The green guide to holiday decorating
(NC) Families are outfitting their homes with the most festive decorations they can find. This year, check out the simple tips below to bring some holiday cheer to your home and our environment by thinking green.
Use a real tree. According to Statistics Canada, $61 million worth of artificial trees were imported into Canada in 2016. While artificial trees last longer, they are not recyclable. Real trees are as green as it gets. They are grown expressly for the holidays and do not contribute to deforestation. Not only do they help to remove carbon from the atmosphere while they are growing, but they’re recyclable as well.
Use eco-friendly decorations. Consider stopping at your local thrift store that’s sure to offer a wide variety of unique and vintage decorations. You should also opt for decorations made from wood, burlap, metal or cloth where possible – not only do they last longer, but they give a natural, festive feel to your home. Lastly, get creative at home and use a mix of old decorations, branches or plants to really deck the halls.
Recycle old batteries. Make sure to replace and recycle the old batteries in reusable decorations, such as electronic train sets, snow globes and other figurines, to ensure they don’t wind up in landfills. Call2Recycle Canada has more than 8,000 drop-off locations across the country, ensuring correct battery recycling is accessible for all Canadians. You can plug in your postal code on their website to find one closest to your home or work.
Use LED lights. The holidays are a peak time for energy consumption. Reducing your carbon footprint can help save you money while saving our environment. It isn’t as hard as you think, either. LED lights use 90 per cent less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. LED lights are perfect for indoor and outdoor decorations to brighten up any winter night.