Unfortunately, the company you keep might be a problem. If you live in any of the metropolitan areas below, it might be time to put a little heat on your friends and neighbors to clean up their act.

Here are two different looks at the Top 10 most polluted U.S. cities:

(By year-round particle pollution)
1. Los Angeles, California
2. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3. Bakersfield, California
4. Birmingham, Alabama
5. Visalia/Porterville, California
6. Atlanta, Georgia
7. Cincinnati, Ohio
8. Fresno/Madera, California
9. Hanford/Corcoran, California
10. Detroit, Michigan

(By ozone)
1. Los Angeles, California
2. Bakersfield, California
3. Visalia/Porterville, California
4. Houston, Texas
5. Fresno/Madera, California
6. Sacramento, California
7. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
8. New York City/Newark, New Jersey
9. Baltimore, Maryland/Washington, DC
10. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Source: American Lung Association

Related Links

• Read about how a solar plan in Los Angeles is sending up political flares in that city.

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Here are the most-read stories of 2008 from Green Right Now:

1. Germany and France ban pesticides linked to bee deaths; Geneticist urges U.S. ban
2. Green collar jobs: solving environmental and economic troubles?
3. Five vegetarian entrees for the Thanksgiving table
4. Catch the spirit of giving: Recycle, reuse and reduce by donating at the holidays
5. Food waste in America, a growing concern
6. BPA: Steering away from a risky plastic
7. Health fears about BPA plastic spread with Canada pushing for a ban
8. Amtrak — Brimming with passengers and green potential
9. Hydrogen fuel cell cars: clean, green and not quite ready for retail
10. Green governors fight climate change from coast to coast

Eco-friendly living is all the rage. With that in mind, we bring you ideas from author and environmental lifestyle expert Danny Seo on how to throw a party that’s kind to the planet.

Skip the theme.. — Themes are cute, but those specialized paper plates, streamers, banners and decorations end up in the local landfill.

Buy recyclable materials — Buy beverages in aluminum cans and glass bottles that can be recycled. By buying wisely, you can make a huge impact. Glass and aluminum can be recycled into more glass bottles and aluminum cans, and the process never degrades the quality of the material. It can be reused over and over again. Plastic is tougher to recycle, and the process of recycling breaks down the chemical structure of the plastic each time it’s recycled, weakening the material. Plastic has a limited number of resuses.

Keep the food local and organic — Shop at your farmer’s market for fresh produce and select organic wines and beers.

Think multi-purpose and repurpose — Look for things around your home that are reusable. For example use glass jugs as wine decanters at one get-together, then use the same jug as a flower vase at another. Or, use your party decorations as gifts for the guests.Also, take a look at things around your home from a different perspective. You know those old paint chip cards you used when you were trying to decide what color to paint the spare bedroom. They can be turned into great gift tags or wineglass IDs. Put a hole in them with a hole puncher, string ribbon through them and tie them to your glass or package.

BYOSP (Bring Your Own Serving Pieces) – If you hire a caterer, bring your own serving dishes to him before the party. That way, the caterer can place prepared food in your serving dishes. You’ll eliminate the need for the Styrofoam or plastic trays used to transport the food to your party, packaging that will end up in a landfill.

Also, instead of plastic wrap to cover items, ask the caterer to use wax paper and aluminum foil. Wax paper is completely biodegradable. And, aluminum foil is recyclable as long as the food isn’t baked or stuck on the foil.

See more Planet-Friendly Party Ideas at Fine Living.

Related stories at FineLiving.com:

• Host Danny Seo Bio – 50 Ways to Save the Planet
• Fine Living’s Special – 50 Ways to Save the Planet
• Green Resources
• Simple Tips: Every Day Recycling
• It’s Easy Being Green

The Green Right Now team went looking for holiday gift ideas that help us all to consume less. Here’s what they found — and go to greenrightnow.com for the full details on each selection:

• The Sodastream Penguin – make your own soda, bypass plastic bottles
• A reusable water bottle – a waste-trimming stocking stuffer
• The Voltaic Solar Panel Messenger Bag – portable solar power
• SolarGorilla – power your laptop
• A bamboo utensil set – a sustainable stocking stuffer
• Digital Shower Timer – a water-saving stocking stuffer
• Soy candles – symbolically burn your addiction to foreign oil
• Cookware – authentic earthen pieces from LaChambra
• Market baskets and kids’ totes – reuse, reuse and reuse them
• Rainbarrels – for the gardener on your list

1. Go organic. Say no to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in your feast (it will taste better, too.)
2. Shop locally. When you buy locally produced products, you reduce your carbon footprint because less fuel was burned to get it to your table.
3. Avoid packaging. Choose food items that come in recyclable packages (or no packages at all!)
4. Conserve water. Try to reuse pots, plates and silverware. Be aware of your water usage as you wash up after the big meal.
5. Cook just enough. Avoid excess servings and give away anything you don’t need (instead of throwing it away.)
6. Fitness first. Do something outdoors with the family. Make it a tradition!
7. Plant something. As you enjoy the harvest, give back by planting a tree or bulbs before the frost hits your neighborhood.
8. Unplug yourself. Give up the TV and computer and fast from electricity for a day. Get your family and friends to join you.
9. Compost. Start a compost in your back yard. You’ll be surprised how much less garbage you have to mess with!
10. Stay home. Celebrate with your neighbors and friends.

Read more at Green.com

A group that vets ski resorts for kinder environmental practices offers an eco-ranking of resorts for skiers who want to patronize the greenest of the snowy places in North America.

The Ski Area Citizens Coalition (SACC) top ten for 2007-2008, with their rankings on a 100-point scale:

Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, Colorado – 88.9 %

Buttermilk Mountain Ski Resort, Colorado – 88 %

Park City Mountain Ski Resort, Utah – 81.3 %

Sundance Resort, Utah – 79.1 %

Aspen Highlands Ski Resort, Colorado – 76.4 %

Mount Bachelor Ski Area, Oregon – 74.7 %

Alpine Meadows Ski Area, California – 73.8 %

Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado – 73.3 %

Bogus Basin Mountain Resort, Idaho – 73.3 %

Alta Ski Resort, Utah – 72.2 %

Sponsored list:

• Hotel offers under $99 (feed)

Go to Original Six’s Green Halloween page for more details:

1. Make your own costume from reusable/recyclable materials or thrift store purchases.

2. Make your own decorations from reusable/recyclable materials.

3. Send party invitations by email rather than using paper.

4. Look for fair trade and/or organic treats with natural coloring and flavoring.

5. Use cloth or canvas bags (or pillowcases) for collecting candy, rather than paper or plastic.

6. Compost your food waste after the party.

7. If possible, walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation to and from parties.

8. Trick or treat for a good cause.

9. Use beeswax or soy candles instead of paraffin-based ones.

10. Save candy wrappers and dispose of them properly – don’t litter!

One in three national park sites has air pollution levels that exceed health standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Most of the air pollution now marring the parks’ scenic views, harming plants, and risking the health of wildlife and visitors, results from the burning of fossil fuels, especially by coal-fired power plants. Worse yet, more than 100 new coal-fired power plants are in various stages of planning and development across the country, putting national parks at risk.

10 national parks most threatened by new coal-fired power plants (in alphabetical order):

• Badlands (South Dakota)
• Capitol Reef (Utah)
• Great Basin (Nevada)
• Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee and
  North Carolina)
• Mammoth Cave (Kentucky)
• Mesa Verde (Colorado)
• Shenandoah (Virginia)
• Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota)
• Wind Cave (South Dakota)
• Zion (Utah)

Related links:

• National Parks Conservation Association report “Dark Horizons”
• Green Right Now: Environmental groups sue over national park air quality

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