Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or all of them, this week's tips from the Sierra Club will help you lessen your impact while you increase your joy.
Tip #1: Be Bright About Lighting
By switching to LED lights, you'll save power even while keeping the holiday spirit bright — some LED strands are even solar-powered. Instead of going overboard with a power-sucking display, get maximum impact from fewer lights by choosing a smaller tree or focusing on one central part of the house, like the front door. Just as you would with any appliance, remember to unplug lights when they're not in use.
Tip #2: Decorate a Live, Local Tree
Real or fake? If you're wondering which kind of Christmas tree is better, keep in mind that Sierra magazine's advice columnist, Mr. Green, recommends staying natural. A potted, native tree is a good choice if you can plant and care for it after the holidays, or if your town has an organization like Friends of the Urban Forest that will take back your tree and plant it for you. If you don't have the space (or a green thumb) to accommodate a living tree, an organic, locally grown cut tree is your best bet.
Tip #3: Don't Get Burned by Petroleum
If you're preparing to light a menorah or stocking up on candles for Kwanzaa later this month, look for eco-friendly candles made from soy or beeswax instead of petroleum-derived paraffin. For better air quality, opt for unscented varieties. Keep wicks short to get more life out of your candles.
Tip #4: Save the Paper!
Instead of dressing presents with one-time-use wrapping paper, you can repurpose newspapers, magazines, or old posters or maps. Even better, turn bandanas or pillowcases into furoshiki (traditional Japanese wrapping cloths) or deliver gifts in a reusable bag or a handmade purse. If every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
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