5 Tips for a Green Halloween

1. Recycle your Jack-O-Lantern after the holiday

Instead of sending your pumpkin to a landfill, why not give Jack a second life as compost? If you have a yard, composting a pumpkin is incredibly easy – and fun! First, pick a sunny space in an area of your yard that isn't heavily trafficked. Here comes the fun part. Either you or your children smash your pumpkin to bits so it’s easier to decompose. Next, cover the remnants of your pumpkin with leaves, and the worms in your yard will do the heavy lifting of decomposition. It’s a great way to add extra nutrition to your yard.

2. Ward off the Energy Vampires

Vampires don’t just come out on October 31. Any appliance or electronic device that remains plugged into your wall when not in use can still “suck” your energy. Make it a habit to unplug any device you aren’t using. On Halloween, if you have outside decorations, make sure to unplug them after all the trick-or-treaters have left.

3. Light up the night with outdoor solar lights

With children coming up to your home wearing masks and other vision-impairing costumes, the last thing you want is someone tripping on the walkway up to your door. However, walkway lighting still costs money to power. Instead, try outdoor solar lights that create electricity through solar cells and store the energy in batteries until you need them at night.

4. Don’t leave the door open all night

Even if you want your home to look inviting to trick-or-treaters, leaving the front door – especially a screen door – open for an extended period of time will increase you energy use to keep the thermostat at the temperature you set. Instead, leave a decorative wreath or a sign saying “Trick-or-Treaters Welcome” to let children know that you’re giving out candy. It’ll save you money and give the kids the excitement of surprising you with their costumes when you open the door.

5. Beware of expensive yard decorations

Decorating your home for Halloween is probably one of the most fun parts of the holiday. But inflatable outdoor black cats and pumpkins can significantly increase your energy bill to keep them up and running all month. Instead of going for mass-produced Halloween decorations, try making your own with ideas from Pinterest and other DIY sites. Trash bags stuffed with leaves can be used to make giant spiders. Old bed sheets – also stuffed with leaves – can be hung from trees as ghosts. For anyone who loves crafting, creating your own Halloween decorations can unleash your creativity, while saving money on your electric bill.