The Twelve Days of Green Christmas

01. Keep your Christmas cool
External shades can cut heat gain in your home by up to 85 per cent.

Image right: The Green Santa

02. Fans use less energy than air conditioners
If you do need to use an air conditioner, set the thermostat to 26º C.

03. Lights off
Let Christmas lights twinkle in the evening, but switch them off before going to bed.

04. Go local
Shop locally to support your local economy and cut greenhouse gases from transport.

05. Don’t go over the top this Christmas
Choose practical gifts that serve a purpose, such as movie tickets or memberships.

06. Be picky about packaging
Buy products with the least packaging possible.

07. Take your own bags
Take reusable bags when shopping and say no to plastic bags.

08. Give the gift of green power
Sign up for Green Power through your energy retailer and give a gift to the planet!

09. Get creative
Wrap presents in newspaper or brown paper and decorate them with flowers, ribbon or string, or put gifts in a reusable bag. Remember to recycle wrapping paper and materials for next Christmas.

10. Send electronic Christmas cards instead of paper ones
E-cards are a fast and fun way to wish family and friends a happy Christmas.

11. Recycle the paper Christmas cards you receive
Recycle Christmas cards at a Planet Ark recycling bin in Coles supermarkets from 26 December to the end of January.

12. Do the right thing
If celebrating Christmas in a park, take reusable plates instead of paper or plastic. Remember to bin your rubbish, recycle what you can and compost all left-overs.