It is that time of year again! With Halloween officially over, Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. The days are getting shorter and the leaves are changing colors and will start falling soon. Don’t let the holidays pass you by without making the necessary changes to your home. Now is the best time to prepare your house for the cold months ahead. Be sure to follow these tips on various ways you can stay green this holiday season.
Winterize Your Home
Be sure to manage your thermostat and keep it as low as you can. Even a one degree increase can raise you heating costs by up to 10%. Better yet, keep your thermostat set to off during the day and only turn it on at night. Adopt thick insulating drapes and curtains to keep the cold air out. If you have wood or tile flooring, try adding area rugs and don cozy slippers to avoid the cold against your feet. Also, close off any unused rooms in your homes to save on heating them. Learn more tips to winterize your home.
Warm Your Body
Dress Warmly! Yes, it seems like a no brainer but surprisingly some people like to wear summer clothes during the winter while cranking up the heat. This wastes a lot of energy that you can actually conserve. Instead, do the opposite by dressing warmly and keeping the thermostat low. In addition, make homemade heating pads by heating rice in old socks to make your bed all warm and toasty.
In The Car
Do not warm your car by having it idly run before you enter it. That is wasting gasoline and can actually be quite dangerous. In fact, your car warms more quickly when you drive it rather than idling running. Additionally, minimize your trips to the grocery store this holiday season. If you can, try to get all your items in one road trip.
Holiday Gatherings
The dinner table is the central point for love, laughter and togetherness around food. Make sure to use cloth towels and napkins instead of paper products. When your gatherings or parties are over, be sure to have a separate compost bin to collect any unwanted leftovers.
These small changes can make a huge impact on our planet. The more people adopting these practices, the better our planet will be for generations to come. So, remember to incorporate these minor tricks into your holiday prep to stay green this season.
