Part of Instructables' mission is to inspire our community to create and share great projects. We do this though contests, theme months, and challenges that are seasonally appropriate, part of a bigger cultural trend, or simply areas where we want to see more great Instructables. This year we've decided that our overarching theme will be "Green."Our Green category focuses on the environment, reuse and recycling, and saving energy or making it in new ways. However, there's more to it. Green projects cut across all of our categories, and DIY is deeply and inherently green. When you make something yourself you often save materials, time, or money, while simultaneously generating less waste and creating a relationship with your project. Because of that relationship, you are more likely to cherish the final product, upgrade it, repair it, or even pass it along to someone else who will also cherish it. All of these actions involve making more with less, and that is fundamentally green. From my perspective as a life-long DIYer, I feel that it's time our culture took an active interest in all things green. I want to make sure the things we do are meaningful. We may have passed peak oil, but we can all work to ensure we pass "peak waste." So, to help inspire you, we'll be running a number of Instructables project contests all with a green theme. Some will be large, and some will be small -- we've even arranged sponsorship to give away Voltaic solar laptop bags and an Epilog laser cutter! To help you plan and get your projects started early and finished on time, we'll be publishing the timing of several of the contests scheduled during the first half of the year. Obviously, I think the best time to do a project is when you're most passionate about it, but I recognize everyone can benefit from a little extra motivation. Things are, of course, subject to change, but if you have even the slightest inkling of a green project, start now; especially since the real prize will be inspiring everyone that sees your work make their own lives a little bit greener.