Dreaming of a Green Christmas

By Megan O’Neill

(This is so well written, I couldn't resist sharing it with you. Why should I reinvent the wheel? Personally, I am "keen" on "green"!!)

For a season so focused on family, it’s amazing that, during Christmas, so many of us overlook our Mother Earth: We drive from store to store searching for presents, we travel long distances to attend parties, plus, Americans throw away an estimated one million extra tons of garbage each week between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day! For those who want to celebrate in a more eco-friendly style, we’ve gathered some tips to help you green your holiday traditions.

Burn Cleaner Candles
Most of us love the warm glow of candles come Christmas, in Advent wreaths, the kitchen, and everywhere else in the house. But did you know that some candles can contribute to indoor air pollution? Make sure any candle you purchase has a metal-free wick to avoid releasing lead into the air (that means tossing any you bought before October of 2003, when lead wicks were finally banned). Candles made from beeswax, vegetable wax or soy are also much cleaner burning than those made with paraffin wax, which is a petroleum product. And don’t forget to trim your wick to 1/4” before lighting to limit the amount of smoke that enters the air.

Use Earth-Loving Lights
Deck your house and tree with energy-saving LED (light-emitting diode) lights. You can now find them in every shape, size and color imaginable and they use about 33% less energy than traditional incandescent lights, so they’ll save you money, too. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, if everyone replaced their Christmas lights with LED strings, in just one month, we’d save at least 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity—enough to power 200,000 homes for an entire year!

Green Your Evergreen
Each year, over 30 million Christmas trees are uprooted and sold in North America alone. This year, try purchasing a tree that has its roots intact, then planting it in your yard once it has served its seasonal purpose. Another option is to recycle your tree. When you throw your tree into the trash, it ends up occupying valuable landfill space, whereas recycling turns it into wood chips which can be used to mulch gardens and parks. Visit Earth911 and enter your zip code to find a “treecycling” center in your area.

Get In the Carpool Lane
When driving to church, holiday parties, or even the mall for shopping excursions, why not do so with others? You’ll save on gas and reduce your carbon footprint, while spending time with friends and family you may otherwise rarely run into during the hectic holiday season.

A Hostess Gift Worth Giving
Looking for a useful, unique, and thoughtful host or hostess gift? Consider making a donation to an environmental charity. By doing so, you’ll be improving the world while reducing waste—after all, how many bars of soap, hand towels or holiday mugs does one person really need? At JustGive.org, you can search through more than 1 million different charitable organizations, learn more about each, and then purchase gift certificates that recipients can redeem as donations for their charity of choice.

Don’t Toss Old Toys
Kids inevitably outgrow their toys. Instead of tossing what they’re tired of into the trash, why not donate your family’s gently used games, dolls, and other playthings to families who are less fortunate? Bring them to your local Salvation Army thrift store or check with your church to find out if they will be collecting both old and new toys for families in need. Just be sure to only offer up items that are clean and that aren’t missing any pieces or parts.

Be An Earth-Wise Wrap Star
Stocking up on wrapping paper that ends up in piles on the floor and in the trash post unwrapping can be costly, not just for you but for the Earth, as well. Chances are, your friends and family won’t mind if you wrap your gifts in recycled brown paper bags, or newspaper, as it is what’s inside (and the thought!) that counts, right? For wrapping options that are a bit prettier, look for rolls made from recycled paper. You can find some at Fish Lips Paper Designs and Paporganics.com.

Stay Green By Keeping Clean
When the holidays are over and the house guests are all gone, clean up with safer, less-toxic cleaning products. Most cleansers are loaded with chemicals that can be harmful to your health and pollute the water and air. Switching to non-toxic, all natural products (that contain ingredients your grandmother used to clean the house with) is a simple way to be green and clean. Some great brands to look for: Method, Seventh Generation, and Ecover. You can also try your hand at making your own household cleansers by checking out the tips at The Daily Green.

Cut Back on Cards
Reduce paper waste by sending your loved ones E-Cards instead of traditional paper cards. Hallmark.com offers plenty of free options, as do sites like Bluemountain.com and Egreetings.com. If only old-fashioned Christmas cards will cut it for you, look for those that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council: Cards with the FSC logo on the back are made from recycled paper or from trees that were grown and harvested in a sustainable manner.

I mailed over sixty Christmas cards, personalized with a couple of paragraphs of information. I already had the cards from previous years' "after Christmas" sales so, in essence, I am recycling (right??). I had the Madonna stamps because (two months ago) I had every intention of sending cards and a "newsletter." The newsletter didn't get written because I've been depressed. Frankly, I'm looking forward to January 2nd. Until next time, Lorraine wishing you a blessed Christmas!!