BCBC's Green Committee is wishing all BCE families a Happy and
Green Holiday season!
Please take a moment to consider a greener holiday for your
family and our Earth:
If every
family in the country gift wrapped
just three gifts by recycling existing paper they already have (how about
school art paper/homework from your kids that you might otherwise recycle…reuse
it and then recycle after the holidays!), the paper saved would be enough to
cover 45,000 football fields. Now, that’s a green Christmas and a whole lot of
trees saved too!
Replace your holiday lights with energy efficient LED lights. According to Energy Star, holiday LED lights consume
about 70% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than traditional holiday
strands. The lights will pay for themselves in electricity savings in
less than five years! There are weather resistant ones for outdoor use,
too! Also, if one light goes out, the strand still works. Nice,
right?
Choose a live tree? There is definitely a bit of
controversy on this topic. Best option: no tree. That most likely won’t go over
well, another green suggestion would be a live tree that won’t be dumped out
after the holidays.
Although an artificial tree can be
used year after year, real trees might still the more sustainable choice.
Eventually artificial trees (which are made from petroleum products and contain
PVC) will end up in the landfill and their plastic content will make them stay there forever. Live trees are a renewable resource grown on tree farms.
While they are growing, they contribute to better air quality, and over 90% are
reduced into mulch after the holidays.
Recycle
old electronics. When the latest version of an electronic gift
shows up under your tree, make sure that you recycle your old ones. BCE
will help you recycle most older electronics! Check out the escrip box in the entrance hallway at
BCE for dropping off electronics!
Rethink your Holiday traditions and start newer and greener ones.
This is the best gift you can give our Earth!
Resources:
http://www.christmastree.org/faketrees.cfm
