Holiday & Event Ideas to save energy
(Numbers indicate order in which each idea was added to website.)
In General
698 Let them carry you off in a biodegradable cardboard coffin, save trees Read more And More
959 Gift books on sustainable living
1004 Alternative to plastic gift cards Read More
1092 Use an events carbon footprint calculator Read More
1064 If entertaining lots of guests keep temperature lower before they arrive
1071 Give plants instead of cut flowers
1075 Never buy plastic glitter, look for a biodegradable glitter
1217 Throw a zero waste party
​
Christmas
15 Don’t wrap Christmas presents Read more
154 Buy real Christmas trees DEBATE Read more
161 Save bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts from packages to use again
175 Reuse gift wrappings and bows
176 Use gift bags that can be reused instead of wrapping paper
216 Use led Christmas lights on house
601 Connect Christmas lighting to timer and shut off after Midnight
629 Use led Christmas lights on tree
633 Reduce the number of Christmas lights you use
677 Don’t use scented candles Read more
694 Wrap gifts in fabric and tie with ribbon; both are reusable Read more
730 Give energy saving gifts on Christmas
731 Give environmentally friendly gifts on Christmas
809 Use Energy Star decorative light strings for the holiday
811 Buy living tree you can plant outside or keep as a houseplant after holidays Read more
812 Take tree to chipping facility or return to environment in Eco-friendly way Read more
813 Consider using few or no lights in your holiday decorations
814 Save money and resources by making your own gifts
815 Give experiential gifts like theater tickets or other experience based tickets
817 Reuse the fronts of old cards as holiday postcards or gift tags
818 Buy cards made from “post-consumer” content and printed in non-toxic inks
819 Email digital cards or make your own
820 Use fiber optic lighting on the holidays
981 Have a non traditional Christmas Read more
1019 Create compostable Easter Baskets Read More
1020 Recycle plastic Easter eggs
1088 Avoid plastic toys Read More And More
1139 Make eco-gift list for Christmas right now
1219 Use biodegradable cellulose tape to wrap gifts
1551 Buy wooden toys this year
1552 Buy wooden non plastic board games for christmas
1553 Buy charity gifts
1554 Give a cow this christmas Read More
1555 Don't put too much on your plate
1556 Challenge your family to use eco friendly wrapping for Christmas
1558 Don't flock your tree
1559 Don't buy trendy trees
1560 Don't use a Christmas tree this year
1561 Plant two trees for every one you use at Christmas
1562 Give fewer, better gifts
1563 Know where your tree is grown (FSC) Read More
1564 Get the maximum meals out of your leftovers with good planning
1565 Give Books on green living
1566 Give a membership to an organic farm or co-op
1567 Give transit passes for Christmas
1569 Give Bicycles for Christmas
1570 Give your photos for Christmas
1571 Give homemade gifts and baked goods
1572 Use branches trimmed from the bottom of trees for decorations
1573 Limit your fire place use for Christmas
1574 Make a pallet outdoor Christmas tree Read More
1575 Slow down and breathe during the holidays
1576 Do a white elephant gift exchange - unused, unwanted but useful things Read More
1577 Do a Yankee swap gift exchange Read More
1578 Replace a burnt out bulb rather than throwing away the whole string
1683 Give gifts made of earth-friendly fabrics
1684 Give gifts made of stainless steel
1685 Give gifts made of bamboo
1686 Give gifts that grow
1687 Understand the true cost of Christmas Read More
1688 Select one of the world's creatures to adopt and follow
​
Halloween
1198 Don't use plastic bag or container for Halloween when going door to door
1199 Find Halloween treats that aren't each individually wrapped Read More
1200 Recycle candy snack wrappers with a zero waste box from TerraCycle Read More
1448 Look for Halloween decorations at the farmers market instead of plastics
1449 Use natural candles in your pumpkins
1450 Purchase organic pumpkins Read More
1451 Sponsor a Halloween costumer swap instead of buying new ones Read More
A great way to reduce the amount of plastic in your Halloween is to sponsor a costume swap. It works like this: 1. Find a place. It could be your home, a park, at school, a meeting room, a local library etc. 2. Set a date and time and get the word out. Don't forget to ask for donations of costumes. Some people will be willing to donate unused costumes. 3. Lay out costumes by size. 4. Have your "swap" and donate remaining costumes to a charity. Sometimes lack of sizes can be a problem so give yourself a little time to collect costume donations. Working through your child's class at school can be very effective. Most teachers will cooperate. The bigger the event the better. If you can't get to a costume swap you might try online at sites like swap.com. Don't forget to hand-me-down your costumes to another younger member of the extended family.
1452 Use non-toxic face paints and makeup for Halloween costumes
1453 Choose organic non-GMO halloween candy to give Read More
1454 Use non-plastic trick-or-treat Halloween bags and totes for the candy Read More
1455 Use solar lighting for your outdoor Halloween displays
1456 Use real plates, cups and utensils for your Halloween party
1457 Don't hand out gobs of candy - one will suffice Read More
1458 Save and reuse the stuff from last year and the year before
1459 Purchase costumes and costume material from thrift shops
1461 Use edible pumpkins, paint instead of carving and then eat it afterward Read More
1462 Compost your left over candy
1463 Donate leftover candies Read More
1464 Use torn stockings for spider web material
1465 Use cardboard boxes for tombstones Read More
1466 Before throwing old clothes out think about Halloween
1467 Walk your neighborhood instead of traveling elsewhere
1468 Purchase Halloween decorations made from recycled materials Read More
Here is something you might want to try. Making costumes from recycled materials. It might take a little imagination but if you think about it you probably have oodles of stuff around that could be cobbled into some pretty fantastic costumes. You might even be able to get the kids to help out. If you don't have "stuff" around the house you can visit a local thrift shop or second hand store to find materials. It is a bit of a treasure hunt. To get started go online and check out sites that show 'costumes from recycled materials'. There is also a great podcast that we have included on our website. It comes from the podcast series "Trashmagination" and is devoted to making Halloween costumes from trash. Just go to "Halloween Ideas" on our website and click the "read more" link on number 1468. In 2017 we spent 1.68 billion on adult costumes, 1.23 billion on childrens costumes and .44 billion of pet costumes. Time to cut back.
​
1469 Use beeswax or soy candles to light up your jack-o-lanterns
1470 Recycle candy wrappers into a craft project Read More
1471 If you don't eat your jack-o-lantern use a watermelon instead Read More
1472 Make Halloween a do-it-yourself project with the kids Read More
1473 Give out fair trade candy Read More
1474 give out vegan sugar cookies
1475 Give out dark chocolates instead of milk chocolates Read More
1476 Give out unwrapped treats Read More
1477 Opt for small non-plastic gifts at Halloween instead of candy
1478 Create an eco-themed costume for Halloween Read More
I stumbled on this great little article by Jessica Hahn on Recyclebank.com that gave ideas about Eco-Costumes for Halloween. It is a wonderful and fun way to get kids involved with climate change and energy conservation. She came up with 7 costume themes for the young environmentalists: Global Warming, Vampire Energy, Captain Planet, Mother Nature, Glacier of the Future, Green Washing and the Lorax. For each she suggests how you can construct it. Just think about how many people will ask your kids about their costumes in your neighborhood as they dole out the candy. By the time you get home I think these young ones will feel pretty good about themselves. Thanks Jessica!
​
1479 If you don't eat the seeds compost the insides of pumpkins
1480 Donate costumes instead of throwing away Read More
1481 Instead of trick or treat look for local sustainable Halloween events Read More
1482 Use a solar light inside your pumkins
1483 Use on line invitations to Halloween parties
1484 Make recycling bins prominent and well marked at Halloween parties
1485 Bring along a litter bag when trick or treating to police area
1486 Reverse trick or treating - hand fair trade chocolates to people at the door Read More
1487 Have organic and colorful menu for Halloween
1488 Throw a green Halloween party
1489 Have vegan treats for Halloween Read More
1491 Trick or treat for pennies to support a green cause Read More
1492 Put Halloween lighted decorations on a timer
1493 If not solar make sure Halloween lighted decorations are LED
1494 If using flashlights while trick or treating make them shakable Read More
1495 Keep away from Halloween Super Stores and their costumes
Thanksgiving
1201 Eat a locally grown Turkey
1347 Don't fly somewhere for Thanksgiving - stay close to home
1460 Use a "Guest-Imator" to plan Thanksgiving dinner Read More
1513 Be reasonable with your menu and shopping list
1514 Borrow cookers and dishes instead of buying
1515 Have a vegetarian Thanksgiving Read More
1516 Send leftovers home with people
1517 Carpool to get to Thanksgiving dinner
1518 DIY Use corks as stands for name tags at the table
1519 Have dinner at family member's home most central to others to reduce travel
1520 Prepare fewer foods or smaller amounts to reduce waste
1523 Borrow a roasting pan instead of using aluminum throw away pans
1524 Tell people about your eco friendly ideas for Thanksgiving
1525 Look for USDA Certified Organic Label on your Turkey
1529 DIY Make candle holders out of gourds
1531 Decorate with nature
1532 DIY Have the kids make the Thanksgiving decorations Read More
1535 See kitchen section of this website to pick up more ideas for thanksgiving
1549 DIY Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your Thanksgiving drain
1689 Do an original Thanksgiving - have it with neighbors instead of travel
1690 Go meatless for Thanksgiving
1691 At Thanksgiving go paperless.
1692 Great time to compost or use a compost service
1693 Use your convection settings on the oven
1694 After thanksgiving dinner clean oven by hand to save energy
1695 Don't forget to lower the thermostat if you have lots of people for thanksgiving
1696 Use the microwave instead of the oven when possible
1697 Check out kitchen & meals sections of this website for more tips on Thanksgiving
1698 Buy a Tofurky for your non-meaters Read More
1699 Use non-toxic cleaners to get ready for your guests at Thanksgiving
1700 Serve tap water at Thanksgiving
1701 Use soy or vegetable wax candles for decoration
Easter
397 Avoid plastic Easter eggs Read more
1019 Create compostable Easter Baskets Read More
1020 Recycle plastic Easter eggs
​
Weddings and Birthdays
55 Use wedding venue that is devoted to sustainability
341 Use an heirloom ring and add stones Read more
342 Insist that leftover food from wedding go to local food-bank
343 use Mason jars for center piece plants Read more
344 Ask for unwrapped gifts or gift cards Read more
346 Give gift option to guests to give to environmental charity in their name
347 Tell your caterer to use local organic foods
464 Use wildflowers for wedding bouquets Read more
609 Use same venue for wedding and reception to reduce travel
720 Request only digital photos from photographer
751 For centerpieces use potted plants Read more
759 Set up composting bins for the reception
764 Use thrift store dishes at wedding and donate back when finished Read more
766 Get married outside to reduce energy costs
777 Have the wedding in someone's backyard
786 Use recycled paper for invitations etc
787 Make your wedding favors Eco-friendly Read more
788 Use your mother's or member of family wedding dress
794 Make your registry Eco-friendly
887 Skip the destination wedding Read more
961 Use electronic wedding invitations
989 have a small wedding
999 Don't buy gifts that use batteries
1031 use leafs to make confetti Read More
1167 Buy eco friendly wedding dress Read More
​
​