Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas that Save Energy and Help the Environment

 Holiday gift-giving is heart-warming, full of surprises and fun. It also creates an extra one million tons of waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve every year!

            So if you are one of the multitude of shoppers who will be out early the day after Thanksgiving scouting for bargains why not consider giving presents that use less energy and create less trash? Some suggestions:

• Give energy-efficient small appliances like kitchen aids and grooming devices.
• Stuff stockings with compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Look for clothes and products made from recycled materials.
• Bestow blankets, sweaters or scarves that help to hold down heating costs.
• Create a hand-made gift, like a basket of baked goods or fruit, a collection of your family’s favorite recipes, a videotape of family members sharing their favorite stories, or a wreath strung with holly and pinecones.
• Buy something you know the recipient will use: tickets to a ball game or concert; a gift certificate to the video store or grocery store; or a membership in a health club.

As you celebrate the season of joy and giving, give and use wisely. Who knows how far the benefits will spread!

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