What Santa Claus will not tell you this Christmas
Its jingle bells time, Christmas season awash with glad tidings, decked trees, gaiety, mirth and the customary Santa visits. Well not just Christmas, all festivals brings in its wake not just good times but also an indelibe amount of waste and an inherent impact on the environment and the surroundings. Lets take a starry look at some commonsense ways wherein we can usher in the Christmas season in a more responsible manner.
- Turn off the Christmas light when its not needed or when you are’nt at home.
- As simple as turning off your thermostat by a degree can whittle off 10 percent on your energy bills.
- Buy recycled paper to wrap your special presents.
- Choose a gift that can be useful, lasting and recyclcled.
- Cold shoulder energy guzzling gadgets as gifts.
- Ensure gifted gadgets have rechargable batteries.
- Better green friendly gifts include concert tickets, gym memberships, baseball game tickets etc.
- Make it a point to buy Christmas trees potted or with roots intact. You can always keep it in the balcony for next year or better still can be planted in the garden for reuse next year.
- Reduce lighting up your garden or premises. You waste energy as also be a unwarranted nusiance to birds and insects.
- Say yes to cloth napkins and porcelain plates. Say no to paper plates and cups.
- Switch to organic produce for the Chrismas feast.
- Ensure spare food and leftover are cooled before storing in the fridge.
- Cook with the pan lids on. Your food cooks faster. You save energy too.
- If you want to live it up with caviar, say no to endangered sturgeon and choosed the farmed variety instead.
- Go for oysters than red meat. Oysters function like tiny carbon-wells that absorb CO2 to build their shells.
- Going for Atlantic salmon and swordfish might ensure you might not have it again soon. They are endangered and need to be protected. Go for other better choices.
- Do not use the dishwasher until it has a full load so that you can use it only once thus saving more.
- Use decor made from recycled or eco-friendly materials.
- Say yes to natural decoration. Easy to recycle and can be used as compost.
- Pinecones, painted eggshells, crushed (colored) aluminum foil, paper chains, paper snowflakes, old CDs can always double up as decoration when handled creatively.
- Sending an e-eard might not be too personal but it does help.
- Preserve boxes, gift bags, wrapping, filler, ribbons and bows for future gift wrapping or craft projects.
These are just a few tips that will not only make this Cmas greener but also give you the added satisfaction that you did contribute to the environment in little ways that really matter. And at the end of it, please dont forget to recycle all the Christmas waste..
Have a merry Christmas all the way…..
What do you think? Have your say