PROJECT GREEN

Decorating Sense

How to celebrate the season without trashing the environment.

By Caitlin McDevitt | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 15, 2008

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  • Posted By: ReasonableGal @ 12/17/2008 3:04:20 PM

    OK4U: It matters if the LED bulbs produce less heat because they can use less energy than incandescents. Over 50% of the power that goes into an incandescent light gets turned into heat, not light, so you need mor energy to create the same amount of light. Think before you say rude things.

  • Posted By: ok4u @ 12/16/2008 7:48:02 PM

    I can see the importance of replacing outdoor incandescent lights with LED's because "LED's produce less heat.." Especially in December. I wonder how many Newsweek magazines are in landfills today?

  • Posted By: pecos bill @ 12/16/2008 5:49:33 PM

    Electrical tape!?!?! That's made with PVC!!!!!!!!!! Credibility just flew out the cold window.......

    Considering how long an artificial tree lasts vs what it takes to pick up/drop off a real tree, I'm not so sure an artificial one is so bad. Plus, considering how many homes are destroyed/damaged from tree fires, I'll keep my fake tree.

    Aerosol cans by law do not use CFCs. Propane is a common propellant and if that's a problem, it should universally be banned.

  • Posted By: megsmith @ 12/16/2008 10:32:21 AM

    This so misses the mark. How about we use our existing ornaments & artificial tree and only buy green replacements. Better than a tree to recycle, those who are homeowners, buy a living tree and plant it after Christmas. And as for wrapping paper-electrical tape??? Really. If you want to reuse paper bags fine, but use paint or markers to liven them up and then recycle them. Better yet, buy some fabric which can be reused. Perhaps the best green tip is this-scale back-it is amazing that in years past there was any Christmas spirit without candles in every window and inflatable christmas decorations.

  • Posted By: bobsgt @ 12/16/2008 8:14:36 AM

    This article may have begun with the simple marketing thought "Green is in- I'd better write an article about being green for the holidays!" Never mind that the author (apparently) knows little about the subject. In addition to Nick52's observations, what does the author think the inexpensive type of electrical tape she wants us to use is made of? The answer is in the second paragraph where she laments it's use- PVC. And it is made "internationally", a phrase she uses earlier in some off-topic suggestion that I surmise was intended to both bolster an "Buy American" ideal and bring to mind thoughts that foreign goods are inferior and probably filled with melamine. The argument against the artificial snow (as stated) is laughable- we are "made of chemicals" too. I don't know if artificial snow contains HARMFUL chemicals or not, so yes, Ms. McDevitt, I guess you did need to say more. Or perhaps a lot less. Happy Holidays!

  • Posted By: bobsgt @ 12/16/2008 8:13:57 AM

    This article may have begun with the simple marketing thought "Green is in- I'd better write an article about being green for the holidays!" Never mind that the author (apparently) knows little about the subject. In addition to Nick52's observations, what does the author think the inexpensive type of electrical tape she wants us to use is made of? The answer is in the second paragraph where she laments it's use- PVC. And it is made "internationally", a phrase she uses earlier in some off-topic suggestion that I surmise was intended to both bolster an "Buy American" ideal and bring to mind thoughts that foreign goods are inferior and probably filled with melamine. The argument against the artificial snow (as stated) is laughable- we are "made of chemicals" too. I don't know if artificial snow contains HARMFUL chemicals or not, so yes, Ms. McDevitt, I guess you did need to say more. Or perhaps a lot less. Happy Holidays!

  • Posted By: bobsgt @ 12/16/2008 8:13:17 AM

    This article may have begun with the simple marketing thought "Green is in- I'd better write an article about being green for the holidays!" Never mind that the author (apparently) knows little about the subject. In addition to Nick52's observations, what does the author think the inexpensive type of electrical tape she wants us to use is made of? The answer is in the second paragraph where she laments it's use- PVC. And it is made "internationally", a phrase she uses earlier in some off-topic suggestion that I surmise was intended to both bolster an "Buy American" ideal and bring to mind thoughts that foreign goods are inferior and probably filled with melamine. The argument against the artificial snow (as stated) is laughable- we are "made of chemicals" too. I don't know if artificial snow contains HARMFUL chemicals or not, so yes, Ms. McDevitt, I guess you did need to say more. Or perhaps a lot less. Happy Holidays!

  • Posted By: mikewadestr @ 12/15/2008 8:14:01 PM

    I do not follow any of these tips and I have no intention of doing so. I like warm weather and I hate cold weather. Bring on the global warming.

    • Posted By: Nick52 @ 12/16/2008 7:52:50 AM

      Wow. And if the sun becomes a supernova, that should make you really happy...

    • Posted By: rogerhall @ 12/15/2008 9:23:51 PM

      Good luck with that!

      One of the ironies of Global Warming is that it could result in a new ice age. Before you can appreciate how that is possible, you have to understand "non-linear systems". Coincidently, very few people who understand non-linear systems are quite as glib as you about Global Warming.

      But hey, you weren't really trying to converse, were you. You just wanted to impress yourself with your outrageous attitude. I sure hope it worked. That way, at least some good will have come from the wear and tear on my F5 key.

  • Posted By: 2178743 @ 12/16/2008 7:37:59 AM

    I am going to decorate my fake tree with Walmart ornaments and tinsel. Then, I am going to turn on all my window candles and blinking house lights. Because I am such a bad wrapper, it will take me twice the amount of paper to wrap all of my gifts, but that???s ok, because I can use artificial snow on them to add some flare.

    http:www.usefulopinions.blogspot.com

  • Posted By: Nick52 @ 12/16/2008 7:18:14 AM

    I'm all for an eco-friendly Christmas, but sometimes all of this gets a bit silly. Years ago we were told that fake trees saved real trees from being cut down. Now we're told that it's better to cut real ones. We've had the same artificial tree for 20 years and it still looks great. Who throws these out? Same with ornaments. They are used for years. Ours are glass, from Germany. The wrapping paper suggestion makes no sense, as it regards spending money, not helping the environment. How is it helping the environment to make wrapping paper from brown paper bags covered with colored electrical tape? Doesn't that get thrown out too? And electric candles that get hot and burn curtains? Ours take night light bulbs. No heat at all. Doing little things to help the environment is fine, but Christmas should not be an exercise in eco-guilt. I spend the whole year worrying about wars, money, and health. A couple of weeks with a fake tree, a roll of nice wrapping paper, and Christmas memories, old and new, are not too much to ask for.

  • Posted By: I'mSparks @ 12/16/2008 12:06:14 AM

    Oh please. That ridiculous paragraph about using newspaper and old cereal boxex to wrap gifts is exactly why many people roll their eyes and write off going green at all. Buy white butcher and let the kids decorate it with felt pens. Buy gift bags and save and re-use them (my choice). Save the wrapping off of each years gifts if you must and reuse it, but don't tell me to wrap me gifts in GARBAGE and expect me to pay any attention to you at all.

  • Posted By: ladytechie01 @ 12/15/2008 10:37:53 PM

    If you're going to get right down to it, a potted Christmas tree, grown locally may be an even better choice. Several of the big box stores offer them, as do at least 2 nurseries in my area. My kids have had varying degrees of success replanting them, but it's fun to try.

    After the kids left home putting up a tree at all seemed to require more energy (mine that is) than seemed worthwhile. Some red candles, beeswax or soy when I can find them, and a few often reused figurines, a Santa, an Angel, and a really cool tree shaped candle holder found at the local thrift shop have been my decorations for several years now. Guess that fits all 3 R's as eventually someone in my family will use them when I give up decorating at all.

  • Posted By: junegray @ 12/15/2008 9:19:33 PM

    Mikewadestr is an uniformed selfish a55hole.

    Happy Holidays and Merry Xmas

  • Posted By: junegray @ 12/15/2008 9:19:32 PM

    Mikewadestr is an uniformed selfish a55hole.

    Happy Holidays and Merry Xmas

  • Posted By: junegray @ 12/15/2008 9:18:34 PM

    Mikewadestr is an uniformed selfish a55hole.

    Happy Holidays and Merry Xmas

  • Posted By: IrritatedAmerican @ 12/15/2008 8:01:22 PM

    Who buys new artificial christmas tress often. When my husband finally convinced me to purchase ours we spent $400.00 on it because I wanted it to look really real. I miss the smell of pine in my home...but that tree will stay with us for quite sometime. I just can not spend that much money on a tree every year. Popcorn and cranberries are good alternatives to tinsel. Our dog kept trying to eat our tinsel so we switched to things that wouldn't make her sick and the kids love to make the strings of popcorn and tinsel. I will do my best to be carbon friendly this xmas...but I know there are somethings that might not be.

  • Posted By: dan_rationalthinking @ 12/15/2008 6:36:23 PM

    gerno,
    "The atrociousness of your grammar is eclipsed only by your fallacy of logic. "
    Are you serious? Your arrogance and egotistical demeanor sure outweigh any atrocities in mike's grammar. If the man wants to decorate his house with decorations that may not be as "green" as other alternatives; well, then let him decorate. You have no right telling ANYONE that they must switch to "green" products or change their lifestyles. That is why, quite frankly, most people are turned off in trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Radical environmentalist Liberals are known for doing this. I personally like Mike's reasoning of reuse and recycling better than going out and buying all new decorations (which would result in throwing out older decorations which might actually be polluting the earth more). Before you know it, people like you are going to start telling people that they aren't allowed to decorate for any holidays at all because the world's going to end if we do. One more thing, the problem with most new "green" products is that they simply cost too much. Try convincing people to buy a set of LED lights that cost 3 times as much with fewer lights when most of the time Christmas lights don't even last past the life of the bulbs because of faulty lines, etc. If you want to promote "green" actions, you better find a way to make them economically feasible too. Well, I shall now go and hang up my CHEAP, INCANDESCENT Christmas lights and celebrate the season without people telling me how to live my life.

    P.S. Oh and gerno, get your head out of a tree and look around at the world, a good MAJORITY of people use aersol deodorant (Oldspice, Axe, TAG bodyspray). Live in someone else's shoes before you criticize them or even attempt to tell them why their lifestyle is wrong.

    • Posted By: rogerhall @ 12/15/2008 6:48:17 PM

      Good points Dan, but I'm sure you realize that Mike is the exception, and not the norm.

      If you read my response to his post, you will note no arrogance or radicalism. I'm still quite "liberal", but I definitely understand your point of putting people off through demeanor. I do try to use humor, which is admittedly dangerous in a written forum.

      While you are correct that "we" can't "force" anyone to make changes (and incidentally "we" don't want to), there is no harm in recognizing that if we all continued to make high-energy choices then there is a real possibility that our grandchildren will live in a world with many more regulations. It's an easy pattern to see; with abuse and increasingly severe consequences comes even more restrictive rules.

      Let's hope that we can all choose our own methods of being personally responsible and meet this challenge together. Otherwise, I'm afraid our children and grandchildren may lose that precious freedom of choice.

      • Posted By: dan_rationalthinking @ 12/15/2008 7:14:52 PM

        I appreciate your response. When I referred to an arrogant and egotistical attitude, I was only referring to gerno's posts. I agree that we need to do our part in making our world more sustainable. In fact, I am currently on track to make this happen because I'm majoring in energy, environmental, and chemical engineering. I hope to help revolutionize the industry with new sources of energy WHILE improving conventional sources as well. Thanks for your respectful response; the world needs more people like you that will respectfully disagree rather than forcibly putting one's views on another.

        Merry Christmas!

  • Posted By: gerno @ 12/15/2008 6:55:01 PM

    Evidence of your "MAJORITY:, Dan?

    No?

    Then that qualifies as a persoal attack, too. Check your own hypocrisy first; it's usually easiest to spot.

  • Posted By: mike3775 @ 12/15/2008 5:11:24 PM

    I am so sick and tired of the phrase "Green" .

    I'll go in order and give my views on what this article stated
    1) Artificial Tree's. I got my Christmas Tree from my parents who bought it in 1981 when i was 6 yrs old. For you non math whiz's, that makes the tree 27 yrs old. Its still in great shape and guess what, I save money every year because I do not have to pay to get a tree every year(think of the size of the carbon footprint I am not leaving by having to go to a store, wasting gas, to get my tree), and its still in great shape. I will probably pass it on to one of my kids when they move out and start a family of their own. So to say that artificial trees are bad is wrong, because if they last for years, people will not discard them.

    2) Tinsel. Again here is where I recycle. See I am still using Tinsel i bought in 2000. I know this because the receipt is still taped to the box it came in. So again, my carbon footprint is way smaller because I reuse it over and over for years at a time

    3) Incandescent Lights. So what If I am using lights that are energy suckers. No one but me is paying the electric bill so its my choice. and the funny thing is, my neighbors have asked me where I got my lights from, because they like them so much, and sadly they are not made anymore because of the "green crap" going on. If I need a new bulb, I have to hit Ebay. Again, it is my choice, and I choose to use the lights I got from my parents years ago. I am shocked you didn't mention that older lights may contain lead based paint either.

    4) Ornaments. This article makes it seem that people buy new ornaments every year. I have only bought three new ornaments each year(one for every kid I have) and thats it. The rest are either made in school by the kids, or stuff I bought back in the late 1990's when I got the tree and lights from my parents. So again, my carbon footprint is very small

    5) Wrapping Paper. I buy recycled paper, so does that matter(I noticed you did not mention that). Again, I can buy 10 rolls and have it last for at least 4-5 years. Again, a small carbon offset

    6) Window candles- I don;t have any of those

    7) The Spray on snow made me laugh. You are saying its made of chemicals, but so is deodorant, hair spray, and any other item that is spray-able. And I think more people use deodorant than fake snow on windows each year.

    8) Lawn Ornaments. Funny but my Inflatable Santa and Snowman say Energy Star Compliant. To me that means its using less energy than others do. A carbon offset if you ask me


    So amazingly, I have proved that your list is bogus, because my carbon footprint for Christmas is low. Of course if I changed my lights, I could make it smaller, but honestly, I am "green" according to this article, so why should I change?

    • Posted By: hollyberry @ 12/15/2008 6:48:20 PM

      mike3775- I'm not sure why you are so mad. Sounds like you're doing a pretty good job just doing your part. I don't see why we should discourage "green'' advocates from promoting world-friendly ideas. Sure, some of the logic is a little skewed, but the overall concept is worth heeding. Merry Christmas. hb

    • Posted By: rogerhall @ 12/15/2008 6:08:25 PM

      Mike,

      Good job on reusing and recycling, the last two "R's" of being green: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Those actions are not only green, but also cost effective - which is often the way of "green". While you may hate the term, you seem to practice it, so you are to be congratulated.

      Still, there are a couple of points where your arguments fall short. Just because you are personally responsible for your electric bill doesn't mean that there isn't a cost for everyone to bear. When we make high-energy choices, we create more carbon pollution. It isn't *all* about the monthly bill; it's also about the global bill. I would agree that you shouldn't simply throw them away in order to buy new materials, but at some point in the future you might consider selling your remaining working bulbs on EBay and investing that money in LED lights which will not only save on both your personal bill and the global bill, but will also last longer than your current set, requiring fewer EBay purchases and UPS shipments (both of which have carbon consequences).

      Our bodies are made of chemicals, and so is toxic sludge. Admittedly the article does a very poor job on the details regarding the "spray on snow", but I think the point was a suggestion to reconsider whether or not you really need that sort of decoration. It's not that "chemicals" are bad, it is the spike in their use brought about by this modern fashion that simply isn't necessary.

      One last point: "Energy Star Compliant" doesn't mean "good for the planet". It means "less stupid than previous versions". Just because my stove and refrigerator are both "Energy Star Compliant" doesn't mean that it is a good idea to leave the stove on, with the door open, and then also decide to open the fridge door to help cool the room. There is no "carbon offset" in those actions. I would just be wasting energy. If you had a wooden or metal Santa in your yard, then you wouldn't need to use energy to keep your balloon aloft. Again, it's about choosing things that use less energy, because there is a "global bill" to pay for all energy use.

      Again, the article is lazy in making the point - but the gist that I read is the "first R" of green: Reduce.

      You have shown a willingness to reuse and recycle (the "last two R's"). Perhaps you could be a little more considerate of those who are interested in the first (and most important) "R".

      (Did you realize they are listed in that order for a reason? It's because reducing is more effective than reusing, which in turn is more effective than recycling.)

      Of course, the list is in no way "bogus". We should each be able to consider the list for what it is, and choose what changes are best for us to make. Hopefully we can all make sensible choices most of the time, and always retain the freedom to make "poor" choices where we really want; tha

      • Posted By: rogerhall @ 12/15/2008 6:23:13 PM

        (They say 3000 characters, but clearly they don't mean it. NEWSWEEK sucks - as software providors.)

        Hopefully we can all make sensible choices most of the time, and always retain the freedom to make "poor" choices where we really want; that way you keep on using those "bad" lights (that make you so happy) year after year.

        Merry Christmas and a happy new coastline!

  • Posted By: dan_rationalthinking @ 12/15/2008 6:41:44 PM

    gerno,
    "The atrociousness of your grammar is eclipsed only by your fallacy of logic." Well, your arrogance and egotistical demeanor sure outweigh any atrocities in Mike's grammar. Thanks for your contribution. I really appreciate when people give personal attacks. Go hug a tree...

    P.S. Oh, and get your head out of a tree; a good MAJORITY of people use aerosol deodorants. Do Oldspice, Axe, or TAG bodyspray ring any bells?

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