Last year, the response to these tips was so positive that we've decided to make them available again. Try a few and save resources: time, money, materials and energy!
Don't Let the Holidays
From the November-December, 1997 issue of The ULS Report.
Go to Your Waste
We kick off the holidays with Thanksgiving dinner, which produces more edible food waste than any other meal of the year. The season ends with the fall of the ball in Times Square -- and with the 42 tons of confetti and other garbage left behind for the New York Department of Sanitation. Here's what you can do to help reduce the trash in your town:
Make a List and Check It Twice
Holiday cards bought in one year would fill a football field 10 stories high! If each of us sent out one fewer card, that huge mound would be reduced by a full story, saving over 50,000 cubic yards of paper.
Local postmasters tell us that up to 20% of all mail is incorrectly addressed or otherwise undeliverable. Save time, money and resources by updating and paring down your list.
Food for Thought
Over 100 pounds of food are wasted per person each year. Take smaller portions. You can always go back for more!
Plan meals wisely and buy based on the number of guests you expect.
Save energy by cooking multiple items in the same oven. (Check to make sure that they should cook at about the same temperature.)
Buy fresh foods carefully, not just because they are cheap or on sale. Research shows that cheaper foods are wasted at a higher rate than more expensive items.
Give extra food to guests in plastic containers. Donate what's left to local food banks.
Home for the Holidays
Having a party? Turn down the heat before guests arrive. Their extra body heat will help warm the room.
Going to a formal occasion? Consider renting, rather than buying, a gown or tux.
Turn your fireplace into a furnace by using a heat exchanger. Glass doors will further improve efficiency, as will a flue that's open just enough to provide a draft without creating indoor smoke.
50 million Christmas trees are purchased each year in the U.S. Consider a potted tree that can be planted in the yard, or an artificial one.
Buy outdoor light strands that are wired in parallel. If one bulb burns out, the rest stay lit. Also, make sure you re-box lights after the season, or use old newspaper as a spool and wind the strands around it. Either way, lights won't get tangled, so you won't end up buying more.
Make your own wreaths out of natural materials such as branches, dried flowers, herbs, red and green chilies, etc. They make great gifts, too.
Gift Giving Guidelines
Use the comics instead of gift wrap -- If we each wrap only 3 gifts in reused paper, we'd save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields!
Shop early, while you have time to make careful choices. Last minute spending often leads to panic buying, which leads to unwanted gifts.
Give gifts of yourself -- offer to baby-sit, wash the car, do the dishes, run errands, etc.
Don't know what to give? Make charitable donations. Consider gift certificates, so people can choose for themselves.
Plan trips in advance and consolidate, especially when going to the post office. Mail everything at once and save time, aggravation and energy.
Shop at antique stores, holiday bazaars and thrift shops. Someone's trash may be someone else's treasure.
Consolidate purchases into one bag. Better yet, bring along a few from home and reuse them.
Reuse packaging cartons and shippings materials. Old newspaper makes for excellent packing, too. Shred some at work and bring it home, if you can.
Save fancier bags and use them as gift wrap.
Paper grocery bags can be used to wrap small to medium sized packages for mailing.
Save Your Energy
A turnback thermometer, which automatically turns the heat down at night and up in the morning, can reduce energy costs by up to 12%.
Shop from home -- electronically or through catalogs.
Walk to local parties, or carpool if you have to drive.
Run appliances such as the dishwasher, washing machine or dryer only when full.
Let meats defrost to room temperature. They'll cook faster, save energy, and taste better, too.
Spreading Holiday Cheer
Donate unwanted gifts to charity.
Reduce the number of cards you send by sending e-mail or calling those casual business acquaintances.
Try sending holiday postcards, which will save on paper, envelopes and postage.
Donate those cosmetic "free gifts with purchase" to a women's shelter.
Creating Memories
Remember to bring your camera to capture holiday memories. Disposable cameras may be convenient, but they can also be wasteful.
Buy "faster" film such as 400 or 800. This will reduce the use of the flash and save energy.
Buy larger size rolls of film. Versus three rolls of 12, one roll of 36 reduces waste by 67% and saves you about $4.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Reuse video tapes instead of buying new ones.
Give family photos as gifts. A picture costs little to take, but the joy it can bring may be priceless.
Have a Happy, Healthy and Resource-full Holiday Season!
Back to the ULS Day page.