Give green . . . The greenest gifts are those that are durable and easy to repair, recycle, or reuse. Also good are gifts that help the recipient become greener (such as rechargeable batteries), gifts that help the environment, or those that benefit organizations that help the environment.
Party green . . . Avoid disposables when entertaining. If you must use them, buy napkins and plates made from recycled material. A good compromise is to use plastic dishes, cups, and utensils that you can wash and reuse year after year.
Decorate green . . . The greenest decorations are those you make yourself: strung popcorn and cranberries; pine cones; wreaths made of evergreens or other natural materials; candles; and dried flowers. Decorating a live tree or plant is preferable to a cut tree. If you must use a cut tree, make sure it is composted rather than thrown into a landfill.
Wrap green . . . The greenest method is to avoid wrapping paper altogether. If you prefer to keep things under wraps, use plain brown kraft paper or grocery bags, which you can decorate yourself. Sunday comics also make colorful, recyclable wrap.
Stay green! Perhaps most important, don't stop your green habits after the holidays. With a little creative thinking and some healthy changes of habit, you and your family can keep giving gifts to the planet all year long.

Here are tips to keep your home and your family healthy:

• Keep the house clean. House dust mites, pollens, animal dander, and other pollutants can be reduced through regular cleaning. Install and use fans vented to the outdoors in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
• Ventilate the attic and crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup. Keeping humidity levels in these areas below 50% can prevent water condensation on building materials, which can breed bacteria.
• Clean humidifiers regularly and refill with fresh water daily. Humidifiers can become breeding grounds for biological contaminants that can cause illnesses. Evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and refrigerators also should be cleaned frequently.
• Thoroughly clean and dry water-damaged carpets or consider removing or replacing them. Wet carpets can harbor mold and bacteria. It is very difficult to completely rid them of contaminants.
• Minimize pollutants in basements. Clean and disinfect the basement floor drain regularly. Operate a dehumidifier in the basement if needed to keep relative humidity levels between 30%-50%.

How much can you save?

Refrigerators consume the most power of all appliances in your home. The newest models are much more efficient than older ones. Example: If you replace a ten-year-old, 19- cubic-foot refrigerator with a new high-efficiency model, you can reduce your energy costs by up to $100 per year.

Clothes washers are produced in two configurations: traditional top-loading, vertical-axis machines and tumble-action (horizontal-axis) machines. Tumble-action washers use nearly 50% less water and 30% to 40% less energy per load than top-loading machines.

Clothes dryers consume about 5% of household energy. An efficient dryer not only costs less to run but also can prevent damage to your clothes from overdrying. Natural-gas clothes dryers cost significantly less to operate than electric dryers.

High-efficiency water heaters can cut your energy costs by $30/year if you use natural gas; $60/year if you use propane; $50/year if you use electricity; and $220/year if you use electricity and switch to a heat pump.

Air conditioners are 50% more efficient today than 15 years ago. Replacing an old, inefficient model can save you more than half your cooling costs!

Here's a simple checklist of other things you can do today to lower your energy bills this winter:

   Reduce the temperature of your water heater to 120F. You'll save energy and avoid scalding your hands.
   Install an insulating blanket around your water heater. It will pay for itself in a year or less.
   Use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dish-washers, washing machines, and clothes dryers. Air-dry your dishes instead of using the dishwasher's heater.
   Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents. These can save up to 75% of electric-ity used for lighting. The best targets are 60- to 100-watt bulbs that are on several hours each day.
   Clean or replace your home's furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters to improve air flow.
   Place rope caulk around leaky windows or install film covers over windows to insulate them. Both products are readily available at hardware and do-it-yourself stores.
   Seal up the largest air leaks in your home - the ones that feel drafty or whistle on windy days. The worst energy-drainers usually are not windows and doors but holes in walls to accommodate pipes, gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
   Install a clock thermostat to set your thermostat to a lower temperature automatically at night and when you are away.
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Earth Share, a federation of America's leading non-profit environmental and conservation charities, promotes environmental education and charitable giving in employee workplace campaigns. For more tips or to find out how your workplace can help the earth, email us at info@earthshare.org, visit the "Get Involved" section of our website, or call (800) 875-3863.

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