While the snow may have whetted Marylanders’ appetite for a white Christmas, Governor Martin O’Malley recommends Marylanders celebrate this holiday season by going green.  

• Use Low Energy Lights & Timers.  LED lights use 90 percent less energy than conventional lights and can save your family up to $50 in energy bills!  Placing holiday lights on timers – to go on at dusk and go off at a designated time – can also lower power consumption.  

• Shop & Buy Local. Shopping at local businesses for gifts not only supports Maryland families and our State’s economy – it’s also good for our environment.  Buying local gift and food products means less packing, less shipping, and reduced carbon emissions.  You can take the buy local challenge at http://www.buy-local-challenge.com/index.asp and learn more about what main street shopping has to offer at http://www.dhcd.state.md.us/Website/About/PublicInfo/NewsEvents/NewsDetail.aspx?newsID=237 

• Travel Wisely. Packing less will help you save gas (and airline luggage fees). Avoiding congestion and driving conservatively on the highway can increase your fuel efficiency by 33 percent. Making sure your car is tuned and tires are properly inflated will help save gas as well.   Take public transit or carpool with friends when shopping, running errands and making holiday visits.  

• Cut a Tree, Plant a Tree. When buying or cutting down a Christmas tree, commit to planting a new tree in the spring and register it at www.trees.maryland.gov, or give the Gift of Trees through the Tree-Mendous Maryland program at www.shopdnr.com. 

• Reduce Holiday Waste. According to the Medical University of South Carolina, waste output increases 25% during the holiday season.  

• Use less packaging. Reuse wrapping paper, use old magazines, use decorations from nature, or wrap gifts in reusable fabric.  

• Recycle Trees. Each year, 10 million Christmas trees end up in landfills. Most county and municipal governments have tree recycling programs.  

• Get crafty with decorations. Instead of buying plastic or cardboard decorations that you might throw away after the holiday, try using natural, bio-degradable decorations such as berries, popcorn and outdoor greens. 

• Paper or plastic? Try silverware. When throwing a party, use reusable utensils, plates, napkins and tablecloths. Then be sure to run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full.