Last Minute Eco-Friendly Holiday Ideas

It is the season for giving! Here at National Home Services, we were thrilled with the results of our Holiday Toy Drive for SickKids Hospital. During this time of giving, we try our best to remember to be green whenever possible. We are delivering our donations unwrapped but, one of the biggest areas of holiday waste is in packaging and wrapping.

Check out our tips to reduce the amount of packaging and wrapping you use.

• Try out reusable wrapping ideas, like cloth bags, baskets and boxes.
• Recycle your newspapers, brown paper bags or Christmas flyers into wrapping paper.
• Instead of sending Christmas cards, send e-cards to your friends and loved ones.
• Bring your own bags when shopping. Keep them in your purse or car so they are nearby when needed.
• Think about alternative gifts that require no wrapping, like theatre tickets, museum passes, or gift certificates.
• Give homemade gifts like these Gifts in a Jar. Check here for more recipes.

If everyone in Canada wrapped just three gifts in reused paper or gift bags, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 hockey rinks!

Be Bright: Light Smart!

Be bright and light smart this holiday season!

Here at National Home Services, we are big fans of ENERGY STAR qualified products. Did you know ENERGY STAR qualified decorative lights consume 70% less energy than conventional light strands? Updating outdoor holiday lighting to ENERGY STAR LEDs could save you over $50 per year for the average sized household! They also stay cool to the touch, making your lights safer and reducing fire risks. For more information, check out Natural Resource Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency information on energy efficient lighting. Keep reading for more smart lighting tips:

• Avoid leaving indoor and outdoor decorative lights on all day and night. 

• Put your seasonal lights on a timer to enjoy in the evening and to lower your energy consumption. Not only will you save energy, automatic timers remove the hassle of plugging and unplugging your lights every night. They also make sure you never miss a night and forget to turn on the lights. 

• Set lights to switch on at 7 pm during weekdays to avoid electricity peak hours.

•  Remember to turn off holiday lighting when you leave home for extended periods of time.

• Candles can set a beautiful mood at holiday events and family gatherings. Get creative! Placing mirrors behind a group of candles or underneath a centrepiece reflects the light and creates a warm glow.

With these tips, enjoy an energy-saving holiday season that is merry and bright!

8 Tips to Curb Your Waste

The Holiday season is here! Whether your plans include hosting or traveling, use our 8 tips to curb your waste and your carbon footprint. 

1. Take inventory on the pantry. If you can avoid a trip to the store, you'll save time, fuel and money. 
2. When you've used up an ingredient, make sure to rinse the container and recycle. 
3. If you are cooking the turkey in an aluminum pan, don't throw it away! By clearing it of all food waste and rinsing it out, you may be able to recycle it instead. As always, be sure to check with your city to make sure. 
4. Serve cans of beer without fear. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable and easier to process than glass. Consider making the switch to cans this season. 
5. Pack the freezer with your leftover turkey and fixings instead of throwing away. The fuller the freezer, the more efficient it becomes. Save energy and prevent food waste from heading to the landfill. 
6. Don't want leftover dry goods to go stale? Consider sharing your extra food with the less fortunate this season. Prevent food waste by helping someone in need. Donate to a food bank or shelter. 
7. Holiday traffic is the worst! Spare yourself the trouble and hit the road early. Stop-and-go driving adds wear and tear to your vehicle and the environment. Beat the rush and do them both a favour. 
8. Give the host or hostess a real gift, not extra trash. Wrap presents in recyclable or reusable materials. 

Happy Holidays! Good luck managing your "waste" line this year!