As published in the Lafayette Today newspaper.
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The holidays are now officially upon us. That means, for the next month or so, minimizing your environmental impact will be as difficult as ever. According to National Geographic, between Thanksgiving and New Years, Americans throw away an extra million tons of garbage each week. This additional trash includes holiday wrapping, packaging, cards, food, paper plates and napkins, party decorations, bottles and cans, and more.
Use Energy-Saving LED Holiday Lights: Love to deck the halls with lights? Look for lights made with LEDs, which are 90 percent more efficient than traditional lights, and can save your family up to $50 on your energy bills during the holiday season. LED lights are available at Lafayette Ace Hardware and other local retailers.
Send e-Cards or Eco-Friendly Cards: Sending eCards this holiday season won’t waste a single tree. If you still want to send a physical card, look for cards printed on 100% recycled paper or tree-free cards.
Shop Local: Research shows that for every $100 you spend at one of our local businesses, $68 will stay in the community. The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has launched a new campaign called “Put Your Money Where Your House is.” Residents sign up at participating merchants and receive a key ring card that entitles them to year-round offers and discounts. It’s your passport to savings in Lafayette! More info at www.trylafayettefirst.com. Make sure to bring your own shopping bag!
Choose Green Gifts: Choose durable, long-lasting items made with earth-friendly materials that are energy-efficient, and have minimal packaging. Best of all is to give gifts that don’t cause any waste at all like concert tickets, dinner, IOUs, homemade gifts, or items that get used up like food, candles, soap, etc.
Travel Eco-Friendly: When it comes to travel, we're generally talking about three methods: Planes, trains, and automobiles. However, if we were to order them in terms of greenhouse emissions, it'd go: Trains, automobiles, and then planes. Not nearly as catchy is it? If you are going to fly for the holidays, you could consider purchasing carbon offsets. Another idea is to checkout the many new options for eco-tourism.
Entertain Green: Choose organic and local foods for your holiday feast. Avoid disposable products when entertaining guests. If you have to use disposable plates and napkins, consider products that are compostable or are made from recycled materials.
Make Your Own Decorations: Make eco-friendly decorations such as strung popcorn, decorations made of pine cones, homemade candles, and wreaths made from evergreens and other natural materials.
Use Wrapping Paper That Can be Recycled or Reused: Most mass-produced wrapping paper is not recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children's artwork. Or use a scarf, attractive dish towel, bandana, or some other cloth item that can be re-used. You can also purchase reusable cloth gift wrap from new stores like ReWrapables.com.
Eliminate Unnecessary Catalogs: Remove yourself from the mailing list of catalogs that you don’t use. Call the company’s 800 number; use new services like “Catalog Choice”; try a junk mail removal service like 41pounds.org, greendimes.com, or stopthejunkmail.com.
Try a Potted or Pesticide-Free Tree: Demand is on the rise for potted Christmas trees that can be planted after the holidays and Christmas trees that are not covered in chemicals; some growers use 40 different pesticides, as well as chemical colorants. And make sure to recycle your tree when the holidays are over.
For more ideas and more details about how to reduce your environmental impact over the holidays, please check out our complete list of green holiday tips.
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