Twelve Gifts of Clean Air
It’s the season of giving, which is joyful when you find the perfect gift to give a family member, friend, co-worker or acquaintance, and stressful when you can’t seem to think of the right one. This holiday season, consider giving a gift that gives twice – to your recipient and to the environment. We’ve come up with twelve ideas that spread clean air and joy to all.
1. Low-flow shower head
A gift like this is more valuable than it seems.
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While low-flow shower heads reduce energy and water use, they do not compromise comfort. Furthermore, low-flow shower heads can easily save up to $145 a year on electricity – a nice chunk of savings for your recipient, and a significant reduction in the emissions that would normally result from the energy used to provide an extra five gallons of water per shower. |
2. Carbon monoxide detector
It never hurts to have an extra safety device on hand. A carbon monoxide detector is a good idea for a practical handy person, and it will help ensure that your loved ones are breathing clean, safe indoor air.
3. Oil change/tune-up gift card
Most people will tell you that vehicle maintenance is one of the biggest nuisances in their lives. Help brighten their next 5,000 miles by giving them a gift card for an oil change and tune-up. Or, if you’re auto-savvy, change their oil and check their fluids and tires for them. Properly maintained vehicles get better gas mileage and have lower emissions, so a gift like this gives clean air and extra savings. |
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4. Guide to making your own cleaning products, with supplies/ingredients
Cleaning products can be another annoying necessity – they’re expensive and are usually used for tedious chores. A homemade cleaning products kit could be a unique and appreciated gift; the recipient can learn how to save money by making homemade cleaning products from common household ingredients, all while reducing the harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted by traditional cleaning products. Check out this past issue of Clean Air Mail for homemade cleaning product recipes.
5. Transit passes
Give the gift of mobility.
Public transit passes are available by day, week or month and are great for just about anyone. Someone who already uses transit will appreciate the gesture, and someone who is not familiar with transit will have fun experiencing and exploring a new means of transportation.
Again, this gift has more to it than meets the eye – the recipient will avoid traffic, save on gas, reduce vehicle wear and tear, and will help reduce emissions by using mass transit.
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Check pass options and prices for DART, TRE, DCTA, and The T to see what may be best for your recipient. Also, don’t forget to check the coverage of each transit agency to ensure you choose a system that your recipient can use regularly. |
6. Farmers market outing/gift card
Buying local has several advantages.
For one, the production and purchase of local goods results in less emissions since the goods are shipped in from local farmers who don’t have to travel far in order to get their products within your reach. Consider giving a gift card to your recipient’s local farmers market. If gift cards are not offered, plan a day to treat your friend or family member to a trip to the market. You can find a farmers market in your area here. |
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7. Home composting device
A home composting device is great for your friend or family member who is good about recycling and is ready to take the next step. Composting reduces and reuses; instead of throwing organic materials such as vegetable food waste and paper products into the dump, put them in a composting device. Eventually, the waste will decompose into nutrient-rich soil that is great for growing plants in any environment.
8. Space heater
A portable space heater is a great gift option for anyone who likes to be warm and cozy without using excess energy to heat their home.
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For the typically mild North Texas winter months, a space heater may be sufficient to get the chill out of the air. This is another gift that has the potential to give the recipient hundreds of saved dollars that would normally go toward bills, all the while conserving energy and improving air quality.
Newer space heater models are much safer and more efficient than older ones, and electric models eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. |
9. Lunch box
Lunch boxes will put a smile on just about anyone’s face, and from retro to hip to practical, it’s usually easy to find one that will fit any personality.
| Lunch boxes are great for the environment because they reduce the waste caused by brown paper bags and they encourage people to stay in for lunch rather than driving out to a restaurant. |
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10. Bike/bike accessories
There are several great things about biking; it’s great for your health, fun and is a completely emissions-free way of traveling. If you know someone who already commutes and runs errands via bicycle, there are a number of bike accessories or parts that would brighten their holiday.
This list and this list give some great ideas for commuter gear. Similarly, if you know someone who has expressed interest in taking up biking, consider buying them a used bike from a garage sale, eBay or Craigslist. |
11. Reusable shopping bags
Reusable shopping bags are great gifts for anyone who shops, and eliminating the use of plastic bags is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and improve air quality. Encourage your friend or family member to remember to shop with reusable bags by giving them a mix of bags with different shapes, sizes and purposes. Check out EcoBags to get an idea of what’s available.
12. BPA free, stainless steel water bottle + water filter
If you know someone who always has a plastic water bottle in tow, this could be the perfect gift for them.
Help them save hundreds of dollars a year and reduce their carbon footprint by giving them a BPA-free, stainless steel water bottle and a water filter.
Klean Kanteen and SIGG are some examples of great quality water bottles. |
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For more environmentally friendly ideas, you can visit Hipcycle, Etsy, Uncommon Goods or TreeHugger. The products at these sites are unique and sustainable. Plus, you can reduce your emissions by doing your shopping online instead of driving all over town and trying to fight the crowds at malls and department stores.
We hope you enjoy this holiday season, and we’ll see you in 2012 for more clean air information, tips and news!
Just do one green thing today—it will lead to many more.
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