The holidays are upon us and University Facilities and Services would like to offer some tips to “keep it green” this season. From your search for the perfect give, to ways to conserve energy while you are away from the University, we have got you covered.
This holiday season, consider giving your friends and family experiences instead of material gifts. Gift certificates for local places are a good start and work well for people you don’t know very well, but here are a few more creative ideas to really show someone you know them and to bring them joy that they can remember:
- Donate to a cause that they care about. There are many fun options for this, like donating a cow or a goat to people in need.
- Cook for them or get them to cook for themselves. You can even buy them a subscription to services like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron so they can cook new meals together out of fresh ingredients.
- Pay for them to take a class. Take a look at local listings with their hobbies and interests in mind.
- Instead of sending them to a class, you could help them learn about themselves- sites like 23andme or ancestry.com allow your loved ones to gain a better understanding of themselves and can be really fun to do together.
- Get them tickets to their favorite musical, band, comedian, or sports team and either send them with someone else they love or go with them.
- Treat them to a fun night out or a date night. You can find great deals on local movie tickets, skating passes, and bowling lanes on sites like Groupon and Living Social.
- Get travel vouchers or airplane tickets for the explorers you love.
- Get them pampered. Send them to a local spa or salon so they can have a day of relaxation.
- For a group of people, you can send them to a murder mystery or escape room. There are many emerging problem-solving games that are fun for people of all ages to do together.
- Get them membership to a museum or zoo that they visit (or should visit) often.
These are just a few ideas to get you started in your experiential gift-giving journey. This can be a great way to reduce the waste that you produce during the holiday season and it still allows for a lot of creativity while showing you care.
With so much to celebrate, many people take some time away from the University during the holiday season. Whether you are taking a much needed vacation or simply going home, there are some steps you can take first to save energy. Before leaving the University for the holidays, it is important to shut down your office or dorm in order to conserve energy in your absence.
- Eliminate the phantom load by unplugging chargers, printers, copiers, coffee makers, toasters, computer paraphernalia, microwaves, electric kettles, lamps, fax machine, and clocks. If your electronics are plugged into a surge protector, simply turn it off.
- Close and seal windows as tightly as possible to keep heat in. Closing blinds and curtains can add additional insulation and prevent the warm air from literally going out the window.
- Turn down the thermostat, or call the Customer Service Center (273-4567) to see if Facilities can do it for you at the University. No need to heat an empty room.
- Turn off the lights on your way out!
The University and planet will thank you for reducing your energy consumption. Happy holidays!
Written by Mariah Greico, Class of 2018
Image Source: Max Pixel