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With the holidays upon us, it’s difficult to ask people to be environmentally friendly during a time when saving a different kind of green is the top priority. So, this holiday season there are more “ways to save” than by camping out at your local Wal-mart to score the last Wii. Instead, try these Eco-Wise solutions to save energy, recycle, and save some money to boot! A few small changes can do your part to help the environment while still having a wonderful holiday season!
Not-So-Green. Traditional fluorescent bulbs are energy vampires, sucking up all the energy in your house even when they’re turned off. Most of the energy they’re using isn’t even for the light; instead 90% is emitted as heat.
Greener. Go for LED’s as much as possible. LED (light-emitting diode) lights have been used for years in small toys and flashlights, but now it’s available in a larger scale. According to a U.S. Department of Energy study, if everyone replaced their conventional holiday light strings with LEDs, at least two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved in a month! LED’s look as beautiful as conventional incandescent bulbs but use 80% to 90% less energy, give off little heat, and can last upward of 200,000 hours. As an added bonus, if one of the LED lights burns out the rest of the strand will stay lit.
Greenest. Ration the amount of time you use lights if you have to use them at all. Timers are great, but they only cut electricity use by about half than that used for a full-lit tree. Instead unplug the lights the old-fashioned way. Six hours a day or less is a good goal to aim for. Other great options to save energy are fiber optic decorations and candles!
I'll be back next week with tips on picking a green tree!
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