Celebrating the holidays in style doesn’t necessarily mean you have break out the surge protectors. Bright lights and illuminated figurines are eye-catching, but they also use tremendous amounts of energy. Don’t be a Grinch about decorating for the holidays simply because the anticipation of an expensive energy bill turns you green. By following these five steps, any house can spread holiday cheer on a budget.
Deck the Halls: Homemade Wreaths
Image via Flickr by Maegan Tintari
Wreaths are one of the essential holiday decorations come December. A door without a wreath simply looks naked once the snow starts to fall. Creating homemade wreaths is easy and, more importantly, homemade wreaths are unique to the door they hang from. Typically wreaths are constructed from evergreens or laurel, but nearly anything can be bunched together into a ring-shape and thus a wreath. If you want to be eco-friendly, try constructing a wreath from recycled materials. It’s not only a good way to conserve, but it spreads the spirit of conservation during the holidays for all who see.
Bring Nature into the Home
Far too often, Christmas decorations made from fake pinecones and straw are purchased to place inside the home to give it a sense of the outdoor winter landscape. When one can simply walk outside and fill a bowl or display with the same nature emulated in fake plants, using the artificial counterparts sold in stores seems silly. Coupled with mood candles, bringing nature inside your home can create an authentic sense of time and season without using any energy.
Lighting Up with LEDs
LEDs are one of the greatest technological innovations in holiday lighting. LEDs emit a bright and beautiful light that is easy on the eyes without sacrificing intensity. They are also significantly more eco-friendly than incandescent lights and leave less of an imprint on your electric bill at the end of the month. LEDs were once limited by only a handful of colors and styles, but now they can be found in nearly all colors and styles ranging from extra-large bulbs to icicle lights from suppliers like ChristmasLightsEtc.com.
Staying Connected
Outdoor lighting takes a lot of wear-and-tear during the holidays. Cold temperatures make wiring brittle, animals seem to love nibbling on extension cords, and cables on the ground have a bad habit of getting ripped out of the socket accidentally by passerby. Extensions cords split and fray, surge protectors gain faulty sockets, and lights dim and die. Purchasing new wire and equipment to keep your lights operating ensures your lighting is operating at maximum sustainability and safety.
Build up to Christmas
Instead of spoiling your grand finale as soon as the holiday season begins, try decorating your home in stages. For instance, start by putting out physical ornaments in the beginning of the holidays. Then slowly start to add lights to the decorations. As the month winds down towards Christmas, your home will look more and more majestic each day. And best of all, gradually adding the effect of the lights saved energy throughout the month.
These are just some ideas for having a green Christmas. What are you doing to celebrate the season while protecting the environment?
