More than 20 Environmentally Conscious Gift Ideas
By webmaster on Jul 7, 2007 in Holidays
Author by : Dave Brummet
- Gift certificates: wine making shop, used bookstore, music lessons, etc.
- Membership: golf, gym, spa, etc.
- Baskets of healthy foods.
- Services: Dog walking, babysitting, housecleaning, etc.
- Yellow CFL’s for exterior lighting that is energy efficient and reduces bugs around entrances or seating areas.
- Slippers/sweaters (the recipient is less likely to turn up thermostat).
- Family recipe book (w/photos of family).
- Give or purchase a living tree (it removes carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, ozone and nitrogen oxides). A living Xmas tree can be donated to individuals, the city, schools or parks when the season is over. Alternatively, plant it in your own yard for privacy, shade or erosion control.
- Toys and games with positive environmental or education values and those that emphasize cooperation, exploration or creative thinking.
- For the new homeowner – thermostat control that automatically turns the heat down at night and tubes of caulking or weather stripping. Hot water tank and hot water pipe insulation kits are another good option.
- A low flow shower head attachment, timers and soaker hoses for landscaping irrigation, a rain barrel.
- A draft cozy (placed in front of doors to prevent drafts).
- Dimmer switches or compact fluorescent bulbs; don’t forget those 3-way CFL bulbs for lamps.
- For the gardener – subscription to an organic gardening magazine or a membership to a seed organization. Bird, bat and butterfly houses, baths and feeders – or the patterns to build them. A composting worm bin or a membership with an environmental group.
- Tickets to a performance, restaurant gift certificates or services such as lawn care and tree pruning, cloth diaper laundry services, house cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, dog training classes, tune-up or tire rotation services.
- Dehydrated, canned or preserved foods, especially those you have grown, make excellent gifts. Frozen homemade meals are treasured gifts for time-suppressed or physically limited individuals.
- Brazil or cashew nuts as they promote a living tropical barbarrel.
- Books (i.e. Trash Talk – by Dave and Lillian Brummet, or Simply Green Giving by Danny Seo).
- A reusable coffee filter and whole organic coffee beans.
- If you choose to purchase electronics, consider those powered by solar or rechargeable batteries.
- For holiday photo memories, avoid disposable cameras. Instead use a digital camera and load directly to your own computer and CD burner. Alternatively, use a normal camera and have the pictures put on CD’s at the development outlet. By choosing CD’s you reduce chemicals, paper and cost. Choose 36 exposure film rolls and reduce both packaging and waste.
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~ Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept of their book, Trash Talk. A guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment, Trash Talk offers useful solutions for the individual to reduce waste and better manage resources. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit) |
[tags]holidays, gift idea list, giving, ideas, gifts, Xmas, Christmas, Environment, frugal, alternative[/tags]
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