Previously, we’ve been listing some great Earth-friendly gift ideas, but having a green Christmas doesn’t have to stop with gifts. Here are some more quick tips for living green this Yuletide.
This year why not make it a brown Christmas, too? Decorating your tree with pinecones and other things you find on the ground. Have a local, organic Christmas dinner with a turkey raised in your area and don’t forget the chance to make some holiday crafts from recycled materials.
Do those energy-sapping holiday lights make you feel a bit guilty? Not sure if buying a Christmas tree is good for the environment? No problem. Here are 3 ways you can make this holiday season more in accord with green lifestyles.
1. Use LED holiday lights: LED, which is short for light-emitting diode, is the way to go if you want your holiday lights brighter and more energy efficient. They’re also cool to the touch, so you don’t have to worry about curious children burning their fingers. Great for green lifestyles, studies show that LED lights use far less energy. 500 normal incandescent bulbs can rack up an energy bill of $30 over 30 days. But the same amount of LED bulbs only cost $2, so LEDs can lead to great savings, especially if you’re the type who likes to go big every year with lots of lights.
2. Rediscover plants: What’s better for green lifestyles than a traditional wreath? Buying a wreath from a garden store, or even making your own will achieve a great, rustic tone. And real wreaths have less of a carbon footprint than plastic ones.
3. Real Christmas trees: It may seem counterintuitive, but going with a real, live Christmas is better for those seeking green lifestyles. Pine trees can always be replanted, but plastic trees are made with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. PVC has also been linked to things like increased cancer rates and impairment of children’s development.
And after the holidays, real Christmas trees can give back to the environment via mulching or natural decomposition.
