I’m dreaming of a Green Christmas (in more ways than one)! Christmas can be hard on resources but here are some planet friendly ideas for “greening your” holidays.
Saving energy:
• Use LED Christmas lights, which use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights.
• Limit the time that Christmas lights are on.
• Unplug TVs, DVD players, computers, printers, radios and other electronics when you go on vacation because they use energy even when they aren’t turned on.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
Decorating:
• Decorate with items that are energy-efficient and durable.
• If you have a Christmas tree, try to buy one that is locally grown and grown in ways to keep forests healthy. Consider a living tree or artificial tree.
• Decorate with the greens provided free by Panorama (in the Fitness Center parking lot shortly after Thanksgiving).
Gifts:
• Take your own bags on shopping trips, even in stores where they aren’t required.
• Buy gifts that don’t use electricity or batteries.
• Buy from the Panorama gift shop, the Barn or other local resources.
• Make your own gifts.
• Give gift certificates, museum or theater memberships or tickets to local productions.
• Give a gift of your time – make your own gift certificates for meals, chores, special treats, etc.
• Give gifts that are durable, energy-efficient, recyclable or compostable.
• Buy Energy Star certified electronics (TVs, DVD players, VCRs and cordless phones).
Gift wrap & tags:
• Wrap gifts in reusable materials: reusable bags instead of sheets of gift wrap, old comics or newspapers or decorated brown paper.
• Make gift tags from old greeting cards.
If you use purchased bows, save them to use for future gifts.
Entertaining:
• Serve food with washable utensils, plates and glasses rather than disposable ones. When your organization has a potluck, ask people to bring their own washable utensils, plates & glasses.
Holiday Cards:
• Try to find cards that are printed with soy ink on paper with recycled content.
• Make your own cards out of recycled cards or original art
Reprinted from the December 2016 Panorama News