Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Dreaming of white Christmases can be nice, where treetops glisten and all that. But green Christmases are even better, because they mean energy is conserved, waste is cut down, and money is left over in the bank. It is a wise thing to live green all year round, but can feel especially good to give back to the environment while giving to others at Christmas. In times like these when the economic climate is shaky and uncertain, we can’t afford not to adopt some of these eco-friendly, cost saving tips.

Green Gift Exchange

Everyone looks forward to buying and receiving presents at Christmas, and it affords excellent opportunities to practice green habits. All of that wrapping paper ends up in the garbage and then in a landfill. Store-bought paper is costly, non-recyclable, and not eco-friendly. A smarter alternative that grandparents, aunts and uncles will surely appreciate, is to recycle artwork made by your children to wrap presents. You can also use the newspaper’s comic section, old magazines, or comic books for colorful wrapping. Positively tell recipients that you are trying to do your part to conserve resources and recycle. Who knows, they might start their own green Christmas traditions because of your influence.

Green Christmas Cards

Children’s artwork can also be recycled to make creative Christmas cards for friends and family. Making cards yourself saves money and resources, especially if you use recycled items. Save the cards you receive for next year, to cut out Christmas scenes and let your children get creative. Consider sending out E-Christmas cards to save paper and postage. Some churches or local organizations have Christmas card drops that will allow you to drop off cards for regularly attending members. Usually it is for free or a small fee, and saves postage and fuel for transportation costs.

Hanging Green Greens

If you normally have a wreath on the mantel or front door, consider a homemade one for your green Christmas. It will save you money and it is environmentally friendly. All you need to find is some dried twigs and pine branches, maybe at a nearby park or in the woods. You can use your creative energy to arrange them with some strung berries to add color. It costs nothing but about an hour, and all of the materials are biodegradable.

Consider having an eco-friendly artificial Christmas tree that can be reused every year. They are easy to set up and store, come in a variety of sizes, and can look quite real. If you go to an after Christmas sale, you can usually pick one up in January for about half price. Having a tree that you can reuse will save waste and money. If only a real tree will do, buy a living one that you can replant at the end of the holiday. Also, when you hang your lights, make sure that they are LED lights and you can save up to 90% on your Christmas electric bill. With money and energy savings like that you can afford to make it really festive!

All of these ideas can help make your season bright, environmentally friendly, and very green. Helping to make the planet cleaner and greener can only add to the joys of the season.