by Barbara Allen

This week and for the next three weeks we are going to focus on ways to make our holidays more meaningful and Earth-friendly. Perhaps your family can pick one “green” suggestion each week to add to your holiday traditions.

“Many people go around turning out lights to ease the energy crisis, then buy electric toothbrushes, hair dryers, toasters, and shoe kits for Christmas. Try making this a low- energy Christmas by refraining from buying anything which uses electricity. Consider ideas for gifts and holiday preparations which focus on conserving, rather than consuming…”

By Carolyn Pogue

Did You Know: Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time of year. The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week.

The holidays are no time to forget about energy conservation.

· Buying new lights? Look for 5-watt bulbs, they are up to 30 percent more energy efficient than 7-watt bulbs and are available in a variety of festive colors. Low wattage has two advantages: it consumes less energy and gives off less heat, making your lights safer.

· Put indoor and outdoor lights on a timer for 4 or 5 hours. That way they are off when you are not home and when you are sleeping.

· Bring your own camera instead of using disposable cameras to capture holiday memories.

· Faster film speeds, such as 400 or 800, reduce the use of flash and extend battery life.

Did you know...by purchasing rolls of 36 instead of 12 exposures, you’ll reduce waste by 67%, saving about $4, or 40% in cost?

Shipping Light

· When buying gifts you will send by mail, pick items that are easy to ship and won’t require excess packaging.

· Reuse packing cartons and shipping materials such as peanuts, wood shavings, shredded newspaper and bubble wrap.

· Avoid using polystyrene "foam peanuts" as a packing material. Use recyclable materials such as shredded newspaper or cardboard or peanuts made of cornstarch. While polystyrene peanuts can be reused, there are virtually no collection programs available to recycle them.

· Drop off extra packing peanuts at local private mailing centers.

BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag

· Instead of using many more plastic bags while shopping during the nation’s busiest shopping season, bring your own shopping bags. Plastic and cloth bags can be folded and carried in purses and pockets until they are needed.

· Consolidate your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store on your shopping rounds.

· Give cloth and net shopping bags as gifts. Use them as wrapping for other gifts. Check out http://www.ecobags.com/stringpg.asp for a great organic cotton string bag. They are as easy to carry as plastic bags.

Earth-friendly Gift Giving:

The very best thing we can do for the Earth is simply to preserve natural resources by consuming less. This doesn’t mean that we should stop gift giving. Giving gifts that help to sustain the Earth is an act of friendship toward all living things, not just the recipient of the gift.

For Kids:

· Start a savings account or give stocks or bonds. It’s fun to watch money grow and it teaches children the value of financial conservation. Learn about stocks and funds that are “Green” and socially responsible from the National GreenPages - (800)58-GREEN or go to www.socialinvest.org,

· Help kids make their own tree ornaments out of things you already have around the house, or from materials they might find in the backyard: twigs, bark, flowers and herbs, pine cones, acorns, berries, etc.

· Add an energy-saving fluorescent light bulb to your child’s stocking to use in their bedroom lamp. Talk to your children about saving energy and how it helps to preserve the Earth’s natural resources.

For the whole family:

· Make a family calendar marked with important dates, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and family gatherings; you can decorate the calendar with family photos.

· Put together a little book of favorite (family) recipes.

· Rechargeable batteries and a charger are a great gift for the holidays. You can save a small fortune by using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables.

Did you know…that 82% of Americans would rather receive a photo album of times shared growing up than a store bought gift?

Each of the next few weeks we will be offering ideas for a more loving, natural and environmentally-friendly holiday season. Check back! Join us in the effort to make our little corner of the Earth a “Greener” place to live.

Thanks to the “42 Ways to Trim Your Holiday Wasteline” From Partners for Environmental Progress and The ULS Report for many of these ideas and facts.

-----------------------

This column comes to you courtesy of the Environmental Concerns Group of the DeFuniak Springs Garden Club.