Going into the holidays, let us step back and make a conscious decision to protect the world we live in. This is the time of year when most of us are welcoming friends and family into our homes and planning parties big and small. We spend a lot of time preparing meals, and baking leading to more use of water, energy, and other resources resulting in polluting our air, earth, and oceans. Making small steps in the right direction during the holidays will make a big difference and help us kickstart the New Year.
Water
Don't Rinse the Plate to Load Dishwasher
Thaw Frozen Items Overnight
Compost your food scraps
Do not let the water run in your kitchen and bathroom sinks
Recycle water from the kitchen to water household plants
Close the tap while brushing your teeth
Try one of our water challenges https://www.thegreywaterproject.org/water-challenge
Fire
Cook With Care: Forty-seven percent of home fires start while cooking, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
When decorating indoors, test all lights and cords and replace any faulty products before use.
Place Christmas trees or seasonal plants at least three feet away from any heat source and turn off any decorative lights before leaving your home or going to sleep.
Never use real candles to light a tree. Don't Forget Lighters and Matches
Water a live tree every day to prevent it from becoming dry and brittle.
Use Outdoor Light Displays Responsibly
Earth
Donate a tree as a holiday gift
Recycle and reuse to prevent adding items to the landfill
Reduce food waste by cooking less and sharing with your friends and family
Compost appropriately
·Do not use plastics and disposables while entertaining
Create your own holiday decorations
Skip the gift wrapping or make your own
Air & Sky
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 4.3 million people die each year as a result of being exposed to air pollution in their homes.
Increase natural ventilation by opening doors and windows whenever possible to reduce air pollutants in the home
Change your air filter
Keep your furnace well-tuned to decrease the accumulation of carbon monoxide and combustion byproducts in your home.
Using a vacuum with HEPA filters can help improve your home’s indoor air quality, reducing the risk of developing allergies and other respiratory problems.
Get a real Christmas Tree: Your indoor air will be cleaner with a real Christmas tree in the house.
Use Natural Decorations: instead of plastic decorative items, use pine cones, real leaves, berries, branches, and twigs for your holiday décor