Global Warming Challenge #4
Dreaming of a Green Holiday
Since the holiday season is typically not very ‘green’, our challenge this month is to try to make environmentally sound choices this year. We are listing a few of the many things you can do ….. and certainly you can think of many more!
- Action:
- Do as many of the following as you can. It may be a little more difficult (after all this is a "challenge") but the energy savings will help us all!
- Holiday Lights
- Try to use the new low energy LED lights.
- If you use regular lights, reduce the number of lights and/or the number of days or hours per day you have them on.
- Gift Wrapping
- Use post-consumer content paper. White printer paper works well for small gifts & is lovely with real or silk foliage or poinsettias (which can be saved and re-used)
- Open gifts carefully and save the paper for re-use. Recycle what you can't reuse.
- Use fabric or other reusable material.
- If you buy giftwrap, make sure it can be recycled.
- Reduce Driving
- Combine trips by shopping at just a few locations or trip-linking.
- Shop online. It save gas and is less stressful too.
- Research online or by phone. Even if you don’t buy online, you can go online to find products you want (down to the exact model number) and a local store that carries them. Call stores to make sure they have it rather than wasting a trip.
- Gifts
- Consider gifts of service rather than things. Perhaps a "certificate" for babysitting, house/yard help etc. etc. etc.
- Give tickets to a play or concert, movie tickets, or gift certificates to restaurants.
- A good choice is gifts that help the recipient be more energy efficient. How about those handy tire pressure gauges (challenge #3)...or under-door draft guards (that move with the door)...or a warm jacket or wrap to make less heating more comfortable. The possibilities are almost endless ... be creative.
- Gift certificates or money avoid unwanted items...consider them when appropriate
- For gifts that you mail: choose smaller if possible. And reduce the amount of wrapping as much as you can.
- Follow-up Actions
- Follow the gift giving suggestions above all throughout the year...for any occasion. Pass these suggestions to friends and family!
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