Climate-Conscious Holiday Tips
The holidays are full of travel, family, friendship, gift-giving, and therefore consumption. But we’re not here to be scrooges! This blog has tips to make the season brighter— with more memories and less waste.
@ Winston Chen via Unsplash
1. LED holiday lights are the only way to go!
LEDs consume up to 70% less energy than their incandescent counterparts, so this one’s a no-brainer, especially when you consider that many families leave their holiday lights on all night. Using this holiday lighting calculator from Dominion Energy, you can discover just how much you can save by going LED. Not sure where to responsibly dispose of your old lights? One option is to ship them to programs like Holiday LEDs Recycling based in Wisconsin or Christmas Light Source based in Texas, which will take care of them for you. Team up with neighbors and friends to get the most out of your shipment and minimize the transportation footprint. Switch to LEDs to earn 210 points in the Home Energy Challenge (HEC).
2. Close the fridge family!
Those minutes spent in front of an open fridge door deciding what to eat or looking for that hummus you bought last week really do add up. Factor in more time spent at home during the holiday season (especially with young ones who may not fully understand the climate connection here), and that’s a whole lot of wasted energy. Refrigerators are the second biggest device energy consumers after lighting! They maintain the cool temperature mostly through insulation. The less often you open the door, the less your fridge’s motor has to work (i.e. less energy expenditure), which you can read about in more detail in The Union of Concerned Scientists’ book, Cooler Smarter. Try using this energy calculator to estimate how much energy your fridge is currently using, which can vary depending on its make and model. Ditch your extra fridge/freezer for 1,000 HEC points.
@ Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
3. Lower heating costs by donning blankets and sweaters.
Heating in the winter can get expensive. And the environment suffers too. Between natural gas and electricity, the average home releases anywhere from 4,700 to 6,400 pounds of CO2 annually just for heating! Experiment with finding a cooler winter temperature for your home—around 68 degrees Fahrenheit and then don your favorite holiday sweater and scarf. Charlottesvillians can save an estimated $181 and 2,032 lbs. of CO2 annually just by switching from 72°F to 68°F in the winter. The lower your interior temperature is, the slower your home will lose heat. Adjust your thermostat for 400 HEC points.
@ Lore Schodts via Unsplash
4. Explore low-waste gift wrapping.
In 2017, Americans spent a whopping $12.7 billion on gift-wrapping! Save money and ditch the waste by exploring alternative gift-wrapping options, like old cloth and recycled newspaper. Experience Life Magazine has a great guide on how to wrap presents in fabric here. For embellishment, I love the idea that this article suggests, using real plants and palo santo (a type of incense). To me, these eco-friendly ideas add a more personal touch to whatever you’re wrapping, making the experience more special, in addition to being more earth-conscious. Reduce and reuse for 1,750 for HEC points.
Team Wrath Dragonz
5. Make a new year's resolution to join our Home Energy Challenge!
Add your team to the list of nearly 120 participating households and join the movement to make our homes climate-friendly. We provide you all the necessary resources, tips, and inspiration to make energy saving at home more accessible and fun. Sign up at cvillechallenge.org and start making a difference today. Start a team for 1,000 HEC points.
We hope these ideas have sparked some green holiday inspiration. We’d love to know ways that you stay climate-conscious during the holidays! Let us know on our social media @cvilleclimate.