The holiday season and the end of another year is almost upon us. The days are growing shorter and colder as the winter season nears its high point. The holidays are almost here, and many of us are considering how we will celebrate with loved ones or what we will change in the new year, but there is another consideration many people overlook. The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but they can also be one of the most wasteful and least eco-friendly times of the year when they don’t have to be. It is entirely possible to have the same celebratory holidays as always while being more eco-friendly at the same time. It doesn’t take an unreasonable amount of effort or money to make your holidays, or even everyday life, more environmentally friendly without sacrificing all the modern comforts and traditions you love. Here are a few ways to make your holidays greener while keeping the magic that makes this season the most wonderful time of year.
Nice And Warm
Winter is when the days get shorter, darker, and colder, which also means winter is the perfect season to get warm inside. Whether you opt for a good blanket, warm fireplace, or hot shower, it always feels good to get warm while it is freezing outside. Most homeowners never think about their various heating systems so long as the appliances work, but that means most homeowners don’t realize there are better options than their old fashion heaters. Any home still using water heaters from over 20 years ago could enjoy the benefits of a modern propane water heater that is more efficient and eco-friendly. Everyone wants to be comfortably warm during winter, and a reliably warm shower powered by a new water heater can be an ideal, if unorthodox, holiday gift to yourself.
Order What You Need
Going out to shops is not recommended right now, but delivery services have stepped up to the plate, so we don’t have to go without. You can order almost anything you need online and have it arrive at your door in a few days to a few weeks, depending on the company. Ordering what you need may not sound more eco-friendly, but it is in the grand scheme. Instead of driving to and from stores, delivery drivers make one long route to drop off possibly hundreds of packages. Many sites use tracking tools like the ups time in transit API, so you always know when your orders will arrive, and you can enable notifications that will update you every time the status or location or your packages changes. Stay inside this winter and let the delivery services bring what you need right to your front door.
Reuse
One of the best ways to be more eco-friendly is not to create waste. Instead of throwing something away, see if it can be reused or repurposed. Yesterday’s newspaper might not carry the latest news anymore, but it can be a fun repurposed wrapping paper for gifts, or you can use it in combination with other materials to make holiday home decor. There is an endless supply of ideas for DIY decor online that will put your extra materials around the house to good use.
Greener Tree
A Christmas tree is a nonnegotiable part of the holidays for many households. You may think a pre-cut or fake tree is the only option, but there are lesser-known ways to get a Christmas tree that are also eco-friendly. Instead of getting a pre-cut tree that will die in a few days, opt for a living tree that stays alive in a large pot until after the holidays when it is planted outside to continue growing. A living tree lets you keep your tree traditions while also planting a new tree for the planet. Your local area may have a living tree business that will take care of transporting the tree for you, but it varies by area.
Once you have your tree, ditch the old fashioned and outdated lights that break every other year anyway and replace them with LED string lights. LED lights might be more of an investment than older tree lights, but LED lights use less energy and offer better durability than older styles. When you grab new LED lights, also pick up a timer, so you always know your tree lights are turned off every night before bed.
The holidays are a magical time of year, but we often forget how our celebrations can affect the planet. By having a greener holiday season, you can celebrate with confidence and a clear conscience. Consider upgrading your old water heater, order the supplies you need online, reuse everything you can in creative ways, and look for ways to make your Christmas tree even greener this holiday season.
About the author:
Naomi Shaw is a freelance journalist residing in sunny Southern California with her husband and three children. She is a work-at-home mom that enjoys writing on fashion, beauty, jewelry, and everything weddings!