Green Daily

Tissues are really not the best things for the planet, and yet, they can be so hard to resist. They seem so clean, sterile, and convenient, and a nice big box of Kleenex or Puffs seems to become the only friend willing to cuddle with you on the couch when you're sick.

Fortunately, if you are concerned about the environmental impact of your sniffles, there are several alternatives, as well as some eco-friendly tissue choices.

When choosing toilet paper, tissue or paper towels, look for brands made with 100% post-consumer product. If this is nowhere to be found, check to see if any come from forests that are certified to be sustainable. At the very least, steer clear of the super soft and fluffy toilet papers.

If you choose to try out handkerchiefs, Green LA Girl has an excellent guide to purchasing them, from plain to cute to downright fancy, and Super Eco has great tips to help you care for them.

If you are trying to educate the little ones about the spread of germs and proper procedure, something like Sniffle Sleeve might be right up your alley! Of course, in a pinch, tying a hankie around your child's arm would do the trick.

Finally, if you're interested in preventing the sniffles, why not purchase a neti pot?

Animal shelters across the country are seeing an increase in abandoned pets, largely due to people realizing that they can no longer afford to feed and care for them.

I'm dearly in love with my cats, and I can't imagine what it would take for me to part with them, or how I'd ever get over it.

To make matters worse, shelters are also seeing a drop in funding, and many have been forced to close down. If you've been thinking about adding a new furry member to your family, now is the best time to visit your local animal shelter.

If you don't have room for an adoption, there are plenty of things you can do to help the shelters out.

1. Call the shelter and ask about donating bags of food. Some shelters prefer specific brands.
2. Volunteer to walk some of the dogs or hug the kitties. It keeps them healthy and happy, so that they are good candidates for adoption.
3. Do you knit or crochet? You can make beds, blankies, and toys to donate.
4. Old pillows, towels, blankets and coats make excellent animal shelter donations.
5. Ask about sponsoring an animal for a necessary medical treatment, neutering/spaying, or cost of room and board. Sometimes you can even pay for their adoption for someone else.

Professor Byron Reeves of Stanford University has some interesting ideas about how to get people "going green" in a virtual world. He believes that if "green" actions were incorporated into game mechanics so that they were necessary to progress and gain points and standing on a leaderboard, the behavior would carry over into one's life.

He pitched his idea to the radio show Living on Earth, pointing out that the system would be competitive and that the "goal here is to align entertainment and fun with utility and community value."

I can see this easily being implemented into a game like Sims 2, where everyday actions are simulated. While you can choose to be more environmentally conscious, turning it into a theme with a focus would definitely appeal to people. After all, if they are willing to buy the expansion pack, Apartment Life, just to simulate living in an apartment, then "green" living can't be far behind.

Nintendo would also be a promising choice for design and development. Not only does the Wii appeal to everyone, they have already had success designing games that teach new languages, encourage fitness, and keep your brain sharp.

I recently stumbled upon a question on some private message boards that not only got me thinking, but prompted me to examine my own behavior.

Do you feel a sense of etiquette when it comes to putting your reusable shopping bags to good use? Can you comfortably bring your Store A brand bags into Store B, or do you feel rude or tacky?

Before reusable bags were popular, my housemate and I used to walk downtown with our backpacks when we needed to buy food, carrying any overflow in plastic bags with our hands. Although this would still be a viable option, as many students know, store employees will shoot you funny looks for bringing in a backpack, if they allow it at all.

Personally, I don't like to use the reusable bags that I do own. They don't match, they look tacky, I hate the fact that they're made partly of plastics, and I don't much like carrying around anything with a store logo. Part of my New Year's Resolution this year will be to find a set of bags that I would use, and then get into the habit.

This question of etiquette will be weighing on my mind when I begin my selections.

A woman's menstrual cycle is a very personal thing. I don't mean to say that it is taboo. In fact, many women are perfectly comfortable talking about it. It is simply that each woman experiences her cycle somewhat differently.

Symptoms can range from none to nausea, back pain, and crankiness. The options for flow control are many, sporting wings, cardboard or plastic applicators, no applicators, liners, barriers and differently woven strings. Most of us become fairly specific about what works for us, and what we simply don't like.

Mentioning the possibility of using reusable pads is probably going to drum up the most variety in reactions. Many women don't even use pads to begin with, and the idea of somehow carrying the used ones around school or the office until you get home seems daunting.

Personally, I just don't think I could do it. On that note, if I had to switch, I'd definitely choose Moonpads. They're colorful and stylish, which is a total plus, considering its usage will make you fast friends. They also look bizarrely comfortable, and their "wing" system actually looks like it would work.

When it comes to packed lunches, there are so many details that require attention. Whether you're worried about keeping your drink cold and your sandwich meat fresh and safe to eat, or you're wondering just how much lead or PVC is in that bag that you hand to your child each morning, there is much to think about.

Enter Harold the Lunch Monster from Ones and Zeros Fashion. He was born to munch up lunches and keep them safe and organized for everyone. In fact, there's a whole story behind his birth.

Each one is handmade from 100% organic cotton, and comes in a variety of colors. Organic cotton means pesticide and chemical-free. Remember to always wash your fruits and veggies diligently to keep them up to the same standards!

Packed lunches have the potential to reduce an awful lot of waste, and usually result in better eating habits. You also have more control over what your children eat, as well as self control. Grocery store and takeout goodies can seem all too tempting when you're hungry and pressed for time at noon.

Harold is very stylish and fun. My favorite part has to be the way that he opens. It actually looks like he's opening his mouth! Harold is also quite subtle, which means that he can be enjoyed by children, teens, college students, and even adults.

In a matter of hours, you're going to be snowed under a pile of wrapping paper, cards, boxes, tags, bags, envelopes, ribbon and gift packaging.

Before you heave it all into a bag, consider giving it a new purpose. Not only will this make you feel good, it can also save you money.

Re-wrapping

• Many people celebrate Christmas morning at home before heading out to parties held by friends and family. You may even already have been to a few work gatherings and a Christmas Eve event. This should give you plenty of materials to help you wrap the gifts that are going out later in the day or that week. You can also reuse the materials to cover hostess gifts for your New Years Eve party!
• Fold the wrapping paper into envelopes that can hold gift cards or money. Keep an eye out for generic colors, as these can be used for other holidays.
• Shred up the paper and use it to line gift baskets.

When composing your Christmas gift list, chances are, jewelry is written somewhere next to at least one of those names. It is a popular, classic gift that can be personal and very meaningful. Unfortunately, it can also be costly, and not everyone's tastes suit those of your local jeweler.

Fortunately, there are handmade alternatives that can be easier on a budget, eco-friendly, and personalized. Many recipients will feel extra special owning an original piece that was created by you, or a gifted artisan.

If you don't think you have it in you to make something yourself, why not browse the jewelry category of Etsy? Each item is handmade, and you won't believe the unique designs you'll find.

Ready to make your own? Hop on through the break! Many of these projects make ideal gifts for students, and range from beginner to expert.

Christmas can be a financially draining experience. Between gift giving, party hosting and decorating, it can feel more like work than a holiday.

Why not save some money this year, duck out of some of the commercialism, and spend some quality time alone or with family making your own decorations?

These ideas are not only eco-friendly, they also provide the opportunity to start a new holiday tradition.

If you have a little one on your list, or even someone young at heart, consider feeding the dolls (and bears, and squirrels, and tigers) this Christmas.

Rather than spending money on factory-made plastic play food, why not support the handmade movement? Many creative Etsy artisans have designed original toys with your child's heart and imagination in mind. They encourage hours of unplugged, unscripted fun.

I remember spending time at my Granny's house playing with a hand-crocheted set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and although I had plastic dolls too, these never failed to inspire my play time.

Handmade items are made with love, and never come over-packaged. They are not made with toxic materials, there's no assembly required, and they won't break right out of the box. Many can be designed by you, come in a variety of colors and materials, and can even be personalized, usually at no additional cost.

The holiday season is a time for celebration; the type that is full of sugary treats and alcoholic drinks. As enjoyable as this is, you probably won't be singing Christmas carols in the morning.

Luckily, there are some eco-friendly remedies that you can find at any grocery store. In fact, you can probably already find most of them in your kitchen. Consider stocking up with these organic and fair trade certified items for the holidays.

Many of these remedies would also make ideal stocking stuffers for your son or daughter home from college for the winter break.

In an effort to "go green," many schools are implementing incentives for students to travel to and from classes in an eco-friendly manner.

Let's take a look at some of the benefits that colleges across America are offering:

Hybrids to the front: At San Diego City College, 33 sought-after parking spaces will be reserved for hybrid vehicles, as well as other highly fuel-efficient options.

School pays you: At many schools, students are earning monetary rewards for leaving their cars at home, or even for carpooling. Stanford University will pay you up to $282 per year to do this.

Free stuff: Freshmen at Ripon College in Wisconsin were given a free Trek mountain bike, complete with helmet and lock, for agreeing not to drive to school. This is over $450 worth of of free stuff!

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's vision of a 2012 where every taxi cab is a hybrid was recently cut short by a judge's disappointing ruling.

If passed, each of the city's 13,000 plus cabs would have been, at minimum, twice as fuel efficient by the end of three years' time.

Because every taxi cab must be replaced every three years by regulation, each vehicle would have been swapped at the appropriate time for a hybrid.

A statement given by the mayor ensured citizens that "greening the taxi fleet is a major priority," and that a plan was in the works "to develop a program with strong incentives for the use of fuel-efficient vehicles and heavy disincentives for the use of inefficient vehicles."

On Friday, November 14th, details of this program began to surface.

Gaming is an international pass-time. I have been doing it as far back as I can remember, and my father has done it most of his life. My friends and coworkers game, and students make up a healthy proportion of the gaming community.

Unfortunately, this industry has been somewhat slow to green itself. While the major companies like Sony and Nintendo are taking steps, we're a long way from a guilt-free gaming experience. We are moving towards a greener gaming future.

Let's take a look at some of the impact that gaming has on the environment, and what you can do about it.

Did you know that one cow unceremoniously, we'll say, 'releases' hundreds of liters of methane per day? According to Ben Whitford of Plenty Magazine, cows comprise 18% of global emissions!

Scientists around the world are feverishly working on a solution that does not involve an international campaign to switch to Veganism.

Among the front runners are natural food additives, engineered grass, the clearly inspired tax solution, higher quality feeds, and even mass kangaroo stomach bacterial transplants.

The gas could also be "harvested" and converted into CO2, which in this case, is the greener option, as methane is more harmful.

Another proposal, although tough to swallow, is to switch from beef to kangaroo meat. These marsupials, despite a diet rich in plants, emit no methane. Australia already kills kangaroos for population control, and their meat is available for consumption, although the practice still has a poor image in the public eye.

In the future, cows will be gassy lassies no more! Unfortunately, your local farm isn't necessarily going to smell any rosier, as methane is naturally odorless. Still, less flatulent cows means greener air for everyone.