Move over expensive fuels for airplanes, there’s a new sheriff in town. A New Zealand airliner recently completed a successful two hour flight partially fueled by vegetable oil.

The plane, a passenger Boeing 747-400, was filled with a half-and-half mix of plant oil and standard jet fuel. The plant fuel is derived from the jatropha plant, which is a plant native to Central America and is significantly cheaper than crude oil, or even other biofuels. Air New Zealand wants to use this 50-50 mixture in at least 10% of its planes by the year 2013.

"There's still a lot of analysis to be done but we achieved a lot with the test flight and the manoeuvres we've done. The aircraft performed flawlessly," said ANZ chief pilot Captain Dave Morgan, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Using this new blend of vegetable oil and jet fuel could bring a lot of changes to the airline industry, namely lower emissions and hopefully lower flight prices. Biofuels used to be considered impractical for use in airplanes, but after this New Zealand flight, that view is starting to change. The blend proposed by Air New Zealand would equal a one-quarter reduction of jet fuel’s carbon footprint.

With the New Year quickly approaching, you may be wondering what you can do to make 2009 as green as possible. Here are a few tips that should help you make your New Year more environmentally friendly.

Parties

1. If you’re having a New Year’s Eve party, send out e-invites instead of paper ones. You’ll not only receive your RSVPs faster, but you’ll save paper, ink and money. Also, encourage guests to carpool to save gas.

2. Purchase re-usable cups, plates and utensils, or ones that can be composted. This will save on garbage that goes into landfills.

3. Instead of giving out gifts, give each person who attends a list of green resolutions they can make for 2009 and by telling them about Green Groove.

4. Re-use old holiday decorations or wrapping to decorate for your party. This saves money, waste, and gives you a chance to think of creative ideas that will make your party unique.

Resolutions

1. Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions, and generally they’re too vague or grandiose and don’t ever get fulfilled. This year, make smaller resolutions that you know you can accomplish. Creating a phased withdrawal with Green Groove is a great way to start.

2. Help your friends, co-workers and family come up with green resolutions. There are even things you can do together, like adopting a mile on the highway and picking up trash, or cutting down on paper towel use. Having someone there to keep you on track, and to chart progress with, is a great motivator for continuing your resolution all year long.

If everyone takes the time and makes the effort to come up with green resolutions that will last all year, and follow through with them, a big difference could be made. Even if it’s something as small as creating a compost pile in your backyard and reducing your household waste, it makes a difference. The New Year is the best excuse to start making green changes in your life, so get to it!

Trying to find a "green" gift? Search no longer. Simply sign up a friend or loved one with Green Groove. You can do this one of two ways. First, you can easily sign someone up on our signup page. Just create a user ID and password for them using their email, then all you have to do is email them the information along with our site address (www.greengroove.org) and tell them to get started. Secondly, you could go to our new start page to put together a quick plan for someone, create a user ID and password using their email address, and the plan will be emailed straight to them. They can roll with that plan, or come back, sign in, and create a new one. Nothing quick, easier, and most importantly greener.

That's right, your friends and family can be carbon neutral for a day by joining Brighter Planet in their latest "One Day Campaign." All you need to do is point your loved ones here to make it happen. It just takes a name and email, that's it. The goal is to give away 5,000 one day gifts, and to offset 680,000 lbs of CO2. Pass it on!

Winter is approaching and record-breaking low temperatures are already popping up. Conserve energy in your home by making sure it's weatherized with a few classic tips. First, use caulk and weatherstripping to make sure there are no air leaks in the cracks between your windows and doors. Second, do what you can to insulate walls and ceilings. Third, use double-paned windows when replacing old and outdated glass. "Raising Baby Green," a book by Alan Green, claims that caulking and weatherstripping can save 1700 lbs of CO2, wall and ceiling insulation can save 2000 lbs of CO2, and double-paned windows can save 10,000 lbs of CO2. The book also claims that the reduction in CO2 will add up to roughly $1000 U.S. in saving. As a bonus to helping the planet, and your wallet, YOU WON'T FREEZE!

You've probably seen the Google ads lately with the claim that global warming is a myth. They all lead back to "The Douglass Report, Real Health News from Medicine's Most Notorious Myth-Buster." The self proclaimed know-it-all boasts that there is no reason to stay up at night worrying about your carbon footprint, and that "global warming flunkies" are just trying to take your money.

Green Groove would like to take a moment to warn against the good Dr. Douglass. That's right, it appears he is the one who appears to be after your money. In fact, his latest research update criticizing global warming scientists actually had this to say, "Just enter your e-mail address in the box below to get your free report. You will also get a FREE subscription to my Daily Dose, an e-letter written by yours truly that has all of the up-to-date health news and breakthrough solutions you need to look and feel great." I'm sure those solutions come real cheap.

The effects of pumping massive amounts of C02 into the atmosphere may, or may not, be hurting the planet, but think for a moment how much better life can be when living it green. Pretty soon we'll be out of oil, and have to find new (why not cleaner) modes of transportation. Soon, we'll be forced to recycle as there will be no place left to keep stacking our leftovers. Living green is just smart. It is unfortunate that we have educated doctors out there who are actually saying to stop worrying about your carbon footprint. Laughable, but still dangerous.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, whether you celebrate Christmas, Yule, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, you may feel overwhelmed with how to stay green in a season that is so commercially driven. Here are a few handy tips for staying environmentally conscious.

1. Wrap gifts with recyclable paper, or paper that is home-recycled (using newspaper or paper bags) and instead of ribbon, use twine or hemp rope. They come in a lot of colors, so your gifts will still look great.

2. Make your own gift cards and tags with recyclable paper.

3. Hand-made presents are greener than options you can buy at a store. Learn to knit or crochet and make scarves and hats. You could also sew re-usable shopping bags to give to your friends and family. Buy only the amount that you’ll need so you don’t have leftover waste, or if you do, make something for yourself!

4. Buy a potted tree that you can plant after the holidays, or get an artificial tree that you can use for more years than just this one.

5. Throwing a party? Buy your food in large quantities, and buy things that will last in your fridge or pantry if they’re not eaten, like boxed crackers and canned foods. Find reusable or compostable silverware and plate ware, which will cut down on washing after, but also garbage.

6. If you’re traveling, try to carpool with people heading the same direction. Many communities and colleges have a carpool board where you can find people who need to find travel companions. Make sure your tires are inflated, and filters are clean, before heading out. Separate your snack waste, and recycle what you can when you get to where you’re going.

This time of year, the best gift that you can give is your pledge to help this planet make it so your kids, or young nieces and nephews, can see a Christmas when they’re grown up. Enjoy the season, time with your friends and family, and the planet we all live on.

DVice.com has gathered ten ideas to help green your home, and you probably haven't heard of most of them. Here is a quick teaser, but do some Googling or go to DVice.com to learn more.

EcoDrain - Installs in the shower drain and uses leftover hot water to help heat the incoming water.

Solarwind Turbine - Think wind turbines covered in solar panels.

Water Reclamator - Waste water treatment in your own yard!

Swash Toilet Seat - Uses a small amount of water to wash your bum. No more TP.

Coolroof - Recycled rubber shingles that have solar cells embedded into them.

Granitecrete - This porous surface will soak up storm water runoff, instead of sending it straight to the city.

Ultratouch Insulation - This recycled denim product is like heating the home with your old Levis.

Green Walls - An exterior wall of plants to help purify air, and insulate your home.

Ceramic Paint - Exterior paint that lasts 25 years.

Plogs - Like a prefab mini-house made of used Douglas Fir.