Decorating For Christmas
The Green Living Way
Christmas is probably one
of the easiest times of the year to use environmentally friendly decorating
ideas, and given the more traditional decorating trends for the season and the
ever increasing need for all of us to contribute to making the planet a greener
place, it's never been easier. Here a
few great ways to decorate your home for the holidays and be greener at the
same time!
Green Tree Ideas
Replace your old Christmas
lights with new LED lights. They use
less electricity and last longer than the older ones.
If you put up a real tree
for the holidays consider using a live tree that you can plant after the
holidays, or be sure you recycle your tree after the season is over.
Only purchase your real
tree from a Christmas tree farm or retailer who purchases from farms. Never cut down a tree in a conservation area
or in a public park.
Consider using an
artificial tree; be sure that it is recyclable and not made using any harmful
materials or chemicals.
Use natural products to
decorate your tree. Berries, popcorn,
and other food items that don't perish quickly are a great addition to any
tree.
Green Home Décor Ideas
Use real garland and other
decorations from nature. Most garden
centers are great places to get environmentally friendly decorations for the
Christmas season.
Be sure that you purchase
decorations and other holiday items that are durable and reusable year after
year. If you want holiday tableware
avoid the paper kind, and choose products that are made locally using environmentally
friendly products.
If you put lights on the
exterior of your home you may want to reduce the number of hours you turn them
on each day, and only have them on when someone is home.
For wrapping and gift
giving, use papers and materials that are reusable and recyclable.
These are just a few ideas
that you can use to make your Christmas more green while still keeping the
holiday spirit alive! This is a great
time of year to show our love for our planet and our fellow man, and keeping
the holidays environmentally friendly is a great way to do that.
