We try to adopt a new green practice at home, each month. The one that appears to be having a huge impact is switching from plastic water bottles to stainless or aluminum re-usable bottles. We chose the Sigg water bottles because they are cute, fun, and inexpensive.

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We all have strong memories of our past holiday seasons. Even with all of the busy times, we are all still able to make the season a healthy one for the environment, no matter which holiday you celebrate. It all comes down to a few simple steps that will lead to a very green holiday season.

One of the main images of the holiday season and one that I always remember fondly is the Christmas tree. Be it real or artificial, you’ll find a decorated tree in many homes. While it would seem that an artificial tree would be a good thing since it means not cutting down a real tree and can be reused every year, there are aspects of the artificial trees that can be a serious detriment. One of the main problems comes from the actual creation of the tree itself. A real tree helps to provide oxygen and reduce the area’s carbon footprint while it is growing and does not require all of the various chemicals that it takes to create an artificial tree. The plastic itself is a petroleum byproduct and lead is also used in the process. Unlike real trees that might have various pesticides and herbicides applied directly to the ground and not the tree itself, the forging of the components for a plastic tree release many dioxins into the air. These dioxins can lead to cancer, damaged immune systems, and impaired child development.

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