Shift Sustainability Consulting, 2RW Consultants, and Via Nova Investment Management are proud to co-sponsor a tree at this year’s Tinsel Trail, presented by the Junior League of Charlottesville.

One thing Shift Sustainability, 2RW, and Via Nova have in common is a commitment to sustainability, so we’ve put together a list of 10 ways you can make your holiday celebrations just a little bit “greener” this year.

SAVE ENERGY:

1.     Use LED holiday lights. LED lights use 80-90% less electricity than their incandescent equivalents, so using LEDs saves electricity (and money).

2.    Put your holiday lights on a timer. You likely don’t need your holiday lights to be burning bright all day and night. Consider using a timer plug or a smart plug to have your holiday lights run from dusk until bedtime. You’ll use about 70% less energy than running them 24/7.

REDUCE WASTE:

3.    Use real dishes and silverware instead of disposables at holiday gatherings.

4.   Recycle your wrapping paper and gift boxes. Better yet, save gift boxes, bags, and wrapping paper to be used again for future holidays!

5.    Recycle your tree through the County’s tree recycling program; they’ll turn the trees into mulch that is distributed to City and County residents free of charge. You can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and provide a useful, free resource to local residents.

6.    Recycle or donate old electronics and toys. Staples and Best Buy stores will recycle most electronic items (call in advance to double check what they accept). Gently used goods can be donated to Goodwill and Salvation Army.

7.    Buy experiences and consumables instead of physical gifts. Again, you can support local businesses by purchasing gift certificates for local shops and experiences, and you can reduce energy and resources required to manufacture new products. 

GREEN YOUR GREEN:

8.    Shop local. Not only will you support the local economy, but you’ll also reduce the “shopping miles” associated with your purchases (it takes less gas – and emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions – to transport a product from the next county vs. a country halfway around the world).

9.    Donate to an environmental charity. You can search Charity Navigator for an environmental organization that resonates with you, or you can donate to one of our local climate action organizations (like the Community Climate Collaborative!). You can also use Amazon Smile to select an environmentally focused charity like The Nature Conservancy to receive donations associated with your purchases.

10. Offset holiday travel emissions. Holidays often mean traveling to see loved ones, and that can rrack up GHG emissions pretty quickly. Consider offsetting the emissions of your travel with a site like Sustainable Travel International, where you can calculate and offset the environmental impact of your trip(s).

COME CHECK OUT OUR DECORATED TREE AT THE SHOPS AT STONEFIELD FROM NOVEMBER 26 – JANUARY 2!