Green Gifts for the Holidays

It's that time of year again when the majority of people rush around looking for the perfect holiday gift for friends and family, half the time not having a clue what to buy. Instead of braving the crowds in the electronics section of the mall or resorting to re-gifting that fruitcake you got at work, why not give something back to the environment at the same time you wrap up a present for those on your list? You can find some useful, affordable eco-friendly gifts for almost anyone and feel good about giving them, too.

Probably the most simple eco-friendly gift you can give is energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. These energy saving bulbs have come a long way since being introduced to the market and you don't have to cringe at the corkscrew shape anymore because they now come in several different shapes and sizes that will fit nearly any light fixture. When you give an Energy Start rated bulb, you're actually giving the recipient about a $30 savings over the life of the bulb. They use close to 75% less electricity than a regular light bulb and 75% less heat, which aids in cooling costs. They are also available for outside lighting as well.

Instead of a typical stocking stuffed with candy this year, why not substitute some durable and reusable grocery bags or totes filled with some soy soap, stationary made from recycled paper or a tin of organic popcorn? The cloth or canvas totes are available almost anywhere these days, are usually less than $2 each and anyone who uses them will never have to deal with a plastic bag splitting and spilling your groceries in the street. Plus you help eliminate those plastic bags from landfills, so its a win-win deal.

If someone on your gift list lives in a high traffic city like Chicago and is within a few blocks of his or her job, a new bicycle may be the perfect gift this year. You can spend anywhere from less than a hundred dollars up to several thousand for a bike, but the idea and benefits are the same. You improve your health with a great form of exercise and also reduce pollution by not driving a car to work.

If you have a home owner on your gift list who loves trees, why not buy a gift certificate for one at your local nursery? You can even add on an I.O.U. to help plant it when spring arrives, if the nursery doesn’t provide that service. And for someone who lives in a Chicago condo or apartment and doesn’t have a yard, you can still plant a tree in their name with the National Arbor Day Foundation.

A handy gadget to have around your condo or house that makes a cool gift is an energy monitoring meter. This would be a great gift for a condo or home owner who has older appliances they suspect are draining a lot of electricity and money. It's also great for anyone who wants to see how much energy any appliance or device in their home uses. The small meter only costs about $30 or $40 and all you do is plug it into a wall socket and then plug the appliance you want to check into it. You can immediately tell how many watts it's using or check the total amount over a given time since you plugged it in. For about $150 you can get a whole house monitoring meter and really see how much your electric gadgets are costing you.

Many new construction condos, especially those Chicago condo developments that are green built and have LEED certification will already have Energy Star appliances installed, low VOC carpets and paint plus low flush toilets and low usage shower heads and faucets. You can get some ideas about bigger ticket Energy Star rated refrigerators, washers and dryers by checking out the finishes listed for the eco-friendly developments. You can go all out and buy a new kitchen appliance package, front load washer or even a new shower head that conserves water. Or you can really break the bank this holiday season and buy a Chicago condo in one of those LEED certified developments included here http://www.bestchicagocondos.com/pre-construction-condos/index.html

Whatever you decide to buy this year, just remember to be creative and environmentally responsible as well if at all possible. No one really needs another ugly tie or sweater, and an eco-friendly gift will keep giving back long after the eggnog and fruitcake are gone.