I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Soon to be seen in the December issue of Voice

Christmas lights and electric menorahs are lit halfway through November.  They turn on at dusk and remain on until dawn.  Being ‘green’ or eco-friendly is all the rage these days, so why not make an effort this holiday season to conserve while still remaining festive? 

—Replace Christmas bulbs (outdoor and on your tree) with LED lights.  LEDs typically last three times longer than regular lights and use 90 percent less energy than holiday mini-lights (blog.brighterplanet.com).  They still look the same, except are brighter, and are just as traditional and merry as the old ones.

—Use old CDs for drink coasters instead of store-bought ones.  Since CDs are generally out-of-date nowadays thanks to MP3 format, reusing these circular discs of plastic into fun coasters is an easy way to conserve.  If the shiny underside of a disk does not match with your décor, painting them is very easy and looks professional if done neatly. 

 —Instead of throwing uneaten food in the garbage, consider creating a compost pile.  These piles of waste are easy to start—just add some grass clippings and dried leaves, then your food.  Composting is great for your soil as well as being a great way to conserve.

—Save some watts while being festive: light candles.  Just make sure you don’t overdo the scents, and that you light enough—nobody wants to eat in the dark.

—Turn down the thermostat, put on a sweater, and use your fireplace.   A fire can create a warm (no pun intended), jovial mood in any festive house.  Consider installing a chimney-top damper so heat doesn’t completely escape from your home.

—Give some eco-friendly gifts this season.  A recycled calendar, a donation to a charity or the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in someone’s name, or Energy Star rated appliances or electronics are all appropriate green gifts for a person.  People also miss the greenery of the outdoors, so a flower or herb kit is an idea.  Save gas by ordering online, or visit a nearby store.

—Wrap gifts in recycled wrapping paper or the comics section of the newspaper.  Or, if the gift receiver isn’t picky, you could use a recycled bag.  Wrapping paper is a huge waste of paper, and is ripped apart and thrown away in the end. 

—Holiday cards also are a waste of paper.  Sending an e-card or using recycled paper are more environmentally-conscious ways to get your message across.

Each holiday season costs the planet by emitting excessive amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.  You can make a difference every year simply by turning on your LED lights a few weeks before the holiday instead of months before.  Wait until it is completely dark, then turn on lights, and don’t leave them on all night; it’s not like anyone is admiring your decorations at three in the morning.  The holidays are not meant to be wasteful—they are all about giving and celebrating.  Saving energy is a gift in itself. You too can dream of a green Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa this December.