With the holidays around the corner, what a great time to be green and show it. By wrapping green, wrapping paper, ribbon, cards and bows are beautiful to look at. But they accumulate to tons of waste too.

Reusing wrapping paper, ribbons and bows is a good way to reduce that waste. Save those holiday cards from this year to reuse. One way is to cut the front of the card into an ornament that can be used on a tree, or as a tag on a gift, or even used in a scrapbook. Some are even so special that you could put them into a frame and enjoy then on your wall. We are always looking for other ideas too.

You may even find things around the house to wrap those gifts in, like a brown paper bag (remember when you would wrap your school books in them and then decorate the paper bag). Reuse the funny paper, or what about a coloring book (color the page first and then wrap your gift). If someone is into sports - then use the sports page, or the food section for that person who likes to cook.

Once you get started you will see how much fun it is and how contagious it is for others to do too. Also a great way to save money!

Also, think about skipping the wrapping paper and use other reusable items such as stockings, gift bags, fabric and other materials from around the house. Good luck

LUNCH TIME!

Do you need to take a lunch to school, or maybe need one for a field trip?

First you will need a lunch box, not a paper bag that gets tossed out.

This is a great time to save the Earth by using reuseable food containers from your kitchen, like Tupperware, or Glad. Pack your food into these reuseable containers instead of using all those fancy prepackaged containers that will just get tossed out each day after lunch. Instead after lunch put your containers back into your lunch container and bring it home to wash out the reuseable food containers to be used the next day.

It is better to use a container again and again and again and again, then to toss out more items eact day into the garbage that will just go to and land fill.

This goes for those paper napkins or paper towels you might need to wipe your hands with. Take a wash cloth instead, and when you get home put it into the laundry area to be washed with the rest of the towls.

And should anyone every make fun of you - be proud to say "I am saving the Earth".

You might even want to talk to your teacher and see what can be done for more recycling at your school.

Save some energy!

#1. Save some heat.
Take ribbon or piece of paper, it must be light enough for wind to move.
Then your ready to test around doors and windows.
Hold the ribbon or piece of paper around the doors and windows to see if the paper or ribbon moves.
You have just found a leak, where cold air is coming in.
Now let your parents know, and ask them what you can do to help them stop this leak.

#2. Save some electricity.
Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
Unplug items that are not being used, like a toaster.
And don't open your refrigerator unless you know what it is you are getting.

Here is a little test:
Post a piece of paper next to your refrigerator.
Make a list Monday, Tuesday, Wed. and so on, for one week.
Now tell everyone in the house to make a check mark each time they open the door to the refrigerator to take something out and to put something back in.
You might even want more details on your list by putting each person name under each day, and this way each person would put a check mark by their name.
Time to find out the results by adding up the check marks.
How many times per day?
How many times per person?
How many times per week?

Now you can see how many times everyone goes to the refrigerator and lets out the cold air, just for the refrigerator to work on getting it cold again after the door is closed.

Try to find ways to cut down the number of times the refrigerator is open. Maybe if one person needs to open the door, they could ask everyone first if they want something out of the refrigerator too. Now you open the door once but get something out for everyone fast.

Another idea for in the summer, instead of opening the door all day when it is hot out. Fill a cooler with ice and bottled water, and juice. This way everyone can help themself to something cool to drink without opening the refrigerator all day long.

An adult should also check on the back of the refrigerator each month and remove any dust that has built up, with a vacuum cleaner, or broom, or dustcloth. This will help save engery because the refrigerator will not need to work as hard.

Check the temperature too, it should be between 38 degrees and 42 degrees inside the refrigerator to keep your food fresh and safe to eat.