Page 15 - Sphere No.32 (Dec 2012)

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Sphere 32
I’m DreamIng of a
green ChrIStmaS…
Wondering how you can make your festive season a little greener? here are a number
of useful ideas from our colleagues across the Group that you can implement into your
holiday celebration to lessen your environmental impact.
1. Send festive e-cards instead of traditional greeting cards by post
eliminate the carbon footprint of your holiday greeting cards by sending digital e-cards instead. if
you typically send scores of greeting cards to friends and family around the world, the energy savings can
be significant. Plus, you will save on postage and supplies – sending an e-card is free!
2. Give gifts au naturel
no wrapping necessary! today, the packaging provided by many stores is pretty enough on its own, especially
around the holidays, that additional wrapping is unnecessary.
3. Switch to energy efficient LED bulbs in your decorative lighting
switching from incandescent to leD light bulbs can decrease your electricity consumption by as much as
95 per cent. as a bonus, leD lights are safer, too, as they are cool to the touch when they are switched on,
even after long periods of time, unlike some traditional bulbs.
4. Use public transportation when doing your holiday shopping and travelling to see family and friends
using public transportation, such as the bus and subway systems, will decrease your carbon footprint
drastically. even when travelling by more traditional methods, be creative with ways to be more fuel efficient,
such as carpooling with friends to the airport to catch a holiday flight.
5. Switch off festive lighting and electrical equipment when not in use
Put outdoor lighting displays on a timer so that they automatically switch off at a pre-determined time, for
example, in the middle of the night and during the daytime. When possible, unplug indoor decorations when
not in use, rather than simply switching them off to reduce the amount of ‘phantom power’. in addition,
choose lights for decorations that operate at extra low voltage (less than 50 V ac or 120 V Dc) to help you
reduce the amount of energy used. also ensure your festive lights are in good condition and correctly fitted
to be, both, energy efficient and do not pose any electrical safety hazards. By the same token, if you have an
extra refrigerator or freezer that you only use for special occasions, such as holidays, unplug it until you need
it again, for that big occasion.
6. Use reusable mugs for hot and cold beverages
Whether you live in a hot or cold climate in December, bring your own mug to work for that hot coffee and
tea or ice-chilled soft drink in the holiday months and make sure to use reusable cups, plates and cutlery at
family gatherings, whatever the weather.
7. Be mindful when cooking your traditional Christmas holiday feast
make a plan for maximising your efficiency when cooking your celebration dinner. For instance, determining
how long your turkey will need to bake first and then roasting it for exactly
that amount of time, will avoid wasting power, whilst maximising the
tastiness of that special seasonal dish.
“Whilst there is a great deal of attention in the media about ‘food
miles’, which comprise the energy used to transport
food around the world from farm to plate, it is actually
how you cook food that has the greatest impact on
the environment,” explained alex sturge of uK Power
networks. “For instance, boiling potatoes without a lid
on the pot is wasteful of power, and has more impact on
the environment than flying them to the uK from
Kenya or israel.”