How You Can Go GREEN This Christmas!
When you decorate this holiday season, consider going au naturel - without lights! You can make or buy wreaths and garlands of natural materials that can be composted or will naturally decompose. Natural greenery can be found at local farm stands throughout your town.
Yes, an artificial tree can be used for years, but it will eventually end up in a landfill somewhere. A cut, live tree from a tree farm is better because tree farmers are continually replacing harvested trees. And, because live trees can be recycled after Christmas. Williamsburg-James City County Recycling allows residents to drop off live trees until February 29, 2009. The trees are then mulched or composted by the Virginia Peninsula Public Service Authority.
But, if you must have Christmas lights, consider exchanging your incandescent tree bulbs for LED (Light Emitting Diode) ones. They cost a little more, but LED lights use more than 98 percent LESS energy and can last up to 10 years and stay cooler.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 25 percent more trash than usual is generated between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Buy gifts without a lot of packaging or that require minimal wrapping. RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE! Use your own reusable shopping bags for your purchases when you shop. Place gift boxes and wrapping paper tubes in recycling containers for weekly pickup. 
You will find that it's the little things that mean so much and make a big difference!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®
WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE
757-753-7472
Long and Foster, REALTORS®
6610-J Mooretown Road
Williamsburg, VA 23188
YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com
9 comments • YVETTE SMITH REALTOR IN WILLIAMSBURG VA WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA HOMES FOR SALE • December 03 2008 04:08PM
Yvette, we use the LED lights but need to cut down on the wrapping and think of your natural ideas with things like the wreath. Thanks for the "green" tips.
Good tips for going green at Christmas Yvette. I am a fan of the real thing...no fake trees for me:)
Great tips Yvette. I just saw this post on Twitter!! See, it works, twitter is another way to get your information, posts, links out there. Good job.
GARY - You can use GIFT BAGS instead of wrapping paper & it doesn't take a lot of time to do!
BILL - That's great to hear. I love the smell, however, I've got allergies (& so do the boys) so it's a fake one for us :o(
TERRIE - My post is on Twitter? Oh yea, I am Twittered!!! I forgot about that:o)
HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!
Yvette, You said it girl! I plan on buying all new LED lights after X-mas and starting "fresh" next year. I love real trees so much more anyway. Can't beat the smell of a real tree. Guess I'll start that tradition again as well! I'm off to hunt you down on Twitter! I'm @ElizabethGolden if I can't find you:)
Yvette, Your post is on Twitter?!?! I will look you up and follow you. These really are fantastic tips. I like the real vs fake tree tip. I never though about it but you are right... the fake one will end up in the landfill eventually.
Hi Yvette, great tips. It is so important to "Treat the world well"/
All the best!
Great information, Yvette! Thanks for sharing it.
ELIZABETH - I found you!!
MARLENE - I sent you a tweet, I think! I have a hard time finding people on Twitter.
KEVIN - AMEN!! For the kid's (and their kids) sake:o)
CHRIS - Your welcome!!