Our Green Lifestyle: Tis' The Season To Be Green

By: Emily Easley

"Green Holidays" photo provided by www.tchd.org

Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time of year. The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week. Reduce your carbon footprint and give the Earth a gift this holiday season!  Be an inspiration to your friends, neighbors and co-workers; they’ll be green with envy.

Holiday Parties.  Tis’ the season for fun, food, and festivities.  With holiday parties on their way, consider incorporating these tips to have a less wasteful gathering.

• Turn down the heat before the guests arrive. You’ll save energy while the extra body heat of your guests will warm up the room.
• For formal affairs, consider renting seldom worn party clothes or buying them from consignment shops.
• You can also rent dishes and glassware, making your party more elegant and eliminating the need to buy special holiday china.
• Walk to neighborhood parties or carpool (with a designated driver!) with friends if it’s too far to walk.
• After the party, don’t throw away the leftovers! Put them in plastic containers or bags and send them home with guests, or donate to food banks.
• Plan meals wisely and practice portion control to minimize waste in the first place.

Did you know...at least 28 billion pounds of edible food are wasted each year – or over 100 pounds per person. Putting one less cookie on Santa’s plate will reduce his snacking by about 2 million pounds.

Holidays at Home. There’s no better time to snuggle up at home than the holiday season.  So instead of wasting time, energy, and money traveling this winter, take a vacation in your own city.  Visit your local government website for a list of activities.  You’ll probably be surprised to find what attractions your city has to offer.  And remember, by staying home you’re:

• Reducing the amount of gas used during normally heavy travel times
• Helping to keep your local economy strong

Did you know…if each family reduced holiday gasoline consumption by one gallon, we’d reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons.

Green Shopping.  Internet shopping is the way of the future.  And with holiday shopping right around the corner, kick up your feet, save some gas, and let your fingers do the work.  Also try ordering from catalogues. 

• Remember to consider the items you buy, and check to see that they wont use excessive amounts of packaging when being shipped
• Cancel all mail order catalogues that you do not use

Did you know…if each household canceled ten mail-order catalogues, it would create a stack 2,000 miles high.

Eco-Gifts.  With the amount of waste created throughout the holiday season, many people have turned to the ideas of re-gifting, making gifts, or sending eco-friendly gifts.  The most environmentally friendly gifts are made from creative ideas rather than material packages.  Many gifts are also available in eco-friendly versions.

• The Anti-Gift: Don’t give gifts this year.  Instead, give your time rather than your money.
• Gift Certificates: Save the waste of wrapping paper and bows.  Instead, give your loved ones a gift certificate so they can get exactly what they want.
• Make a Donation: Make a donation in a friend's name this holiday season for a great alternative present.  You’ll be helping a good cause and connect your friend to the organization.
• Living Gifts: Gift a tree, plant, or flower this holiday season.  Help your friends find their green thumbs by making their spaces greener.
• Re-Gift: Everyone receives gifts during the holiday season that are less than desirable.  But remember, one person's trash might be another person's treasure.  Re-gift to save time, money, the earth.  Just be careful about who you're re-gifting to.
• Homemade Gifts: The best gifts are always homemade.  Try baking cookies, decorating picture frames, or making ice cube candles.   

Wrap With Efficiency. When choosing gifts this holiday season, consider the amount of wrapping paper used. 

• Think of gifts that don’t have to be wrapped at all (tickets to concerts, sporting events, movies, etc.)
• Wrap gifts in newspaper for a creative edge this season
• Use paper grocery bags to wrap gifts that have to be mailed

 Did you know…On average, over 8,000 tons of wrapping paper is thrown out throughout the season. 

Did you know...if every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet?

BYOB.  "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" photo provided by www.blogs.consumerreports.org.  What better way to be eco-friendly during the nation’s busiest shopping season, than to bring your own shopping bags.  Cloth, paper, and plastic are all great choices, and reusable.  Also, try to consolidate your purchases into one bag as to save on getting a new one with each purchase.

A holiday season with no longs lines, no rude clerks and fewer hours wrapping presents. That's what a "green holiday season" could mean to you!

Comments

[Amy]

Reusing gift bags this year!