Eco-Rep Green Corner: Harmful holiday lights

Jingle bells, Jingle bells, pollution on the way… That’s definitely not something we want to be singing this holiday season. While your family rigs up the lights, make sure to keep one thing in mind: You are wasting a massive amount of energy. Way to be on the “naughty” list this Christmas. The light bulbs used to light up the house, the Christmas tree and other decorations are incandescent and use up to 75 percent more energy than the eco-friendly compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). If one incandescent light bulb is replaced with CFL, it will keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. Imagine what a big difference it would make for our environment if every American family switched their light bulbs. So change up your light bulbs and lifestyle this holiday season and give Earth a gift for a change.

Jonilda Agushi is a freshman psychology major who is one of Rider’s seven recently chosen Eco-Reps.