The Christmas season is upon us and while it’s the happiest time of the year, it can also be the most wasteful.  White Christmases are overrated — this year, make sure you, your family and your friends have a green Christmas! Here are a few tips to get you started:

The U.S. Department of Energy recently released calculations stating that the total global carbon output in 2010 was the biggest increase ever recorded. The world pumped about 564 million more tons of carbon into the air in 2010 than it did in 2009, an increase of 6% with China, and the U.S. responsible for half the increase and India in 3rd place. According to two combined land and sea surface temperature records from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and the US National Climatic Data Centre (NCDC), the first six months of 2010 were the hottest on record. According to GISS, four of the six months also individually showed record highs.

There is an urgent need to decrease man carbon emissions.  Policy, practice and life style changes are tepid at best and must be exponentially increased to meet the growing challenge.

 

So What Can You Do About It?

 

As someone who now realizes the urgency of our global warming dilemma, what can you do on a personal level to help lower carbon emissions?

 

1.     Coal is the biggest carbon source worldwide and emissions from that jumped nearly 8 percent in 2010. We can support government efforts to limit coal as a fuel, learn more about “clean” coal and if that is a real option, support energy development and companies moving away from coal to cleaner fuels. And limit our own consumption of energy, especially fossil fuel energy.

2.     We can support companies that use “green fuel.” This means companies that are powered by wind, solar, bio-fuels like algae and battery power. These companies often put this information on the label of their product. Buying green products including those using alternative fuels is powerful.

3.     Buy local! When things don’t have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to reach your hands, they didn’t use as much carbon emissions to get to you.

4.     If you’re not already recycling and/or composting, start now! Disposing of your trash takes energy, often fossil fuel energy.

5.     Don’t drive your car more than you have to. Group your trips taking the most efficient route and take the bus, carpool, bike or walk when you can!

6.     Turn off lights and appliances when not in use and keep the thermometer down and the air conditioning off as much as you can.

 


 

by Kelly McMath

From farming to transportation to processing and packaging, the amount of energy and emissions used to put food on our tables is hard on the environment. Try these seven eco-friendly eating tips to make a positive environmental impact and reduce your eco-footprint.

by Nicole Makris

From a health perspective, fish and seafood offer benefits that are hard to find elsewhere. Unfortunately, the current consumption of seafood, specifically fish, is wrought with controversy and ecological degradation.

Smart Shopping
Buy what you need, not what you want.
Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed.
Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores.

Simple Savers
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Use aerators on faucets and shower heads.
Weatherstrip windows and doors.

We all have a carbon footprint. And during the Holidays, our carbon footprints are way larger than our shoe sizes as we tend to consume more than during other times in the year.  However, we can all still be true to our Green sides by following some Eco-friendly tips this Thanksgiving:

• Buy locally grown organic produce from your area's farmers market and make sure to bring along your reusable bags.
• If turkey is on your menu, you can contact your local grocery store and ask if they carry turkeys labeled “American Humane Certified," or "USDA Certified Organic."
• Add tree-planting to the festivities.  You can have a tree-planting ceremony and literally give thanks around the family tree!
• Ask guests to bring their own reusable containers to take home left-overs.
• To decorate your tables, use natural objects found in your yard like fall leaves and pine cones.
• Leave the TV off during dinner. Not only will it save energy it will allow you to ask Aunt Mary for her stuffing recipe.

Tree Musketeers wishes you all a happy and healthful Thanksgiving!