The great Christmas-tree debate should be settled for now. No more agonizing over artificial versus natural, not after the Canadian sustainable-development firm ellipsosreleased a bombshell study last year. A life-cycle assessment - following "the recognized ISO 14040 and 14044 standards" and relying on "no funding (direct or indirect) by any of the concerned stakeholders" - determined that "a natural tree will generate 3.1 kg of greenhouse gases whereas the artificial tree will produce 8.1 kg per year." The president of the firm, Jean-Sebastien Trudel, rightly called the finding "astonishing," given that "the artificial tree is reusable" and "the natural tree requires annual trips to purchase it." ...more

December 26, 2009

In houses throughout the world, one might assume it was the children who spent Friday morning unwrapping gifts left for them under the Christmas tree. ...more

December 26, 2009

It was the winter of 1950. That was the last Christmas my family enjoyed in Southern Indiana, before we moved to the sunny south. And, being the tender age of 6, it was the first Christmas that I can recall. ...more

December 25, 2009

Technically, Christmas is over — all over our living room floor, that is. ...more

December 25, 2009

Food and all those lights, trees, gifts and their wrapping paper make the holidays a lot more festive, but they also considerably increase the amount of trash we produce. ...more

December 25, 2009

For the first time in his 19 years, James Wright will be 3,000 miles away from his family on Christmas Day. ...more

December 25, 2009

John White just wanted a breather. With bags at his feet and a cell phone ringing in his pocket, White took a rest Thursday near the large Christmas tree at The Shops at Wiregrass. All around him, people toted bags, pushed small children in strollers and window-shopped. ...more

December 25, 2009

John White just wanted a breather. With bags at his feet and a cell phone ringing in his pocket, White took a rest Thursday near the large Christmas tree at The Shops at Wiregrass. All around him, people toted bags, pushed small children in strollers and window-shopped. ...more

December 24, 2009

The holidays mean lots of trash. Here are some tips to help reduce your carbon footprint this year. ...more

December 24, 2009

After working full days tending to his family strawberry farm, Lane Wetherington spends his December nights spreading holiday cheer. ...more

December 23, 2009