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IEPA tips for 'green' holidays
Easy
alternatives reduce household garbage and energy consumption
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[DEC.
14, 2004]
CHICAGO -- The holiday
season is here, and while many people are busily decorating,
shopping and preparing for holiday celebrations, the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency offers some ideas and tips to help
you reduce garbage and save energy. |
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"A few easy steps can make your
holidays greener in more ways than one -- since this
environment-friendly advice can also save you cash," said Renee
Cipriano, director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
"IEPA has seasonal suggestions on
holiday lighting, shopping, gifts, wrapping, cards and more,"
Cipriano added. "And check out
IEPA's website throughout the year
for information about other seasonal programs to help Illinois
residents and consumers become part of the solution."
Listed below are IEPA's green
holiday tips.
Lighting
and decorations
- Get outdoor light strands that
are wired in parallel. They have separate circuitry so that if one
bulb blows out, the rest will keep shining. All you have to do is
replace the bulb.
- Use lower wattage bulbs (e.g.,
mini lights or five-watt bulbs) to reduce energy usage. The
reduced heat from the bulbs will also make your lights safer.
- Look for LED (light emitting
diode) holiday lights, which can use up to 95 percent less energy
than standard incandescent light strands.
- Use halogen floodlights instead
of incandescent floodlights
- To avoid running up your electric
bill unnecessarily, use an automatic timer both indoors and out.
You won't have to worry about turning lights on and off, and
you'll avoid leaving them on all night or during the daylight
hours. Just make sure that the timer you use is rated to handle
the total wattage of lights.
- Get a tree that can be planted or
arrange to have your tree ground up as mulch afterward.
- Reuse holiday decorations.
Parties
- Turn down the heat before your
guests arrive. You'll save energy while the extra body heat from
your guests warms up the room.
- After the party, don't throw away
the leftovers! Wrap them up and send guests home with the treats
or make arrangements in advance to share leftovers with local food
banks.
- Remember to collect and recycle
wastepaper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans after the party.
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Photos
- Purchase a reusable camera
instead of a disposable one to conserve resources.
- If you buy a single-use camera,
take it to a film developer who will send it back to the
manufacturer for recycling.
- Purchase film rolls of 36 instead
of 12 to reduce packaging waste.
Shopping
- When you do your holiday
shopping, bring your own shopping bags. Paper, plastic and cloth
are all good; they can be folded neatly and carried in your pocket
or purse.
- Consolidate your purchases into
one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store.
- When buying electronics, toys or
other gifts that require batteries, remember to buy rechargeable
batteries or a plug in AC adapter.
Cards
- Look for recycled-content
greeting cards.
- Better yet, send paperless
e-cards.
Gifts and
wrapping
- When giving oversized gifts like
bicycles, instead of wrapping them in paper, just tie a bow around
them.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle gift
wrap
- Wrap gifts in old maps,
newspapers, Sunday comics or fancy holiday gift bags that are
reusable. Kids' artwork is a perfect wrapping for presents to
proud grandparents.
- Give gifts that create little
waste, such as movie, theater or sport passes, concert tickets or
memberships.
- Keep an eye open for products
made from recycled materials or that are energy-efficient.
- Donate unwanted gifts (along with
last year's gifts that are not used anymore) to charity.
Holiday
dinners
- Turn your food waste into
compost, a great natural fertilizer. Fruits and vegetables and
their peels, pits and seeds are all perfect for composting.
- Avoid using one-time consumables
such as paper cups, dishes, napkins and plastic eating utensils.
- When you buy the ingredients for
your holiday dinner, consider buying products that are locally or
regionally produced.
[Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency news release]
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