It is that time of year again; time to get ready for the holidays.  This means you need to pull the decorations out and see what is still good, look through your holiday recipes and figure the best way to wrap your presents.  With all this to do you may have forgotten you need to celebrate in a more green way.  This will cut down on how big your carbon footprint is. Wrap Wisely Instead of using the paper gift wrapping for presents come up with reusable or recyclable ways to wrap them. Get a nice canvas bag to place the gift in.  Then the recipient can reuse this bag shopping, carrying their crafts or for other uses during the year.  So much waste is created with gift wrap find another way.  Towels make an inventive gift wrap for bathroom items or kitchen items.  This is another reusable wrap idea. Remember you want gift wrap that does not get thrown away. Green Decorating Decorating with evergreen swags or branches is just one type of green decorating.  You can also use pine cones or holly sprigs too.  Then when the holidays are over throw your natural decorations in your compost pile.  Therefore, you have no ...

There are many good reasons why biodiesel is a good fuel alternative to gasoline. Primarily, it is safer to the environment because it completely comes from renewable sources, is non-toxic, burns clean, and is totally biodegradable.  Secondly, it is a renewable fuel and can easily be sourced out from natural, safe resources such as vegetable oils, soybean oils, canola oils, recycled cooking oils, sunflower oils, and animal fats. Used as an alternative fuel, biodiesel has more benefits compared to petroleum.  Its engine performance is either equal or even better than that of petroleum and it is readily available for people's automobile use as it can be found in around 800 locations around the United States with 600 fleets currently using biodiesel blends.  In 2005, an estimated 75 million gallons of biodiesel were sold, according a website of the US Environmental Protection Act. Because of its safety and environmental-friendly components, biodiesel passed the standards of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and has subsequently been tested for all other environmental safety standard requirements by the government and passed them all compared to other alternative fuels which had some harmful components.  As an alternative fuel, biodiesel also cuts greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by over ...

Castile soaps are popular brands of environmental-friendly soaps that are now making the rounds of homes which are able to use them in a variety of ways.  Some people who have heard of this soap have also taken to using it as an alternative beauty product.  Its flexibility in use is also contributing to a number of benefits for all users.  A Castile soap is either made from a vegetable oil, olive oil, jojoba or other natural plant extracts. Its natural ingredients are considered its primary appeal to many users who are more open to using alternative materials that are less harmful to the environment. Castile soaps either come in the white solid bar or liquid form but their uses and benefits are basically the same.  Its origins is said to be from Spain in the 16th century era where it was then known as "jabon de Castilla".  Its many benefits and uses: Bath soap.  It is known to be a favorite of people with sensitive skin as its gentle and natural ingredients works against acne, blemishes, and dry skin.  The olive oil ingredient is also best for eczema and psoriasis.  It also works as a natural moisturizer. Best for babies.  It is also ...

Recycling in general is not a bad idea, but plastic bottles are of particular concern.  They are everywhere, holding water and soft drinks and everything in between.  Recycling them is beneficial because manufacturing them is potentially harmful. Making the Bottle Plastic bottles are made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PTH).  To make this plastic, manufacturers use petroleum products.  Petroleum is derived from crude oil, which is a controversial substance to say the least.  Oil is a non-renewable resource, and conserving as much of it as possible is a priority among environmentalists. Plastic bottle manufacturing also produces emissions that may harm our atmosphere and subsequently our planet.  Manufacturing plastic bottles from used ones, however, takes much less energy than making plastic bottles from raw materials. Reduce Landfill Waste Recycling means fewer plastic bottles in landfills and tips.  Plastic takes anywhere from a century to a millennium to break down, and when you think about millions upon millions of plastic bottles piled up for generations, it does give you pause for thought. It has been said that Americans each use 166 plastic bottles every year (on average), and there are 300 million of us.  That's a lot of bottles, and a lot of landfill space, even if half of those ...

Preparing your baby's nursery can be a wonderful time of planning and dreaming.  Many times, that means choosing a paint color or wallpaper (or a combination of both), furnishings, and flooring. Today, many people are aware that the fumes from paint, wallpaper and carpet can be toxic.  Babies, with their tiny, developing systems, are especially vulnerable to toxins in the air and on surfaces they touch with their delicate skin.  In order to avoid these poisonous substances, you may choose to decorate baby's nursery with eco-friendly items. Here are some things to keep in mind as you seek to create a non-toxic environment for your little one. Paint Generally speaking, paint is less expensive than wallpaper.  When you look for paints, there are many green options available.  The first thing to look for in an eco-friendly paint is a lack of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.  These are the chemicals that create the fumes and subsequent headaches and respiratory problems that many people experience with conventional paints. Look for water-based paints with labels that say things like "biodegradable," "phosphate-free" and, of course, "VOC-free."  While these types of environmentally friendly paints are more expensive, they generally only require one coat due to their rich pigmentation. Choosing paint ...