chesapeake Bay.

Click here for more tips

4 ways to make your home look grown up

Here are some tips on how to raise Earth Day awareness:

1) Work with student organizations at a local university to raise Earth Day awareness among future leaders. Major universities typically have multiple organizations dealing with organic living, conservation and environmental advocacy.

How to recycle anything.

2. Volunteer at a local school on Earth Day to educate children about Earth Day. You can work with fellow parents to present fun information about protecting the environment.

3) Submit letters about Earth Day to the editor of every print publication in your community. You should look for articles focused on environmental issues in these publications to help frame your letter writing. You may find more of these articles at the end of February.

Click here to find out more.

(from ehow.com)

Did you know you can go green with your makeup tools? Find out more here.