Tips for Environmentally Friendly Gifts this Holiday Season

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering holiday gift-giving tips that will help support a healthy environment this season and all year long. Energy Star, Design for the Environment, and WaterSense labels can be found on thousands of products across the country, making it easy to choose gifts that can help anyone on your list save energy and protect the environment. By using these products this holiday season, consumers can cut their energy bills and harmful pollution while helping keep our environment healthy.

Look for the Label that Saves Gift Recipients Money
Energy Star Home Entertainment: You can find the Energy Star label on nearly all entertainment products from TVs and Blu-ray disc players to home-theaters-in-a-box. If you are in the market for a digital picture frame, consider one that has earned the Energy Star. It uses 25 percent less energy than non-qualified models.

Energy Star Office Products: Shoppers can also find the Energy Star label on office products such as computers, LCD monitors, notebooks, multifunction printers and more. A home office fully equipped with Energy Star qualified products can save up to $380 over the lifetime of the products. Energy Star qualified computers and monitors were created with a power management sleep mode to ensure you are saving energy (and money on utility bills) when the product is not in use.

Energy Star Qualified Battery Chargers for your Favorite Product: Products that use Energy Star qualified battery chargers, such as video game controls, digital cameras, shavers, hand vacuums, power tools, and cordless lawn mowers, use 35 percent less energy compared to conventional chargers. Old battery chargers can be recycled through many manufacturers and retailers that have electronics recycling programs nationwide.

Healthier Homes ‘Design for the Environment’ Label: From pet care products to dish soaps to supplies for a car, consumers should look for the Design for the Environment (DfE) label to quickly identify and choose products that are safer for families and also help protect the environment. In 2010, Americans using products with the DfE label cut the use of harmful chemicals by more than 600 million pounds.

Festive and Healthy Holiday Tips for People and the Planet
Holiday Decorating: Look for the Energy Star label on LED decorative light strings to meet your holiday decorating needs. Qualified light strings use about 70 percent less electricity than incandescent light strings and are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and lengths. These Energy Star qualified light strings save energy and are more durable, shock-resistant and cooler to the touch.

New Electronic Gift? Recycle the Old One: Encourage gift recipients to reuse or recycle their old electronics, allowing the valuable materials within to be used again in new products while helping to save natural resources. Check out EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling initiative for more information on how to safely recycle electronics, including cell phones, computers, and TVs.

Reusable Bags: Millions of paper and plastic bags end up in the landfills every year. Skip the extra bags and bring reusable cloth bags when shopping-- they're environmentally friendly and cost efficient.

Skip the Excess Wrapping: Try wrapping gifts in recycled paper bags, recycled wrapping paper, or give gifts that don’t require excess packaging to keep more trash out of landfills.

Have a Water Efficient H2Oliday: Preparing for and cleaning up after a holiday meal often requires more water use than usual. Running your tap continuously while preparing food or washing dishes wastes water and can use more than two gallons of water every minute your tap is running. EPA's WaterSense program provides useful tips and over 4,000 products have earned the WaterSense label to save water, energy and money. If every American household reduced their water use by 10 gallons on just Thanksgiving Day, it would save more than 1 billion gallons of water.

More information on Energy Star products: http://www.energystar.gov/products
More information on Winter Tips: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-winter.htm
More ways to Reduce Holidays Waste: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/funfacts/winter.htm

Green Living involves the Four Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rebuy.

Listed below are tips to help apply the Four Rs to everyday life. 

 

REDUCE 

	Opt out of yellow pages for three years - http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/how-to-stop-getting-the-yellow-pages-2448542/
	Remove your name from Direct Mail marketers’ lists for five years by registering with the Mail Preference Service of the direct Marketing Association.  Visit http://www.dmachoice.org/.
	Now you can shop online, here's a link to help you cancel all the catalogs delivered to your house - https://www.catalogchoice.org/communities/details
	Turn off lights and TV when not in use.
	Clean the dryer's lint trap after every load.
	Keep your car tuned up and tires properly inflated.
	On hot days, water your lawn in the early morning or in the evening.
	Turn off faucet while brushing your teeth.
	Take shorter showers or turn off the water while washing your hair and body.

 

 

 

 

 

REUSE

	Leave your grass clippings on the lawn.
	Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
	Use sponges instead of paper towels.
	Store food in reusable containers.
	Reuse plastic sandwich bags and aluminum foil.
	Got to the library to read magazines, newspapers, or books rather than buying them.
	Shop using reusable bags instead of single use plastic bags.
	Visit the City's Reuse Center for usable household products for cleaning and/or automotive, pool, lawn or paint needs.

RECYCLE

	Compost food scraps, leaves, and other organic materials.
	Recycle at home, at work, and while out and about!
	Recycle plastic bags at your local grocery store - not your residential cart.
	Recycle usable furniture, appliances and other unwanted items through Goodwill, CCA or other non-profit charitable organizations.

RETHINK 

	Replace incandescent lights with energy-saving fluorescent bulbs.
	Buy energy-efficient appliances.
	Ride DART, ride a bike, or walk.
	Pack your own lunch and use a reusable lunch box or bag.
	Look into alternative energy sources.  Check out http://www.infinitepower.org.
	Buy a hybrid vehicle  Check out http://www.energy.gov/print/taxbreaks.htm.

Green Travel Tips
by Maria Gant, LGIP Volunteer

Are you making plans to travel?  Before you head out, here are some things to consider that will help make your vacation a little greener than perhaps it was last year.  Remember, every little bit helps!

If you are going to travel by car, consider taking your bikes along so you can use them at your destination.  If you were planning to travel in your own car, and it is large and/or not very fuel efficient, consider renting a model that gets better mileage. 

If you are going to rent a car:

At your hotel:

	Take quick showers, and don't leave the water running while you brush your teeth.
	Leaving your room for a while?  Turn off the air conditioning, heat, television, lights and any other electric devices.
	Reuse your sheets and towels instead of having them changed every day.  Tell the clerk at the front desk that is your wish, and ask how best to ensure your intentions are accommodated.
	Bring your own toiletries and drinking cup rather than using the prepackaged ones provided.

	Pack light!  It will save you time if you take fewer things, it will save you energy and perhaps airline fees if your bag weighs less, and it helps save the environment by using less fuel to transport your luggage.
	Pack clothes that mix and match.  Then you can create several outfits from just a few pieces.  You will need fewer shoes that way, and a single sweater or jacket will go with any outfit.
	Save make-up and skincare samples to take when you travel.  As an alternative, buy small reusable plastic bottles and fill them at home so you take only as much as you need for your trip.
	Leave your hair dryer at home if the hotel provides one, as most do these days.  Or let your hair air dry when on vacation, giving it a break from the heat and reducing your energy consumption.  You just might develop a new, more carefree hair style.

At your destination:

	Walk as much as you can rather than driving.
	If you didn't bring your bike, consider renting one to get around.
	Use public transportation when available.
	Use the hotel van instead of renting a car.

Green travel also means supporting the local economy.  Buy local foods, take tours offered by local operators, and patronize local businesses.  You will support the local way of life and also reduce your environmental impact.

I hope these suggestions have you thinking of even more ways to green your travel.  Be sure to share your ideas with friends, and see if they can tell you about their tips and tricks too.  Have a fun, safe and relaxing green summer!