Have a "Green" Christmas! Part 1

As you begin your Christmas holiday preparations, consider incorporating these environmentally-friendly choices into your holiday routine:

Buy Local
Food transported by truck over hundreds or thousands of miles burns fuel and produces carbon emissions that are harmful to air quality. By buying locally when possible, you help cut down on the harmful effects on the environment.

As an added benefit, your produce will be much fresher and you will help support your local community’s farms, businesses and economy.

Buy Organic
Organic farming processes do not use chemical pesticides and fertilizers on the produce or growth hormones in animal feed. These chemicals can seep into the soil, and the runoff can contaminate the local water supply.

Recycle
Don’t just pull out the cans for recycling, you may find that other articles can be recycled as well, including glass jars, plastic wrapping, boxes and cartons, and much of the  packaging from all of those presents!

Decorate Naturally
Instead of buying Christmas decorations at the store, consider using items you find around your yard and neighborhood such as colorful leaves, pine cones, poinsettias,  and greenery to make fresh Christmas  wreaths and garlands! These are a few quick and easy ways to be more environmentally friendly this holiday season. To find ways to make longer-term, green changes in your home, check out the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB’s) Sustainability and Green Building information at www.nahb.org/advocacy/industry-issues/sustainability-and-green-building.

And be sure to read next week’s article for more great tips on a festive “green” Christmas!