Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Forget that tangled mess of Christmas lights that blows out year after year. LED Christmas lights are brighter, cool to the touch and, if one goes out, the rest stay lit. Plus, they're entirely eco-friendly. Using traditional mini-lights with 500 incandescent bulbs will cost you $30 for energy over 30 days. But using the same amount of lights in LED will only cost you $2.

GKI/Bethlehem is known for their mini-lights, says Sharon Epstein, marketing service manager, which they now offer as LEDs. LED lights are brighter, Epstein says, because the light actually comes from inside the chip itself, which is manufactured in a particle-free environment to prevent impurities. A colored cap surrounds the LED, giving off the colored glow. Look for trendy colors of warm whites and purples this year in the faceted cone and berry shapes.

While they may cost a little more, LEDs tend to stay lit for the lifetime of the product, which means fewer to no replacements. Plus, there's no heat transfer so they're safer to use on any living or faux foliage.

About GKI/Bethlehem Lighting, www.gkibethlehem.com:
GKI/Bethlehem Lighting is North America's leading distributor of holiday lighting and pre-lit foliage. Their lights, pre-lit foliage and ornaments decorate theme parks, hotels, municipalities and cruise ships throughout the country and world, like Dollywood in East Tennessee and State Street in Chicago.

Fresh, Not Faux Garlands

Traditional decorating incorporates live wreaths and fresh garlands this year — both indoors and out. "When it comes to holiday decorating, people get very traditional," says Jennifer Sypeck, director of trend and product development for Smith & Hawken. "The holidays are not just about the visual," she says, but about scents and smells that also evoke good memories.

Smith & Hawken's popular sellers include basic spruce, eucalyptus, pepperberry and magnolia. And the square wreath is making a comeback, highlighted with eucalyptus. Sypeck is seeing non-traditional uses of fresh greens, such as a wreath around a hurricane vase as a centerpiece for a table or on the backs of dining room chairs. She also suggests filling an unused fireplace with lights and greenery as an unexpected landing for Santa.

About Smith & Hawken,www.smithhawken.com:
Started in 1979 as a garden tool company, Smith & Hawken offers a range of outdoor furniture, garden structures, lighting, outdoor entertaining and decor, and plants and containers. Their Christmas line capitalizes on fresh greens and natural, rustic outdoor decorations.

Image Courtesy of the National Christmas Tree Association

Contrary to popular belief, cutting down a Christmas tree is not bad for the environment. Trees can always be replanted, but the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) released during the manufacturing of faux Christmas trees can't be removed from the atmosphere or soil.

According to the Children's Health Environmental Coalition, PVC creates and disperses dioxins, which include the most toxic man-made chemical known. The dioxins accumulate in fatty tissues of both people and animals, causing risks for cancer, lowering immune functions and impairing children's development.

Kids will be safer playing around a real Christmas tree, and with 35 species to choose from, there's sure to be one that will suit your decorating needs. Rick Dungey, public relations manager for the National Christmas Tree Association, says an estimated 40-45 million new trees are planted on farms in the U.S. and Canada each year. Plus, after the holiday is over, your Christmas tree can be mulched or naturally decompose outdoors, while artificial trees are relegated to the dump.

About the National Christmas Tree Association, www.realchristmastrees.org:
The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), more than 5,100 professionals strong, is a voice for Christmas tree professionals while promoting real Christmas trees. Members of the NCTA have presented the official White House Christmas tree for display in the Blue Room since 1966.

Nature's Little Helpers

Go the extra green mile and adorn your abode this Christmas with friendly gnomes. These representatives of the natural world are ready to do the gardening or hang on your tree.

Christmas produces much waste each year in wrapping paper, shopping bags and packaging for store-bought Christmas presents, so it's good to know some companies are taking this to heart.

• Department 56 packs all their villages in eco-friendly plastic foam, which doesn't have petroleum.

• The nature of Smith & Hawken's business is green, so they focus on holiday gifts that give back to the environment. Their "gifts that grow" bulb kits come in white, red, deep burgundy and pinks with stylish vases. Red is the bestseller by far for the holiday, says Jennifer Sypeck, director of trend and product development for Smith & Hawken. New this year is a Mega Amaryllis and a paper white that's shorter and unscented for those who dislike the smell.

• Earth911.org, along with The National Christmas Tree Association, provides free lookups for local Christmas tree recycling centers. Type in your zip code at www.christmastree.org to find an option near you.