The winter holidays are a time to treat yourself to some tasty holiday foods or splurge on a present for a loved one. Environmentalism and holiday cheer can go hand-in-hand. You can easily incorporate green practices into your purchases and festivities. Below are 15 tips you can use to make your holiday season environmentally-friendly. Pick one or more of these tips and you will be on your way to ringing in a green year!
Conserve Energy:
- Lower your thermostat and put on a festive holiday sweater, even host an ugly sweater party to get everyone in the energy-saving spirit!
- Purchase gifts that are energy efficient. Click here to find TVs, computers, and holiday lights that are ENERGY STAR certified.
- Carpool to holiday parties and on shopping trips. Not only will you save gas and money, but you will enjoy merry company.
Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:
- Choose gifts, cards, and wrapping paper that contain recycled content.
- Purchase durable and long-lasting gifts that have minimal packaging.
- BYOB! Bring your own bag when you shop for food and presents.
- Choose reusable silverware, plates, and glasses at your holiday parties. Be so bold as to bring your own utensils, plates, and cups to others’ holiday parties. Your host may even thank you for cutting down on their cleanup time!
- Reuse newspaper, paper grocery bags, tissue paper, and cloth as wrapping paper.
- Make your own holiday decorations from past cards, family photos, tissue paper, calendars, and other items destined for the landfill.
- Make mulch from your Christmas trees and wreaths to cut down on irrigation.
- If you lack a mulcher, recycle your Christmas trees. Visit Waste Management, EDCO, or the City of San Diego’s websites for tree recycling information in your service area.
- Compost food scraps and holiday decorations (when appropriate).
Have a Greener Trip:
- Stop your newspaper delivery.
- Unplug TVs, microwaves, and other electronics.
- Bring your water-wise and energy-conserving habits to your hotel or hosts’ house.
Get creative with the ways you green your holiday! Making your holiday season more eco-friendly should be fun. And remember to spread the joy!
Sources
1 U.S Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, December 7). Winter Tips. U.S Environmental Protection Agency Web site. <http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-winter.htm#reducewaste>
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, November 16). Green Your Holiday Scene. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site.<http://www.epa.gov/students/holiday.html>
3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, September 7). Have a Greener Holiday! U.S Environmental Protection Agency Web site.<http://www.epa.gov/wastes/inforesources/news/2004news/12-holiday.htm>
4 U.S. Environmental Proection Agency. (2011, July 19). Questions About Your Community: What Can I Do to Help the Environment When I Travel for the Holidays or an Upcoming Meeting? U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site. <https://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/evaluate.rnav/piddL89ZW3u6Qjouy55EGp0146?activepage=ecampaign.wizard.detail&pageName=ecampaign.wizard.detail&action=what&agent.uid=1108022668584&popin=true&supportedEditor=c&camefrom=detail>
