10 Tips for a Green Christmas - One Part Sunshine

10 Tips for a Green Holiday

1.Skip the artificial tree, which is usually full of toxins like PVC and lead. Instead, choose a live tree cut from a local, organic farm. Most tree farms typically plant 1 to 3 new trees for each one harvested. Or better yet, choose a potted tree that you can plant when the holidays are over. If you get a cut tree, make sure to recycle into something like mulch – both Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville usually collect trees for mulch through the middle of January. For more information, visit www.christmastree.org.

1.Trade in your old incandescent lights for LED ones. LED lights consume 80 to 90% less energy and last up to ten times longer. They are also cooler to the touch and more durable. You can recycle your old incandescent lights at www.HolidayLEDs.com and get 25% off new LED lights.

1. Forget about buying cheap plastic decorations. Make your own using natural and reclaimed materials such as fruit, plants, flowers, pinecones, old sweaters, cardboard, or flour and water. Find ideas at wholeliving.com, marthastewart.com and familyfun.go.com. Don’t forget to compost natural materials. Or pick up vintage decorations from thrift shops and yard sales.

1. Just say no to toxic gifts from China. Make your own gifts to give. Or choose gifts that are handmade, local, sustainable, well-made, and non-toxic.

1.Wrap presents using reused or natural materials, such as newspaper, packing paper, old maps, old wallpaper, kids’ artwork, grocery bags or leftover/vintage cloth. Spruce it up by layering different papers and adding old beads or buttons, candy canes, cinnamon sticks, dried flowers, pinecones, dough ornaments or stamps. Reuse wrapping paper or recycle it into things like bookmarks or book covers.

1.Pick natural and organic foods for your holiday dinner or party. Better yet, try to only use foods that are local and in-season in your area.

1. Travel efficiently. Carpool whenever possible or ride a train or bus. Rent hybrid cars, and stay in eco-friendly hotels (orbitz.com has a list).

1. For your winter fires, choose logs made from recycled materials such as the Java-Log, which is made from used coffee grounds. Standard wood logs contribute to indoor air pollution.

1. Go green when entertaining. Skip traditional paper invitations and do email invites instead. Choose local and organic foods for the party. Replace disposable dishes and cutlery with reusable ones.

1. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Every year, between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, Americans create 25% more trash than during the rest of the year. Do your part by choosing gifts, packaging and decorations that are reusable, recyclable or compostable. And then actually reuse, recycle or compost them!

For more information and tips on greening your holiday, visit www.OnePartSunshine.com.

More information will be provided about each of the above tips in the next week.

1. Skip the artificial tree, which is usually full of toxins like PVC and lead. Instead, choose a live tree cut from a local, organic farm. Most tree farms typically plant 1 to 3 new trees for each one harvested. Or better yet, choose a potted tree that you can plant when the holidays are over. If you get a cut tree, make sure to recycle into something like mulch – check Earth911.org or ChristmasTree.org for locations near you. For more information about choosing a real tree, visit www.christmastree.org.

2. Trade in your old incandescent lights for LED ones. LED lights consume 80 to 90% less energy and last up to ten times longer. They are also cooler to the touch and more durable. You can recycle your old incandescent lights at www.HolidayLEDs.com and get 25% off new LED lights.

3. Forget about buying cheap plastic decorations. Make your own using natural and reclaimed materials such as fruit, plants, flowers, pinecones, old sweaters, cardboard, or flour and water. Find ideas at wholeliving.com, marthastewart.com and familyfun.go.com. Don’t forget to compost natural materials. Or pick up vintage decorations from thrift shops and yard sales.

4. Just say no to toxic gifts from China. Make your own gifts to give. Or choose gifts that are handmade, local, sustainable, well-made, and non-toxic.

5. Wrap presents using reused or natural materials, such as newspaper, packing paper, old maps, old wallpaper, kids’ artwork, grocery bags or leftover/vintage cloth. Spruce it up by layering different papers and adding old beads or buttons, candy canes, cinnamon sticks, dried flowers, pinecones, dough ornaments or stamps. Reuse wrapping paper or recycle it into things like bookmarks or book covers.

6. Pick natural and organic foods for your holiday dinner or party. Better yet, try to only use foods that are local and in-season in your area.

7. Travel efficiently. Carpool whenever possible or ride a train or bus. Rent hybrid cars, and stay in eco-friendly hotels (orbitz.com has a list).

8. For your winter fires, choose logs made from recycled materials such as the Java-Log, which is made from used coffee grounds. Standard wood logs contribute to indoor air pollution.

9. Go green when entertaining. Skip traditional paper invitations and do email invites instead. Choose local and organic foods for the party. Replace disposable dishes and cutlery with reusable ones.

10. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Every year, between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, Americans create 25% more trash than during the rest of the year. Do your part by choosing gifts, packaging and decorations that are reusable, recyclable or compostable. And then actually reuse, recycle or compost them!

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