The Rocket

Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Kacie Peterson Students can save money and the environment during the holidays by using newspaper clippings, old magazine pages or artwork to wrap presents, and turning their thermostats down to 50 degrees to keep pipes from freezing. Learn how to save money while helping the environment during the holiday season this year.

Media Credit: Kacie Peterson

As the gift-giving spirit of the holiday season is fast approaching, why not consider giving back to the environment at the same time?

During the holiday season-occasionally referred to as the season of excess-consumers spend thousands of dollars on gifts, wrapping paper, cards and other seasonal desires, such as batteries and trash bags. Americans also waste a lot of electricity.

Allie Bernstein, 22, a senior environmental studies major, said there are many ways to cut down on the negative impact to the environment during the holidays. But it's up to everyone to take responsibility for what they waste in order to make an impact.

This year, rather than buying holiday décor on impulse at the mall or from a big-box retailer, some are choosing to make green gifts-decorating and entertaining choices that help keep the planet healthy.

Leigh Ann Datt, SRU judicial programs coordinator, said that instead of pitching all the holiday cards she gets, she sends them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children-an organization that helps abused, abandoned or neglected children. The kids at St. Jude's Ranch will make "new" recycled cards out of the old ones. After the organization sells them, profits will benefit St. Jude.

Ripping open those holiday gifts can be fun and exciting, but all that gift wrap helps add to the five million extra tons of trash that is created during the holiday season, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Datt suggested using recycled magazines-such as Country Living or other home and garden magazines-to make creative wrapping paper, and to tie packages with recycled twine or raffia.

Reusing old wrapping paper, gift bags or boxes can help cut down the amount of garbage sent to the landfills. Covering presents in nonconventional gift wrap such as old maps, the Sunday comics, homemade artwork or cloth is a creative and effective alternative to wrapping paper.

The holiday tree isn't left out of the "going green" for the season process. Datt said to recycle the tree by taking it to a drop-off center to be mulched.

Opting for a real tree over a fake one is a smart and eco-friendly choice, because real trees, being biodegradable, can be recycled by turning it into wood chips or mulch.

Artificial trees are not biodegradable and consume petroleum during the manufacturing process.

Datt said she donates or gives away anything she isn't using after all year round. She said it's recycling and reduces clutter.

"Recycling is great, but first see if you can re-use what you were going to recycle," Bernstein said. "The holidays are a great time to donate to others in need, so if you can, pass on items you no longer use."

This year, the famous ball that'll drop in Times Square is composed of all LED lights.

LED lights use 90 percent less energy than conventional holiday lights and can save individual families up to $50 in energy costs.

Rachel DeWolf, 22, a senior geography and environmental science major, recommended that families use reusable plates and utensils for the holiday meal.

"If you have a large family and cleaning up dishes is a huge production, consider biodegradable materials when purchasing disposable kitchenware," DeWolf said. "Cornstarch plates and utensils biodegrade much more rapidly than plastic, which sits in a landfill indefinitely."

Students can start going green before they even leave campus by unplugging all appliances and closing their doors to contain heat in their rooms, DeWolf said.

"As for students who live off campus, they can turn their thermostats down to 50 degrees when they go home, which will keep the pipes from freezing," she said. "Water heaters can be turned down to 115 degrees. These few tips will enable students to not only save energy, but also to cut down on utility costs during the holiday season."

DeWolf said that students should take a little extra time before rushing home for the holidays to make sure they have the appropriate air pressure in their tires, which will add fuel economy and save on the amount of gas it takes to get home.

"The best way to go green for the holidays is to spend more time with friends and family-that's what the holidays are for," Datt said. "You'll reduce waste, save money and enjoy yourself more. The best memories involve people, not things."

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