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I'm Dreaming of a GREEN Christmas

Quick tips to make your holidays more eco-friendly and economical

By Melissa Hucal November 27, 2014
The holidays can be a great excuse to go to great lengths — and great expense — to make the season special for our families. But as we learn more and more about how our individual actions impact the Earth, it's clear that small changes when it comes to decorating, shopping and entertaining can make a big difference - for the planet and our pocketbooks - especially during the holidays.

Eco-Decorating
What would Christmas be without the tree? Valid arguments exist for the environmental benefits of both an artificial and a real tree. As you search for that perfect tree, keep in mind that if you purchase a tree from a tree farm you're not damaging forests. These farms are specifically designed to produce – and re-produce – Christmas trees year after year. And while many would argue that the manufacture of artificial trees exerts energy and chemicals, if you already have an artificial tree, the re-use year over year saves on the gas you would spend driving to the tree farms and keeps the unused artificial tree out of the landfill.

When it comes to lights, use a reasonable amount and shut them off when everyone is sleeping or you are out of the house. Not only will this save on electricity, but it also keeps you safe. If you are in the market for new lights this year, switch to LED lights. LEDs can be used indoors and outdoors, same as traditional lights, but they use just a fraction of the energy. They release little heat and last about 200,000 hours. A conventional bulb lasts only 1,000 to 2,000 hours. For outdoor decorating, solar-powered holiday lights offer a solution that won’t add a dime to your electricity bill as all the energy to power the bulbs comes from the sun. Or consider reflective yard decorations. Car headlights and street lamps make them come alive without an ounce of extra energy!

For those who purchase a real tree, branches cut from the bottom can be used to create evergreen boughs for your mantle or your front door. And instead of purchasing new ornaments this year, consider hosting an ornament swap with your friends. Everyone brings the ornaments that they would rather not place on their trees this year and trades for new (or like-new) baubles and bling – an eco-approach to what could become a new tradition for your holidays.

Eco-Shopping
You might already be an eco gift-giver and not even know it. Eco-friendly choices like giving an experience (tickets to a ballgame or a museum membership, for example) create much less waste than the typical “things” we buy as gifts. Gift cards are also a great eco-option as they allow the recipient to choose exactly what they want or need and eliminate excess waste.

When shopping, plan your errands to minimize gas consumption. Put together lists before going shopping and map out your route. Or consider shopping online. You can reduce shipping costs and energy impact by buying multiple items from the same site. Watch for free shipping specials and request that items be grouped in as few shipments as possible.

If you need to ship presents this year, look for environmentally conscious packing material: crumpled up newspaper, or even dry, popped popcorn (let the receiver know that they can repurpose it as a treat for the birds).

Eco-Entertaining
Next to gift giving, the most enjoyable part of the holiday season is spending time with friends and family. Slight adjustments in your entertaining practices may go virtually unnoticed by your guests but will mean the world to Mother Nature.

When groups gather in your house, the temperature will naturally spike. Turn the heat down or off if possible when guests come over. Use your fireplace during parties for some added warmth and glow. It's festive, and it's renewable energy.

Many items can be cooked ahead of time, frozen and thawed. Cook multiple dishes together to reduce the time your oven is on. You can lengthen the cooking time on recipes calling for higher oven temperatures.

During parties, make it easy for your guests to recycle by making bins available for paper, plastic and glass. Make them festive by decorating with reused gift-wrap, ribbons and bows.

Even with the hustle and bustle of the season, being just a little green for the holidays needn’t be a hindrance to your celebration. In fact, it can be just the opposite. By implementing two or three small changes, you will not only feel good about your environmental impact, but you may also create memories and traditions that will sustain generations.