During the holiday season, we often enjoy tasty food, festive lights, presents, and trips away. But did you know all this celebration actually boosts CO2 levels? We each generate about 1,400 pounds extra CO2 over the holidays. This has impacts on both our health and the environment. So, how can we make festivities friendlier for the planet? Let’s dive in.
First, a little about CO2. It’s a colorless, odorless gas made up of two oxygen atoms bonded to one carbon atom. While it’s crucial for plant and animal life, too much of it can harm our health. This is because high CO2 levels can reduce the amount of oxygen in our blood, leading to feelings of fatigue, headaches, difficulty focusing, and restlessness. In severe cases, it can cause unconsciousness or even death.
Over the holidays, there are several contributors to increased CO2 at home:
1. Gas stoves and fireplaces: These appliances emit CO2 that can build up without good ventilation.
2. Travel: Trips to see the family or to the mall, and any other holiday outings, mean more fuel is burned, producing more CO2.
3. Candles: If not used correctly, they consume oxygen and give off CO2.
4. Holiday lights: Lighting displays also increase CO2 levels. In fact, Christmas lights alone can generate enough CO2 to fill around 15,500 hot air balloons!
5. Crowded homes: When you have lots of family and friends over, it can lead to higher CO2 levels, especially when the room is not well ventilated.
Now, let’s talk solutions! We all want to enjoy the holidays, but there are steps we can take to keep our celebrations greener:
1. Shop Locally: Think about where your gifts come from. If they’ve been shipped a long way, that adds to their carbon footprint. Try to support local businesses instead.
2. Use Less Plastic: Be creative with your gift wrapping to cut down on plastic. Newspapers, magazines, fabric, or old wrapping paper can all make good alternatives.
3. Save Energy: Decorate with fewer lights to save energy, and go for LED bulbs which last longer. Remember to turn off appliances and lights when they’re not in use.
4. Use an Aerium: This is a natural air purifier that absorbs odors and removes CO2, bringing in fresh air like you’d find outside. It has other benefits too, like improving sleep, reducing stress levels, and helping you focus by eliminating airborne pollutants.
I hope these tips help you enjoy the holidays in a more sustainable way! Let’s make celebrating more about being thankful for what we have and less about consuming more than we need. Happy holidays!
