Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or anything else, the holidays are the time of year where spirits are high and togetherness is most important.
You can make the most out of the holiday season by going green with eco friendly celebrations that benefit the environment and help you save money.
Holidays are the Season for Green No matter what your personal religion or traditions are, we all have a fun time putting up decorations with family and friends, so why not use eco friendly decorations? They are easy to find, they come in any size and color, and they help you save energy and save money.
For example, you and your family can design your own holiday crafts using papier-mâché made out of used newspaper.
This would be a good way to get children involved in the festivities.
An excellent way to be energy efficient during this time of year is by using energy efficient light bulbs if you plan on hanging festive lights in or around your house.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are just right for this because they are affordable and they use significantly less energy.
In fact, if everyone used Energy Star LEDs instead of standard decorative bulbs, we would be able to save over 2 billion kWh per year, while reducing the emissions that lead to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Furthermore, using LEDs will help you save money because they last 10 times longer than traditional lights.
Eco friendly gifts are another great idea because not only are they are good for the environment, but they also pass on the "green" message.
You can take things even further by using boxes, wrapping paper, and tissue made out of 100% recycled paper.
After everyone is done unwrapping their gifts, you can then save what you can and reuse it later, and then recycle whatever is left.