Greening Your Christmas
Written Debra Kirchhof-Glazier
Red and green are the colors associated with Christmas. Not only do they go well together in a literal sense, they apply in a figurative one as well- red for vitality and green for sustainability. Our health and the health of the environment are inextricably linked.
The Wellness Committee at Juniata College recently hosted a Holiday Sustainability Luncheon where attendees were treated to a delicious organic, local meal and presentations by faculty and staff on the many initiatives that the College is spearheading to lower its impact on the environment. As part of that presentation Dr. Sharon Yohn shared some wonderful information and ideas on how to make your holiday celebration more environmentally friendly. I felt that her presentation deserved a wider audience and, with her permission, decided to share some of the highlights with our readers.
What would Christmas be without a tree? But what kind of tree should you get? Believe it or not, the most environmentally friendly thing to do is buy a real tree. Although an artificial tree can be used over and over, it is made of plastic, which is derived from fossil fuels and eventually tossed into the landfill. On the other hand, a live tree is both a renewable and recyclable resource. Many of us live in or near woods where the tree can be put after the holidays to serve as a refuge for small wildlife and to later decompose. Those who live in town can have their tree shredded and turned into mulch. Hard-core recyclers can buy a live tree and decorate it for a few years before planting it.
And what about lights? LED (light-emitting diode) lights are beautiful and use 90% less energy than conventional lights. Dr. Yohn shared the results of studies that projected savings of two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in just one month if everyone in the U.S. would replace their conventional lights with LEDs. Those savings could power 200,000 homes for a year. On a personal side, a 500 incandescent light display costs about $18.00 but only $0.19 if LED lights are used. In addition, LED light strands remain lit if one of the bulbs burns out.
Decorating can have a green twist as well, including literally. Live greens from your yard can be made into wreaths and other holiday decorations, ,and paper used on only one side can be transformed into snowflakes. If you do buy decorations choose good quality products that will last. Take along your own shopping bag to further decrease your environmental impact.
Greeting cards allow us to keep in touch but they can take their toll on the environment. The number of cards sold during the holiday season would fill a football field 10 stories high and require 300,000 trees for their production. Consider recycling your Christmas cards instead of throwing them away. If you enjoy crafts, they can be saved and used in a variety of ways. You can also create and email your own cards to save on trees and stamps, using free software at www.photobucket.com.
Perhaps one of the most important considerations in greening the holidays relates to gift-giving. One radical concept is to buy fewer things. You can exchange names rather than buy for every member of your family. Some may even be open to having a donation be given in their name to a worthy cause. You can also give memberships to facilities, periodicals, or organizations or an IOU for time promised to babysit or help with chores. For your environmentally committed loved ones there are a wide array of “green gifts” like programmable thermostats or even carbon offsets for fighting global climate change. See http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentID=5616 and www.carbonfund.org/holiday. Stop receiving unwanted catalogs by logging on to www.catalogchoice.org.
When you do buy, shop close to home to help our local businesses and decrease your use of gas. Look for battery-free gifts, but if a gift requires batteries, consider giving rechargeable ones and a charger. You can also re-gift new items that are just “not you” but may be perfect for someone else (other than the gift-giver!) and give gently used items. Children can be raised to expect giving and receiving used gifts with as much joy as new ones. Spread the word and encourage your family and friends to consider this option. Gifts can also promote interaction with the environment. Some examples include camping gear and environmentally related books, such as Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which Dr. Yohn recommends and claims will make you laugh and want to go out and plant a garden. When you wrap your gifts, consider using recycled paper or children’s artwork, which the grandparents will love.
Holiday meals and parties can be sustainable as well. Set out cloth napkins that can be washed later in cold water to save energy. Use real dishes and silverware- and get the kids to wash them by hand. Use as much locally grown meats and produce as possible to lower the environmental impact of transporting food.
Sustainability also means helping our neighbors in need. Recycle your good quality winter wear or buy some from one of the local resale shops to donate to the Salvation Army holiday collection boxes. Give to the food pantries now and all year. You can also help those less fortunate and our local organic farmers by buying Huntingdon Farmers’ Market Scrip for use next summer at the Portstown Farmers’ Market. Visit the office of the Stone Church of the Brethren at 1623 Moore Street in Huntingdon or call 251-4363 for details.
Use this season to enhance your consciousness about sustainability. It will be a gift to yourself and planet. Happy holidays!
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.