Take Action

In the spirit of Aimee Mann's green holiday tour, check out the "12 Green Days of Christmas" tips to learn what you can do to join the cause:

12 Green Days of Christmas

1. Change Your Lights

LED Christmas lights use 80% less energy than traditional bulbs and last much longer. For the rest of your house, replace your incandescent bulbs with energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights. Learn more about LEDs here and CFLs here.

2. Gift Wrapping

Choose 100% post consumer recycled wrapping paper, reuse a gift bag, or even better, reuse materials like newspaper, posters, and paper grocery bags to wrap your presents. Make sure to recycle anything that can't be reused.

3. Detox Your Home

Indoor air pollution can be up to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution. Keep your friends and family safe by making sure your home doesn't contain dangerous chemicals and products. Click here for more information.

4. Give Less "Stuff"

Skip the store-bought present and give a gourmet home-cooked meal, free night of babysitting, a week of backrubs, or donate to a charity. Click here for some ideas.

5. Organic and Local Food

When preparing your meals this holiday season, shop for local and organic food. It tastes better, contains fewer harmful pesticides, and you'll be supporting your local economy. More information here.

6. Vote with Your Dollars

When making purchasing decisions this holiday, consider the companies that you're supporting. Check out our friends Climate Counts for more information.

7. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)

Cut down on waste and bring your own shopping bags to the store. Click here for an example.

8. Potato Plates and Corn Cups

If reusable catering items aren't an option, and you're using disposable items for your holiday parties, look for products that are vegetable based and biodegradable. Click here for some examples.

9. Seal Up Your House

By caulking and weather-stripping around doors and windows, you can save money on your energy bill and up for 1,700 pounds of CO2 per year.

10. Candles

Save some electricity and burn candles. Choose soy, vegetable wax or beeswax - all renewable and biodegradable materials - over paraffin wax candles, which are petroleum based. See an example here.

11. Adjust Your Thermostat

Set your thermostat 2 degrees lower in the winter and save 1,000 pounds of CO2 and over $40 per year. This also allows you to show off that snazzy new sweater your grandma bought you.

12. Offset Your Holiday Travel Emissions

Driving and flying all produce CO2. Offset your CO2 emissions from your holiday travel. Click here to learn more.