Selfsufficientish.com

Boy am I conflicted or what?

Mrs Wombat loves to spend time and money around Christmas covering the house with Chrismas lights. I want to keep her happy (or at least away from my throat ) but the waste of power makes me feel supremely guilty. How does everyone else cope?

Nev

I read somewhere "to harm the earth is to heap contempt on it's maker" - with which I heartily concur - so rather than celebrating the arrival of the prince of peace, it hastens the demise of life on earth - foot down with a firm hand job!
Ever since our daughter left home we generally "don't do christmas" - token pressies, a holly wreath on the door, no decorations, no lights........(and the sooner the whole miserable time is over and done with the better!)

Why not compromise and have a more 'green' Christmas - bring in some natural stuff from outside - proper holly instead of that ghastly shop bought plasticy stuff;

fir boughs;

make some garlands from real ivy - buy some established potted stuff so it doesnt die and you can put it outside or freecycle it in the new year;

if there aren't any kids around, use candles instead of lights (I won't insult you with safety warnings here!);

see if there are any solar powered xmas lights in the shops near you;

use the lights you do use creatively - instead of three garlands of lights, use one and a mirror to reflect the lights and make them look more than they are.

I had to stop Mr Shiney from buying some more lights the other day. He has this childish 'need' to have them. I told him we have enough (indoor ones) We have a few strands I have to admit. I feel good for steering him away from getting some more.

We do have a natural wreath for outside, from whatever I find in the woods and make into a big creative 'mess' for the entrance door.

you could always try the romantic approach! - tell the electricity guzzling spouses that the light in their sparkling eyes is all you need at Christmas!

you want to get me killed, don't you?

I have a large front window which I will paint a nativity picture on again this year. Might add the words "the reason for the season"

weeeelllllll I'm a bit sceptical of "offsetting" as a viable green tactic, but you could use that with a touch of added French flair! - take an eco-warrioress as your mistress, and offset her against your energy profligate spouse!

There is something very magical about Christmas lights and creative decorations and ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved visiting the folks who love Christmas and want to share 'their light' with others.

It often seems as though we live in such an ungiving world. I always take note of which businesses give back at Christmas, just because they can, and which homes decorate out of competitiveness to win the comp, and which ones simply decorate to bring others (more often kids) joy.

I don't consider thoughtful celebrations or gifts of good cheer a waste. Rather, I consider it sadly lacking in todays society. I can't object to a temporary and thoughtful light display when there is so many other permanent and thoughtless wastes of power taking place.

Strings of street lights are left on every day all over the world well past dawn. Shops remain lit 24 hours with neon signs telling you they are shut! Schools and offices leave an array of equipment on simply because they don't make time to turn things on and off again. Airconditioners and heaters running for hours after they are really required.

You of all people Nev, would be an ideal candidate for ensuring an energy efficient display. You have the know-how, you've conducted the experiments and you have the figures. Lead the way ol mate. This is not a case of hypocrisy - this is an opportunity to share Christmas AND green awareness. PD has provided some brilliant out of the box ideas. Cut your switch on time back to an hour after everyone else and switch off an hour early. Make these things noticable, and advertise them to ensure folks hear your secondary message.

Make it bright, make it bold... Highlight things like solar panels or lights and water tanks, work them into the display so that kids are learning as they venture into Mr and Mrs Wombat's Enviro conscious Christmas. If there was one thing I noticed during all those Christmases when I traipsed about with my littlies, it was that kids learned different things about Christmas from each home we went to. Some were religious and shared parts of the nativity, some were larrikins who set Santa up on surfboards with an esky, others were gift orientated and focussed on the tree, others made a fuss of the reindeer and collected for animal refuges. Each home shared things they valued about Christmas. It is a great opportunity really to spread a message.

We have taken a lot from the next generation. There is a lot we simply can't give back. You can still offer them the light of Christmas, and enjoy doing it without feeling guilty, because some folks - you, Nev - have taken the time to consider your use wisely, and minimise waste on a permanent basis wherever possible. Your Christmas lights are no different. You just happen to have the know-how and Mrs Wombats good heartedness to actually do it in an enviro-aware way.

Go for it, Nev. Enjoy every minute of it. I look forward to pics.

Thanks Boots! I'm getting all misty here........

Nev

i like hte lights. sorry but I do


in our house, we are likely to have the tree lights on (not yet for goodness sake but at Christmas!) instead of a light. so its a sort of compromise.

Go for it,a few lights aint going to make much difference & keep the peace & make yr o h happy. "assuming yr not lighting the whole outside of the house with hidious raindeer etc " I dont bother too much with xmas,have to make a bit of an effort for my little girl,put up a few decorations. I must admit iv'e got some coloured lights wrapped around a weird indonisian woodcarving,that i have on most winter nights,cheers the room up, & mostly just have 2 11w energysavers on.All my other lights are low wattage & i only light rooms im in,so think i can justify my coloured lights ????? A.

I'm getting all misty here........

Nuff of that...

Get ya altimeter and get cracking ol mate!

Well, I got Mrs Wombat to read your post and she said....."I can live with that"

Nev

*sends a green thumbs up and a big grin to Mrs Wombat*