Information on Loughborough

Have a Greener Christmas in Loughborough this year

Posted on 06/12/2007
P. Klein

person holding a green christmas present

Charnwood Borough Council is encouraging all residents to dream of a green Christmas this year, instead of the usual white!

With global warming and the environment at the top of the agenda, this year Charnwood Borough Council is trying to lead the way in encouraging people to think ‘green’ this Christmas.

Cllr Stephen Hampson, Cabinet Lead for Regeneration, explained: “When the council decided to renew the highly acclaimed festive lighting for Loughborough Town centre this year we not only wanted brighter, more modern displays but also to make sure that the lights were environmentally friendly.”

The new Christmas lights which the Council have invested £140,000 this year, will reduce running costs because the new displays use an LED fitting for the light and this is far more energy efficient.

Cllr David Snartt, Lead for Customer Services and environmental champion, added: “The estimated running costs for the lights on eight hours a day for a six week period of the display would have cost us £5,800 but this year they’re cost only £430! That’s a saving of £5,370 and it’s better for the environment.”

The technical bit is that the old displays used 283,868 watts of electric and the new display will use 21,836 watts.

There are also a number of ways residents can get further into the festive ‘green’ spirit, including the following top tips.

TOP OF THE TREE

  • Buy a real Christmas tree with roots, so that it can be planted in the garden and reused next year. Economically sound and environmentally friendly!
  • If you buy a cut tree, don’t forget to recycle it at Leicestershire County Council’s Household Recycling and Waste Sites in Loughborough, Shepshed and Sileby. It will be chipped, shredded and composted to produce mulch or soil improver.

    • Don’t forget: If you subscribe to the garden waste kerbside collections, you can chop your tree and add thinner branches to your brown bin for the collections in the New Year.

  • Alternatively, buy an artificial tree which can be reused every year but try to ensure a quality tree that won’t be sent to landfill after the first few years.

    • WRAP IT UP

  • Buy gift boxes or bags that can be re-used next year.
  • Re-use last year’s wrapping paper and jazz it up with a colourful ribbon
  • Stick to tradition and put presents inside a Christmas stocking, which can be reused (or worn!) next year.
  • Use young children’s Christmas drawings from school as wrapping paper – grandparents will love it!

    • CRAFTY CARDS

    • Use last year’s cards to make gift tags for this year by cutting out festive pictures or shapes.
    • Cut strips off last year’s cards to make festive bookmarks.
    • Send e-cards to friends and family with computers – the sentiment is the same without the card.
    • Eat your words! Why not make biscuits or buns with Christmas messages in icing.
    • Save money and the environment – donate the money you save on cards to a charity.