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dec 05

Making the Holidays Bright

From choosing a tree to lighting up the night, it's easy to make your holiday a little greener without skimping on the holiday spirit. Whether your tree is real, artificial or a cone-shaped art object, you can decorate more sustainably this season with energy-efficient lights and natural, reusable materials.

Upgrading your string of lights to LEDs, which are more than 90 percent more efficient than regular bulbs of old, will save you money when the electricity bill comes in January. Although they cost more, LED lights last for 20 years and are difficult to break. They come in all colors, don't release as much heat and are much better for the environment. This year, many major retailers are stocking LEDs. If you can't find them on store shelves you can order them online. LEDs come in all shapes and colors -- some look like the large, colored incandescent bulbs of your grandmother's while others are bright pinpricks of light. They're so efficient that you can light up the entire yard and still use less electricity than you did last year.


Grandma's holiday ornaments and decorations, used year after year, are already green! Just stay away from disposable items like tinsel or anything plastic. Decorate with reusable objects and materials like cloth ribbons, bells, pinecones and garlands.


Buy candles made from beeswax or pure vegetable waxes, rather than petroleum-based paraffin. An arrangement of candles in the fireplace can be an attractive and cleaner alternative to a roaring fire.


Buy trees, garlands and wreaths that were grown locally. Start a new tradition by buying a potted tree that can be replanted after Christmas. Be sure to recycle or compost your tree and wreathes. Most communities offer tree recycling services, turning all those trees into wood chips for mulching. If you have a backyard, get out the saw, cut up the tree and use the branches to winterize your garden.


Artificial trees are often made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which releases dangerous toxic chemicals, including hormone-disrupting phthalates. Rather than bring those toxins into your home, why not get creative with a non-traditional tree. Almost anything can become a stand-in for a Christmas tree with the addition of lights and decorations.


MinuteMorningMonth
  • Find out where and when to recycle your Christmas tree on Earth911.
  • Buy energy-efficient LED lights.
  • Recycle or compost your Christmas tree.




Comments (5)
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1. 12/06/2007 03:21:23 PM
Thank you for your insight. I always feel guilty about Christmas decorations but feel guilty if I don't put them up. I'm on my way to get some LEDs!
Written by Margi (Guest)
2. 12/06/2007 11:40:18 PM
I'd love to get a a live potted tree for Christmas rather than a cut tree or fake. However, I live in an apartment in California and wouldn't have a place to plant it. Are there any groups or organizations that collect live trees from people like me after christmas as a donation and give it a new home in a park,etc?
Written by ApartmentChristmas (Guest)
3. 12/10/2007 08:09:01 AM
ALL THE LIGHTS HAVE LEAD IN THEM!!!! CHECK THEM OUT!!!! ELECTRICAL CORDS AS WELL> ANYTHING ARTIFICIAL LIKE CHRISTMAS TREES, GARLAND ETC..HAVE LEAD!!!!! 
DO NOT LET CHILDREN NEAR THEM OR TOUCH THEM. WE HAVE DECIDED TO OPT OUT OF LIGHTS THIS YEAR DUE TO THIS REASON. THEY ARE JUST PUTTING WARMING ON THEM THIS YEAR AS WELL BUT NOT ALL LIGHTS HAVE TEH WARMING BUT DO CONTAIN LEAD!
Written by robin (Guest)
4. 12/14/2007 01:55:15 PM
Dr. Gina
We agree that it’s appalling that the plastic insulation on many power cords contains lead, and there are major efforts underway to get the lead out of these products. However, there’s currently lead in much of the plastic insulation over power cords, so it’s not just a problem for LED lights, and it’s not even just a problem for Christmas lights. The lead is mostly a problem if a child were to put the cord in her mouth. Obviously there are lots of reasons why it’s a good idea to make sure that kids don’t put electrical cords in their mouths. We’re going ahead and decorating for the holidays this year (and keeping the toddler away from the cords), but we also phoned the manufacturer to tell them that they need to get the lead out of their products. If everyone made a phone call like that, the manufacturers would get the message!
Written by Dr. Gina
5. 01/12/2008 09:28:34 AM
We just found out about the lead too. There are several made in America sites that offer 100 percent lead free artificial Christmas trees, but I am not sure if their garland is lead free also. Most of these sites also sell lights but do not advertise as lead free. We decided to keep our lights but we are wrapping the wires with tape, putting the lights on our fresh tree with household latex gloves and removing them with the same. Same goes for putting lights on any kind of greenery real or fresh and on shrubbery or outside on the house. Also, one study found that if an artificial tree was left standing for only one week, that lead dust accumulated under the tree on the floor. So we are making sure no packages or presents will be placed under the tree till Christmas Eve and we will vacuum every other day to prevent build up of dust. (yes it even comes off of light cords on a real fresh tree!) I am now also not buying anymore decorations from China at all. Tell all the craft stores you shop at and also Walmart, Target ect that you want them to carry made in America decorations with no or the least amount of lead possible! Buying a potted tree is also a good idea but you can only keep it in the house for about two weeks. There are greenhouses that are renting trees here in Oregon for about 65.00. They deliver and pick up the tree for you (they are very heavy with the root ball, pot and dirt) and you can put small lights and regular ornaments on them. But they need to be displayed in the coolest part of the living room like near a window. The trees are then sold to Arbor Societies and planted keeping more oxygen and less CO in our atmosphere! Anyway just our suggestions to help out. Good luck everyone!
Written by Judith (Guest)

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