Surprisingly enough, the end of December is already upon us, and we all know what that means – the holiday season. Before the noughties (lamest decade nickname ever) end, however, there are some ways for all of us to prepare our homes in these last couple of weeks leading up to the close of the decade. I present, for your enjoyment, the 12 Green Days of Christmas, or rather, 12 things you can do to be greener for Christmas.

Yes, technically, the 12 days of Christmas start on the day of Christmas and go through January 6, but I couldn’t resist. So, here’s how we can get ready to be more efficient and even save money before being swept away by the Yule-tide.

1. Preparation

Got relatives coming in town? Have you thought about the ramifications that Aunt Betty and her 5 children will have on your utility bills? Getting a programmable thermostat could help keep the electricity/natural gas costs (depending on where you live) down, especially with that many people in the house. Add devices that save water to your faucets and showerheads. Aerators are great for faucets and really cut down on the amount of water wasted.

2. Resolutions

While resolutions don’t start until January for most people, you can start making changes now that will benefit both your checkbook and the environment. Review how you can recycle better and replace light fixtures around the home with compact fluorescent bulbs. Each one could save up to $30 over the course of its lifetime.

3. Interior Decorations

Do it yourself! Instead of buying decorations that can contribute to waste at year’s end, come up with the festive decorations on your own. A wreath can be made out of fabric from around the house or even things you find outside. Trim some of the branches from your tree to get some extra pieces of decorative flair.

4. Christmas Lights

This is maybe everyone’s favorite part of the season. Or at least my favorite part. What can I say - I get easily distracted by bright shiny objects.

Anyway, the important thing to remember about Christmas lights is that you can cut down on the energy costs with LED light strands. LED lights can cut up to 90% of the energy used for those beautiful outdoor and indoor displays. The best part? If one goes out, the rest stay lit. I think that’s worth the price of admission right there. Check out our blog for some additional Christmas lighting tips.

5. Trees

Around 30 million Christmas trees are sold each year in the country, only to be dried out chopped up and thrown away.  The best way to be green when it comes to Christmas trees would be to make sure you can re-use it in some form or fashion. While getting a fake tree allows you to re-use the tree endlessly, it has its shortcomings. The downside to this is that the tree is not bio-degradable in the slightest and also looks kind of lame. However, potted trees can be reused for several years, especially if you re-plant them after use. It’ll even save you money when you don’t have to buy one next year.

6. Ornaments

This is another do-it-yourself deal. For me, the best ornaments are the ones with a personal touch, such as the photo of Santa and I that is glued onto construction paper with pipe cleaners twisting all around it. Make some of your own ornaments with items you were going to discard from around the house. And if you’re thinking of getting rid of some of those old glass ornaments, there’s a way to recycle those as well.

7. Wrapping Paper

When I was growing up, I remember my grandmother griping at all of the grandchildren to save the wrapping paper. Grandma was a smart gal, considering that wrapping paper contributes 4 million tons of trash each year in the US.

However, if you don’t have old wrapping paper to re-use, there are still some green options for you. Old brown paper shopping bags work just fine, as well as recycled wrapping paper. Instead of bubble wrap, try using some old clothing items or cloths to cushion breakable gifts.

8. Shopping

There are a few things you can do to save money and be green when it comes to collecting all the items on the gift list. Two of the big ones? Carpooling and lists! Carpooling with friends who need to make purchases from the same stores as you can severely cut down on harmful emissions. In addition, make lists of everything you need and do research to see where you can get the most items from the fewest amount of locations. This will cut down on your gas use as well as your stress level. We all know how joyful holiday drivers can be, right?

9. Gifts

If there’s one thing that people need less of, it’s stuff. We have plenty! Here are some options if you’re thinking of ways to give that aren’t wasteful, and in all honesty, will probably cost you less money:

·         Make a donation in someone’s name.

·         Re-gift something you might not be using (just don’t give it back to the person that gave it to you).

·         Go to thrift stores or flea markets to help re-use other people’s old stuff

·         Create something new. Bake cookies or frame a family photo.

10. Cards

In a world that didn’t have the Internet, it made lots of sense to put together holiday greeting cards to send out to everyone in the address book. However, we all know that the Web has made paper mostly obsolete. Instead of sending out the big family card, why not put together an e-card of some kind? Upload photos to a photo-sharing Website, put together a PowerPoint presentation, etc. All of these are viable options and will more than likely be cheaper in the long run. Additional note: e-cards also come in handy on a list of green Valentine’s Day gifts.

11. Food

Food and presents. That’s what everyone seems to remember about this time of year. If only there were ways to cut down on your energy and spending while gaining all that holiday food weight…

Wait, what am I thinking? There are plenty. First off, the refrigerator is an appliance to keep your eye on this time of year. Instead of putting still-hot food in once you’re done with it, let the food sit until it cools, drastically reducing cooling costs. In addition, pack some food together to freeze if you’re not going to be able to eat it. When you put it in the freezer, stack everything close together, as the items will keep each other colder. The less space you have that needs to be cooled, the better.

12. Recycle!

Eddy Rivas is the Sr. Copywriter - SEO/SMM at the WhiteFence Home Services Blog