How to be Sustainable This Holiday Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is a highly anticipated period to gather with the ones you hold dear and cherish the togetherness, gratitude, celebration, and joy that come with it. 

But amidst all the chaos, it’s easy to get carried away and forget to make mindful, responsible decisions. At the end of each year, energy usage skyrockets, and food waste accumulates- in fact, during the holiday season Americans produce 25% more waste than normal. Prioritizing a sustainable lifestyle inevitably drops lower on the list of priorities, when it should be higher than ever.

These two events are not mutually exclusive- there are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday season while keeping environmentally conscious! In this article, we’ll explore 5 straightforward and beginner-friendly ways to stay mindful of sustainable practices during the holiday season. 

Use Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper

Following the holidays, piles of gift wrap and wrapping paper will inevitably appear scattered throughout the house. Though it may be your first reaction to dump the pile in the recycling, much of it cannot be recycled and will lead to recycling contamination. Exact parameters of what can and cannot be recycled vary from each county, so consult your local recycling center for exact details. As a general note, tissue paper, bows, ribbons, and glittery or textured gift wrap are not recyclable. This year, stick to plain patterns or reusable bags! (Note: Paper bags like Trader Joe’s bags make a great rustic wrapping option!)

Switch to Timer Based LED Lights

Switching out your incandescent bulbs for Energy Star qualified LEDs this holiday season brings a myriad of benefits. They are 90% more efficient than traditional lights, and are guaranteed to save at least $50 on your energy bills. LEDs are sturdier, last much longer, and release minimal heat, reducing risk of combustion or burns. And according to one study by the US DOE, if everyone in the US replaced their conventional string lights with LEDs, it would save about 2 billion kWh of electricity each month.

While on the topic of energy efficiency, take the extra step to set a timer on your holiday lights and decorations! Reduce unnecessary energy consumption and program them to turn on during specific hours of the night- no one will notice them before 6 PM anyways! 

Keep Supply Chain Emissions in Check 

Get an early start on your holiday shopping this year! This will negate the added costs and emissions of expedited or overnight shipping and reduce stress on the supply chain. Many online retail stores like Amazon and Shopify also offer options at checkout to reduce your environmental impact. These options typically include selecting a “less packaging” to reduce the single-use packaging waste, or a ‘one day delivery delay’ to allow items from different sellers to ship simultaneously and reduce the carbon emissions in the delivery. 

Reduce Single-Use Plastic 

The use of disposable plates, cups, and utensils during holiday parties and events can result in a mountain of plastic waste. Opt for reusable stainless steel utensils or simple dinner plate sets- IKEA offers a glass, dishwasher safe 12 piece dinnerware set for only $19.99! If not feasible, choose single-use recyclable or compostable products that can decompose safely without leaving any negative effects on the environment.

Be Mindful of Peak Load Days

Peak load days are very cold days when a high concentration of people are using heaters, ovens, or other appliances. These rapid spikes in energy demand result in more energy needing to be produced quickly, which is often expensive and produces higher amounts of emissions. 

To effectively manage your peak load, you need the information the utilities won’t tell you – when peak load hours are going to occur. With a predictive analytics platform like WatchWire, you will be alerted when peak load hours are likely to occur so you are prepared to act out your peak load management plan and reduce your load while saving money. 

On peak load days, consider getting the basics before cranking up the thermostat- put on socks and a cozy jacket, sip on a warm drink, and use smaller, more energy-efficient appliances like microwaves that consume less energy.

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