Have a Sustainable Halloween

Consider these frighteningly festive eco-tips to ensure a happy, healthy, and sustainable Halloween.

Many electronic devices in your home use energy even when not in use.  These phantom loads, also known as vampire energy, silently suck energy that can add up over the year. 

Consider these frighteningly festive eco-tips from Green Mountain Energy Company to ensure a happy, healthy, and sustainable Halloween.

• Many electronic devices in your home use energy even when not in use.  These phantom loads, also known as vampire energy, silently suck energy that can add up over the year.  Put everything on a powerstrip and turn the powerstrip off when you leave the house to prevent these ghouls from wasting energy and money. Find out how much energy you’re using and wasting with an energy monitor.
• As children's safety is always a concern on the night of Halloween, keeping the front of your home illuminated for trick-or-treaters is important.  Opt for CFLs or energy-efficiency lighting options for outdoor lamps, solar-powered accent lights, or even solar-powered address numbers to cut down on electricity usage.   Make sure kids have an energy efficient flashlight that will last all night.

Naturally Scary Decorations

• Instead of purchasing paper, plastic, or light-up Halloween decorations for your home, office, or school, go to your local farmer's market and purchase an assortment of colorful gourds and vegetables to decorate and display around your home.  They can be easily composted when the holiday is over, if not used for cooking.

Spooky Swaps

• Halloween costumes are often only used once in their lifetime. Instead of buying new costume for the kids, organize a costume swap with your friends and neighbors.  Or, visit your local thrift store for some authentic costume pieces.  Donate any leftover costumes to thrift stores or Goodwill to provide some eco-friendly costume options for others.

Tactful Trick-or-Treating

• When it comes to trick-or-treating, make sure that kids are taking pillowcases or reusable plastic pumpkins instead of plastic bags to collect their goodies. They hold much more and help reduce plastic bag waste.
• When choosing what types of treats to pass out, consider skipping the commercial candy brands and opt for sustainable or organic candies from your local grocer.  Even better, choose useful treats like crayons, small trinkets, or collectibles that will last well beyond the initial Halloween candy feast. Parents will appreciate your thoughtfulness, too!