Online retailing will continue to grow this holiday season, with a record 71 percent of consumers spending at least part of their holiday budgets on the Internet, according to Deloitte's 23rd Annual Holiday Survey of retail spending and trends. This figure is up five percentage points from 2004.

This popular medium for holiday gift shopping ranked #2 this year, behind discount department stores. More than one in five consumers (21 percent) surveyed plan to shop primarily or entirely online this holiday season (up from 19 percent last year), and almost one-quarter (24 percent) of total dollars are expected to be spent on the Internet, compared with 22 percent last year and only 19 percent in 2004.

A survey conducted at home shows in 15 cities across the country gauging consumer environmental practices suggests that many Americans are going green when it comes to their homes. Despite “cost” being singled out by 36 percent of respondents as the greatest impediment to going green, half of those surveyed have paid more money for an energy efficient product in the past 12 months and one in three homeowners (30%) claim they would be willing to spend $5,000 or more on green improvements to increase a home’s appeal to potential buyers. The findings are the result of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Living Green Consumer Survey, which looked at responses from over 2,300 consumers and is considered accurate to within +/- 2.2%.

For the past 12 years on the 600 block of Alta Drive in Beverly Hills, the Halloween decorations get ever more “spooktacular” for neighborhood ghouls, goblins and their parents to enjoy while trick or treating. The spooky house is popular not only with neighbors, but is also a treat for out-of-town passersby who look forward to visiting each year.

“Halloween is one of our most favored holidays and we always try to incorporate current events and social issues into our growing Halloween decoration collection,” explained Rochelle and Richard Maize, long-time Beverly Hills residents who are addicted to this holiday. “Following 9/11, all of our decorative creatures were showing their American spirit by holding U.S. flags and each year, we add to our collection of Halloween props,” Rochelle Maize said.

Evidence is on the dinner table that the nation's stifling economy and rising food prices hits Southern families close to home. The South* is facing the highest price increase in the grocery aisles since 1990 -- a 7.9 percent increase since last year, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With food budgets stretched thin, money-conscious consumers can rely on products from companies, such as Glory Foods to save time and money without sacrificing premium Southern-style taste.

Compared to last year, fewer consumers are willing to pay more for green products despite growing consumer interest in the environment, green behaviors and green lifestyles, according to Yankelovich.

Going Green 2, a follow-up to last year's report examining how much consumers actually care about green issues, indicates that environmentalism is developing among U.S. consumers -- especially among Echo Boomers (ages 16-29) and GenXers (ages 30-43), who both said they are more concerned about the environment compared to a year ago. But while interest in green issues continues to grow, consumers' willingness to pay more for green alternatives has decreased.

Today's students are going green and the move towards a sustainable future is impacting many of their decisions, including college and career choices. In recognition of this movement, Kaplan has focused its new Kaplan College Guide 2009 for the first time on environmentally responsible schools and green careers.

The Guide features 25 green private and public colleges from across the nation. The section provides students with a look inside the classroom, around campus, and at student life, while shining a spotlight on what's good for the globe at each college. The Guide also profiles 10 hot green careers -- from environmental engineering to geothermal development -- and includes interviews with professionals from each. The green schools and careers profiles are not rankings. Instead, they give students interested in sustainability and conservation well-researched ideas and a cross-section of options.

Planning a family reunion? Make your gathering more eco-friendly with these simple tips, developed by the family vacation experts at the Antlers at Vail hotel:

• Water Mark -- Staying hydrated is always important, but it's critical at high altitudes like Vail's 8150 feet. Consider providing family members with refillable water bottles when they arrive. Check the bottle's recycling symbol; safe, non-toxic plastic options include 2 (high density polyethylene), 4 (low density polyethylene) or 5 (polypropylene).
• Walk the Walk -- Hold your reunion near plenty of attractions and activities to reduce driving - and appeal to family members of all ages. In Vail, there are numerous shops, restaurants, galleries, bike trails and more within walking distance of the Antlers; a free, energy-efficient shuttle bus also stops throughout the village.

Find out 5 more helpful tips after the jump.

In cities like Los Angeles, where the car is king, the thought of commuters leaving their vehicle keys behind and opting for public transportation once seemed unimaginable. But The Los Angeles Times recently reported commuter rail use has reached record numbers.

During one Tuesday in May, L.A.'s Metrolink reported its highest ridership at 50,232 passengers, which was a 15.6% jump over the previous year. Meanwhile, the California Department of Transportation reports drops in freeway traffic compared to last year's figures.

The rules of the road are changing. And high gas prices, traffic congestion, and environmental awareness are altering the real estate landscape. The result is that more people are looking to work closer to home, not only because commuting is becoming more expensive, but also because of growing concern over car-centered life and its impact on global warming.

"Living green" doesn't mean you have to be a tree-hugging hippie. Green is more mainstream than ever before -- it's about how we live our day-to-day life and making small improvements that have a big impact on the earth. Going green in the home is no exception. Here are some simple tips to help make your home more eco-friendly.

Kitchen & Bath Green Tips

Your kitchen and bathroom are great places to start greening your home. Here are a few places where you can make some quick improvements:

Find out after the jump.

Planet Green officially opens for business with the premiere of RENOVATION NATION, the ultimate how-to guide for making your home earth-friendly. The tricks of the trade for the green home building movement are revealed when Emmy Award-winning host and handyman Steve Thomas brings viewers into the exciting world of green renovations. In this daily hour-long series, Thomas, known to viewers as handyman and host of This Old House, meets with eco-sensitive homeowners and builders who are making the choice to go green. Thomas shares the secrets of making environmentally responsible transformations by teaching homeowners and viewers alike which materials and designs encourage energy efficiency, while also providing tips on making the process as affordable and simple as possible. A sneak preview of RENOVATION NATION airs Wednesday, June 4, at 9:30 PM ET, when Discovery Home Channel becomes Planet Green. RENOVATION NATION officially premieres Friday, June 6, at 8:00 PM ET and can also be seen Mondays through Thursdays at 6:00 PM ET beginning June 5.

Summer is the perfect time to combine a green thumb with a green lifestyle. By following these simple tips, homeowners can save time and money, and improve the health and appearance of their lawn and garden.

• Mow regularly and leave the clippings on the lawn - the clippings will recycle into "free fertilizer."
• Water deeply, but infrequently, to prevent lawn disease and save water.
• Mulch flower and vegetable beds with compost or grass clippings to conserve water and control weeds.
• Identify bugs before you spray, squash or stomp - most bugs are good bugs, not pests.
• Consider planting native trees and plants, especially ones with berries, fruits and flowers to invite birds, butterflies, and other wildlife into your yard.

For more information on greenscaping, check out EPA's GreenScapes Web site. It includes a seasonal tips calendar on landscape maintenance and a pamphlet that provides cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for large-scale landscapers and homeowners.

McGraw-Hill Construction presented the findings of its latest market research investigating "green" home building, focusing on changes in green building activity between 2001 and 2007; the impact of the down market on green home building; opinions and preferences of builders for green materials and processes, and triggers and obstacles affecting green building expansion.

The major findings of the survey, which is co-sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), include:

• The residential green building market is expected to be worth $12 billion to $20 billion (6% to 10% of the market) this year.
• In five years (2012), the market is expected to double to 12% to 20% market share, or $40 billion to $70 billion.
• 40% of builders think green building helps them market their homes in a down market.
• Quality has emerged in this down market as the most important reason for building green. Previously, builders were motivated by energy cost savings of green homes and doing the right thing, which still came in #2 this year. This is likely due to green home marketing and how it improves quality of life.