Tips for an eco-friendly shindig…
Decorating. Rather than turn on every light in the house, save electricity and set the mood by killing some lights and dimming others. Hang strings of LED bulbs, which last longer and use less electricity than typical incandescent bulbs.
Food. Cooking a full-fledged meal for a crowd can drain you and your kitchen of energy. Host a potluck to lighten the load and ask guests to bring fresh salads and raw vegetables. Regardless of what you cook, opt for local ingredients.
Table Settings. Use real dishes and silverware. Sure, you’ll have more cleanup, but you’ll drastically reduce waste. If you must use disposable, look for eco-friendly options.
Drink. Aluminum is relatively easy to recycle, so offer cans of soda rather than bottles. If you’re purchasing wine or beer, shop around for local and regional labels.
Cleanup. Set up bins or decorative baskets to gather recyclables. If you have a dishwasher, scrape dishes clean and fill it full for optional energy and water savings. Want to finish cleanup before you can run another load? Fill the sink with warm soapy water rather than leave the faucet running.
Invitations. Avoid waste by forgoing paper invitations. Instead, send an e-mail or an invite from evite.com or paperlesspost.com.
