Theis not usually a time when people think about being “green” or sustainable, the holidays are all about consumption, right?

Not necessarily…

Try the following to help make your holiday season more environmentally friendly and economic!

-Courtesy of Campus Life Sustainability-

Unplug all appliances!!

This includes your computer, monitors, printers, scanners, TV and cable boxes, DVD players, DVRs, digital clocks, microwaves, coffeemakers, etc. Any electronics with digital displays, instant-on features, or remote controls consume energy even while not in use.

-Campus Life Sustainability-

Leaving Wilmington for the Holidays?

Lower the temperature on the thermostat.

Lower the temperature on the water heater, or shut it off altogether if there’s no risk of temperatures cold enough to freeze your pipes.

Remember to clean out your refrigerator and turn the setting to the lowest energy/highest temperature level.

Leaving Wilmington for the Holidays?

-Campus Life Sustainability-

In planning the holiday menu, choose foods that are in season and locally grown, if possible, and make leftovers so no food is wasted.

To cut down on costs, make it a potluck event or consider organizing a "progressive dinner” with friends or family with different courses at different houses.

-Campus Life Sustainability-

Good Option: If you must have a real Christmas tree, buy an evergreen that's been grown locally. Make sure you recycle it when Christmas is over.

Bad Option: Fake trees are made of plastic, a petroleum by-product and are manufactured in foreign countries.

Best Option: Purchase and decorate a live tree that can be kept in a container until the spring thaw and replanted.

What to do about a Christmas Tree?

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When decorating the tree, opt for energy-saving LED lights which use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs.

Automatic timers are another good idea to conserve energy along with reducing the size and length of outdoor light displays.

-Campus Life Sustainability-

What to do about presents?Consider creative, environmentally conscience presents. Make a donation in someone's name to a worthy cause. "Adopt" an acre of African grassland, an endangered animal, an acre of rainforest, etc.

Making room for new items? Donate any unwanted or old items to your local charity such as Goodwill or Salvation Army instead of sending them to a landfill.

-Campus Life Sustainability-

If you buy presents, support local merchants. You'll reduce your carbon footprint and help boost the local economy.

Bring purchases home inreusable cloth bags.

If you are buying electronics or appliances as a gift, make sure they are energy efficient by looking for the ENERGY STAR label!

-Campus Life Sustainability-

CO2

Wrapping paper generates tremendous amounts of waste.

A greener alternative is to reuseplain brown paper bags, old newspapers (especially the cartoon section) or old book pages.

Try keeping large pieces of used paper and ribbon for reuse.

-Campus Life Sustainability-