The San Francisco Department of the Environment has started an earth-friendly way to have a real Christmas tree without killing it. They're renting young potted trees out as home Christmas trees, but after the holidays, the trees will be re-planted in areas of the city which are in need of some greenery. The trees are "non-traditional", so they won't be the fragrant pine or fir most of us are used to, but they won't need to go into a landfill once the ornaments and lights come off. It's also possible to buy a live pine and re-plant it yourself, if, of course, you have the space to grow a tree.

These aren't available options for most of us, but there are other ways to have a sustainable Christmas tree. Because I lack taste completely when it comes to Christmas, I kind of like this Plasma ball Xmas Tree. It's a classic touch and sound sensitive light ball, but with a tiny glowing tree in the center. You might call it tacky, I call it festive and a bargain at $19.99.

Something utterly gorgeous and non-holiday specific is this Lumen Tree by designer Adam Frank. It's an oil-lamp projector, powered by fuel cells, that is beautiful on its own, but also creates a flame-flickered shadow of the etched tree on the wall.

The $59 Lumen Tree is currently out of stock, but will be just as lovely post-holiday.

From USA Today.