The holidays are not known for being eco-friendly. In fact, the quite the opposite is true due to mass consumerism, extra travel and of course a massive amount of waste and trash. This sounds like an eco-family’s nightmare. With careful planning and thoughtful consideration however your Thanksgiving can be as Green as any other day.

 Green Travel? Stay close to home instead!

So often the holidays amount to added travel. Not only is this pricey and stressful but it also adds significantly to our carbon footprint. Instead, combine a trip to Grandma’s with another holiday/vacation and this stay close to home. Make it a new tradition to spend Thanksgiving with friends, family and co-workers locally. Encourage others to do the same. If you do choose to travel, avoid planes if possible. Instead opt for mass transit. Between buses, trams, and trains, many of us could still travel regionally without the guilt of such a huge carbon setback

 Green cleaning

When preparing for guests or recovering from guests, every hostess knows a big part of the party is cleaning. Invest in green cleaning products rather than nasty chemical-laden ones. Better yet, save a few pennies and make your own cleaning products. Good old fashioned vinegar and baking soda can go a long way in terms of cleaning. Make sure that the dishwasher is filled to the rim before starting it. Dishwashers are very efficient at cleaning a full load of dishes when compared to washing by hand. Before loading, scrape the plates and hand rinse rather than wasting water and energy using pre-rinse settings. Also avoid other odd cycles like heavy rinse, pots and pans etc. For maximum energy efficiency make sure to set the dishwasher to air dry rather than using the drying function.

 Speaking of Energy

With all the happenings in the kitchen between the stovetop burners cooking away and many tasty dishes baking, your home is going to get warm- quickly! This is even truer if you already have a household of guests over. Do yourself a favor and save a bit on your heating bill. Turn down the heat a bit and set your thermostat for a lower setting for the day. If you want to take it a bit further, reduce lamps and instead use soy candles to offer an energy efficient way to produce a peaceful holiday ambience.

Crowd control

Don’t bother showing off to your Mother-in-law with exotic, gourmet dishes that use ingredients flown in across the world. Not only is this horrible for climate change, simply putting together such dishes are dreadful in terms of energy usage. People aren’t looking for the exotic. Instead, the most popular, and appreciated dishes, are often the traditional fares most of which can be bough locally and/or organically. MAny farmer’s markets go year round. Check into local CSA’s as well. Invest in local produce, dairy, eggs and cheese for your holiday meal. Also, don’t forget to investigate local organic and free-range farms for the ham or turkey of your dreams. Furthermore, skip the eighteen side dishes and salads. The gluttony of Thanksgiving is known worldwide. Offer your family a celebration of the season’s bounty reasonably and cut down on waste. www.use-less-stuff.com offers a handy guide for portion control. Their guide per person for food and drink is approximately:

Turkey- 1pound

Stuffing- ¼ pound

Sweet potatoes ¼ pound

Green bean- ¼ pound

Cranberry relish- 3 tablespoons

Pie- 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how much was eaten. If it’s your tradition to host or assist with the meal, write down the amounts and have a better gauge for next year! If you do have a huge troupe (like we have!) consider buying food stuffs in bulk. This will not only help your carbon footprint but your wallet as well. Don’t forget your reusable shopping bags too!

 Go vegetarian

These days many eco-minded individuals are going vegetarian. The Vegetarian Resource Group has estimated that between 6 and 8 million adults are vegetarians. When planning the meal, don’t forget to offer vegetarian dishes. Even if your family are omnivores, simply by offering a few vegetarian or vegan dishes, your Thanksgiving meal is already becoming even more eco-friendly. Don’t know where to start? Try looking at recipes at www.food.com or www.organicconsumers.org. These are simple, easily done locally and very tasty- even for those of us that love a bit of meat on the side.

 A Lil Drinky-poo?

A party isn’t a party without beverages! Consider serving beverages that are local or organic. Many farms this time of year offer apple cider that is always a big hit. No farms near you? For those of you ready for adventure, try making apple juice and cider yourself. Our family does every year. Not only is it cheaper, tastes better, more healthy but it’s also appreciated so much more. Also, check into your area and see if there are any local breweries or wineries. The closer to home you buy the less carbon impact your drink is going to have on our world. Plus, it feels great to buy locally and keep monies moving within our communities rather than corporate America.

Setting the table

Avoid at all costs using disposable tableware. It is tempting especially if you simply do not have enough table settings. Resist this horrendous temptation. Instead, use your own tableware, ask for guests to bring their own potluck style or invest in a few extra place settings via department store or better yet thrift store. This also works for obtaining an extra gravy boat or a decorative table runner you think may be in order. This will save your wallet more than just a few pennies and you won’t feel the disposable guilt weighing you down that night.

 Decorate naturally (Yes! You can do it!)

It’s absolutely foolish to waste money and time racing out to the mall to buy plastic Thanksgiving-themed decorations that will break by next year anyway. Instead, take a hint from nature. A simple centerpiece of squash and pumpkins with a few candles can be cheaper and just as lovely. Set out baskets of pinecones. Put the kids to work making place settings with cardstock and dried leaves. You may even want to consider buying a plant to use as a living centerpiece. In a pinch? Opt for a lovely organic centerpiece with fresh flowers from your local independent florist or head out to the thrift store to see what goodies you may discover!

Losing the leftovers

After the big meal comes the great clean up. Don’t forget to compost! This holiday more than any other creates the most amount of food waste. Use it to feed our earth. Also, if you do miscalculate or that kooky uncle and his family no-show and you suddenly have too many leftovers to bear, simply remember to send some home with your guests. For my bachelor brothers, this is the best part of Thanksgiving! Consider asking guests to bring their own Tupperware just in case. Or use empty cool whip, cottage cheese and yogurt containers to send home some of the bounty. This way you are reusing, not wasting and providing a plentiful lunch for a loved one in the following days.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- Oh My!

Last but not least is the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! While you have thus far been attempting to reduce, don’t’ forget the others! Reuse the decorations for next year! Use the containers you bought the ingredients in as Tupperware. Instead of the plastic or paper disposable table linens invest in cloth ones that can be reused again, and again! What can’t be reused, remember to recycle!

By using these simple strategies, your family is sure to have an enjoyable and environmentally friendly Thanksgiving season. That we all can be thankful for!

What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the family than enjoying an eco-friendly film? However, finding a good one can be more challenging than one would expect. Some films have flopped badly; whereas others have gone forth to inspire great changes throughout our world. Here is my personal top ten:

1.  An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
This is by far the most profitable and famous of all environmental films to date. Al Gore examines the frightening realities of climate change at length. This film brought the climate change debate to an intense confrontation. It is still almost always cited, either in scorn or in awe, when discussions arise. Without this film, one can only wonder where the climate change movement would be today.

2.  King Korn, 2007
King Korn is one of the best reviewed environmental films to date. It is a film about two college friends who travel to the heartland in order to plant, raise and follow to production our nation’s most subsidized produce: corn, In doing so, they discover scandalous facts about an industry that all Americans are inevitably connected to. Regardless of political leanings or environmental proclivity, this film is sure to please and inform.

3.  Avatar, 2009
James Cameron presents the blockbuster-of-blockbusters in this 3d film. The morale of the story: Don’t mess with nature; lest it mess back. Director James Cameron outdoes himself with fantastic imagery and storytelling. In this film, he purposefully calls attention to our loss of biodiversity and the effects of climate change.  This film was ground-breaking, part for its technological advances, but also for the huge budget the even bigger audience it has affected thus far.

4. The 11th Hour, 2007
This famous movie, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, takes a holistic look at the overwhelming environmental troubles currently facing our earth. It offers sensible solutions, if only in theory, to the ecological truths it challenges.
4.  Fast Food Nation, 2006
This noteworthy film is based upon Eric Schlosser’s book, 2001, Fast Food Nation. This film explores the political, ecological, economical and social ethics in regards to our addiction to fast food and meat production in our world. Part black comedy, part drama, and packed with a lot of frightening truths, this film is guaranteed to educate and keep you in your seat.

5.  Tapped, 2009
This film explores the bottled water industry in terms of our health, our reliance on oil, pollution and climate change. This film is eye-opening as it candidly explores a habit many of us participate in.

6.  Food, Inc., 2008
Food, Inc attacks the entire agricultural industry. In this documentary Robert Kenner, along with Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser and The Omnivore’s Dilemma author Michael Pollan, explore where the food we purchase at the store really comes from and what the future health of generations to come may look like. Kenner highlights the relationships between business and government to show the dark underbelly of the American food industry. This film will have you questioning many of your day-to-day simple lifestyle choices.

7.  Erin Brockovich, 2000
Erin Brockovich is a true-story film that demonstrates how environmental issues can affect us directly and powerfully.  Julia Roberts plays a single mother who uncovers the industrial poisoning of a small town’s water supply. Her award winning performance drew viewers around the world and educated many about the reality of industrial pollution. This film is enlightening, moving and intense. It is a must for any top ten list.

8.  Who Killed the Electric Car?, 2006
Filmmaker Chris Payne discovers the many causes that resulted in the crucial failure of the electric car to take over the automotive industry, despite the fact that gas prices began to skyrocket. He demonstrates the progressively more important role that renewable energy holds in today’s world. Via interviews with consumer advocacy experts, automotive industry leaders and big oil heavyweights, Payne provides a thought-provoking depiction of a society whose repugnance to change and complete dependence upon dwindling resources may be entrenched in the financial concerns of a wealthy minority. It may also be leading consumers into a troubled future. This film is thought-provoking and emotive.

9.  WALL-E, 2008
This family friendly film features a small waste-collecting robot who accidentally embarks on a space expedition that will eventually decide the fate of all mankind. Despite the charm and child-friendly humor, this film explores big issues. With loveable characters and a great plot, it explores the ramifications of what our world may look like if our unsustainable habits continue unabated.

10.  Earthlings, 2005
Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, long time Activist and Vegan, this film uses hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage to document the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. What makes this film different is that it does not focus solely on the vegetarian debate. Instead, it strives to demonstrate all of the ways in which we exploit animals, through companionship, experimentation, clothing, entertainment, and consumption. Furthermore, this film clearly shows how environmental issues are invariably linked to animal consumption. This film is intense and not for the faint of the heart. It will however change the way you look at our consumerism in terms of animal rights.

These movies can entertain, educate, enlighten, and empower.  Striving for a “Greener” tomorrow can mean a lot of different things and these movies are just one way to not only enjoy some family time at home but also encourage a more eco-friendly future.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that people spend 90% of their time indoors. However, indoor air quality can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Not only is this not sustainable for our environment, its certainly not sustainable for our bodies.

How to Keep Our Homes Healthy
The most effective way to keep air in your home healthy is to simply rid your home of things that cause air pollution such as cigarette smoke, excess moisture and chemicals.

Deadly Disaster
Some indoor air pollutants can kill. Among the most dangerous are these three:
Carbon monoxide: 400 die and thousands are sickened annually.
Secondhand smoke: 7,500-15,000 children are hospitalized or sickened with respiratory tract infections and older adults with cardiovascular or lung illness are at higher risk of health problems.
Radon gas: It’s silent. It’s odorless. It’s found in many American homes, and it is the second biggest cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoke.

Each year second hand smoke sends up to an estimated 15,000 children to the hospital. Hundreds of thousands of children will develop respiratory tract infections from second hand smoke this year along. Older adults and those suffering from lung and cardiovascular diseases are also at higher risks of respiratory problems from cigarette smoke exposure. The Surgeon General states that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke. Do not allow the smokers in your life to smoke inside your home. Instead, simply take it outside.

Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and dangerous. Each year over 400 people are killed from carbon monoxide poisoning and thousands of others seriously ill due to over-exposure. Carbon monoxide levels can rise very quickly in unventilated areas. Protect your family by installing a carbon monoxide detector, preferably near bedrooms. Have all fuel burning appliances inspected yearly. Do not run carbon monoxide emitting motors indoors. Simply running a car or lawnmower inside an attached garage or shed can seriously endanger your family’s health. If you must have engines on within the garage, consider investing in a high-quality seal to best protect your home and family.  Only use gas stoves and heaters indoors that are vented directly outside. Never use charcoal grills indoors.

Radon is an odorless, invisible gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock. It can only be detected through testing. It is also a lethal invisible killer. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.  It has been estimated that radon is the direct cause of thousands of death annually.  Protect your family from this danger by testing for radon. Testing is easy, inexpensive and should be a priority.

Ventilate! Ventilate! Ventilate!
Properly ventilating your home is critical in order to protect your family, our earth and improve air quality.  High levels of moisture increases dampness mold and mildew. These fungi not only damage your home but also your health. They are linked to increased wheezing, coughing and asthma attacks in people with allergies. Normal daily living act ivies such as; cooking, washing and even breathing — produce water vapor.

Furthermore, it is crucial to properly ventilate and pull dangerous pollutants out of the home. Cooking can be a big source of indoor air pollution, especially if you use a gas stove. Scientists who measured indoor air quality found that cooking a single meal on a gas stove can produce levels of nitrogen dioxide that the EPA considers unsafe to breathe.  Run the exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen. Open your windows whenever possible. Make sure the exhaust system for your appliances and stoves works properly

Thinking of Painting?
Paints release trace amounts of gases for months after application, despite the fact that they appear to be dried and the smell is gone. These gases are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can include highly toxic chemicals including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde to name just a couple. When painting, use Freshaire’s Choice paint or other no-VOC paints. If those aren’t available, always use low-VOC paints, varnishes and waxes. When painting indoors, open windows and use exhaust fans. Never store open paint containers indoors.  It’s also important to remember that lead-based paints can still be found in many homes. Any peeling, chipping or chalking of lead-based paint can result in delays in mental development, lower IQ and behavioral problems in developing children after simply inhaling lead paint dust. Many of these health challenges are permanent.

Remodeling is a messy business. We all can recall that awful dust in what once was our home. Although such dust makes exposure easy, the EPA offers six recommendations to reduce exposure:

• Ensure children’s play areas are dust free and clean

• Leave lead-based paint undisturbed if in good condition.

• Do not sand or burn off lead based paint or paint suspected as being such.

• Do not remove lead based paint yourself

• Do not bring lead dust into the home

• If work or hobbies require lead based paint, change clothes and use doormats before entering your home.

Mold, Mildew and Moisture- Oh My!
High humidity and rain often bring moisture indoors. This dampness creates the perfect atmosphere for mold and mildew; two big problems for healthy air. Dampness alone has been associated with higher risks for wheezing, coughing and asthma.   Combine that with mold and mildew, and your family could have serious respiratory issues. Asthma is the a serious chronic illness of children in the U.S. Help avoid asthma by Checking your foundation, basement, roof and crawlspace for any issues in need of repair each year. Fix leaks immediately. If there has been water damage, seek professional assistance.  Dry the affected area. Immediately replace any furniture or materials that have been we for more than 48 hours. Ensure that all rainwater is routed away from your home’s foundation and avoid this costly, unhealthy risk.  Use a dehumidifier and/or air conditioner when needed.

Those Nasty Mites
Dust allergies are actually allergies to dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic pests. The feed on human skin and live within bedding, pillows, mattresses, stuffed toys, carpet and upholstery. They are also linked to asthma in children. These little pests however require moisture to survive.  To begin battle with these pests:

• Use a dehumidifier

• Keep  the humidity in your home under 50%

• Remove carpets

• Consider utilizing intensive steam cleaning and vacuuming

• Use mite resistant covers on all of your bedding

• Always wash linens in hot water

Leave It Alone!
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that is often found in many older homes and building. Inhaling tiny asbestos fibers can increase the risk the lung cancer and other lung diseases. Asbestos is often found in flooring, pipe coverings, roofs and shingles. It is critical to check asbestos containing materials regularly for damage from tears, water or wear. However, do not try to remove it. Experts advise to leave asbestos undisturbed when possible. If you are looking into remodeling, protect your family and yourself- invest in a professional to help with that dangerous project.

Dirty dry cleaners
Dry cleaning solvents are strong chemicals. They are often toxic to breathe. Let dry cleaned items air outdoors before happily carting them to your closet. Hanging them on an outdoor clothesline is simple, easy and prevents any of these chemicals from entering your home.

Woodburning Stoves
While we all love the crackle of a wood burning stove, they also create carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particle pollution as well as other toxic air pollutants. Try to limit usage for only heating purposes. Always ensure it is fully vented to the outside.

A Sea of Endless Chemicals
Chemicals are nearly endless throughout our home. Disinfectants, adhesive or bonding agents, insecticides, urea formaldehyde foam insulation and particle board all may contain one of the deadliest chemicals available- formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and can cause serious health issues including eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, skin rashes and asthma. Always check your products prior to purchase and opt for the organic alternative when possible.

Pesticides are another example of chemicals we invite into our lives. Pesticides used to curb household pests can actually just bring in harmful chemicals into our homes and present added health concerns for our families and pets. Limit, if not rid, your home of such chemicals. Manage pests in more natural ways. Also block holes and keep food in tightly sealed containers. Cover trash cans. Keep floors and counter free of crumbs. If necessary use bait traps or call a professional for assistance.

Another example of free-loader chemicals come in the form of hair and nail products, cleaning products, art and hobby suppliers and other common products. These combined can greatly raise the level of VOCs. Use organic products and avoid VOCs if at all possible. Stop using aerosols (they were so 1987 anyway). Stop using harsh cleaning products. They are terrible for your home, your family, your air supply and even your water supply. Instead, look into natural alternatives or opt for the organic equivalent. Do not use artificial air fresheners. They contact dangerous chemicals and dangerous byproducts. Instead, opt for the natural alternative.

Remodeling, Redecorating, Re-vamping
When remodeling or updating your home, remember to consider air quality in your remodeling plans. Be sure to handle old materials properly, and to consider air quality when deciding upon a design or plan for the update. Avoid using carpet, as most carpets contain significant amounts of VOCs and are wasteful to our earth. When purchasing new furniture, seek out low-emission furniture and make a significantly less impact on our earth. Furthermore, remind others to always take their shoes off upon entering the home. While this is polite in some cases, it is environmentally friendly as well. Shoes can easily track chemicals and pollutants inside the home. Finally, add houseplants in order to clean your indoor air. They are decorative, super green and great for air quality!

The Limitations of Air Purifiers
Some people seem to believe an air purifier is the answer to their air pollution. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While an air purifier could be part of a comprehensive plan and they have its definite limitations. First, they are able to get out only the tiniest particles. Secondly, they are costly and utilize energy that is debatable how worthwhile it is. Thirdly, they do not protect against gases or humidity. Finally, some of these appliances actually contribute negatively towards our ozone issue. If you opt for an air purifier, ensure that it does not release ozone directly or as a byproduct.

By following these simple steps you can not protect your family’s health but also improve your air quality and contribute to a greener, healthier future for our earth.