# Energy Star Products for a Greener Holiday Season - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/11/energy-star-products-for-a-greener-holiday-season/ - Published: 2011-11-25T22:51:19-05:00 - Author: greenlivingguy ## Tips for Environmentally Friendly Gifts this Holiday Season WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering holiday gift-giving tips to help support a healthy environment this season and all year long. Energy Star, Design for the Environment, and WaterSense labels can be found on thousands of products across the country. This makes it easy to choose gifts that can help anyone on your list save energy and protect the environment. By using these products this holiday season, consumers can cut their energy bills. They can also reduce harmful [pollution while helping keep our environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/01/5-sustainable-tips-to-reduce-emissions-from-farming/) healthy. Buying [Energy Star products is a smart way](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/05/how-some-tech-companies-are-using-eco-friendly-ways-to-go-green/) to contribute to a healthier planet. ## Look for the Label that Saves Gift Recipients Money [Energy Star Home](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/09/sustainable-materials-for-eco-friendly-renovations/) Entertainment: You can find the Energy Star label on nearly all entertainment products. These include TVs and Blu-ray disc players to home-theaters-in-a-box. If you are in the market for a digital picture frame, consider one with the Energy Star. It uses 25 percent less energy than non-qualified models—making it one of the most efficient Energy Star products for your home entertainment. ![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/image-2.png? resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 "image - The Green Living Guy") ### Energy Star Office Products Shoppers can also find the [Energy Star label on office](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/12/office-help-how-to-create-an-eco-friendly-workspace/) products such as computers, LCD monitors, notebooks, and multifunction printers. A home office fully equipped with Energy Star qualified products can save up to $380 over the lifetime of the products. Moreover, Energy Star qualified computers and monitors were created with a power management sleep mode. This ensures you save energy (and money on utility bills) when the product is not in use. These savings highlight the benefits of using energy-efficient Star products. ### Energy Star Qualified Battery Chargers for your Favorite Product Products that use Energy Star qualified battery chargers, such as video game controls, digital cameras, shavers, and hand vacuums, use 35 percent less energy compared to conventional chargers. Old [battery chargers can be recycled](https://greenlivingguy.com/2026/06/circular-ev-battery-recycling-for-a-cleaner-planet/) through many manufacturers and retailers. They have electronics recycling programs nationwide, encouraging the adoption of more Energy Star [products into everyday](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/09/polysorbate-80-dangers-in-everyday-products/) routines. ### Healthier Homes ‘Design for the Environment’ Label: From pet care products to dish soaps and car supplies, consumers should look for the Design for the Environment (DfE) label. It helps to quickly identify and choose products that are safer for families and also help protect the environment. In 2010, Americans using products with the DfE label cut the use of harmful chemicals by more than 600 million pounds. These alternatives can lead to healthier homes, similar to the benefits offered by Energy Star products. ## Festive and Healthy Holiday Tips for People and the Planet Holiday Decorating: Look for the Energy Star label on [LED decorative light](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/02/tips-to-go-green-with-your-light-fixtures/) strings to meet your holiday decorating needs. Qualified light strings use about 70 percent less electricity than incandescent light strings. They are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and lengths. These [Energy Star qualified light strings save](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/05/are-smart-homes-green-homes/) energy and are more durable, shock-resistant, and cooler to the touch, proving to be among the most versatile star products for decorating. ### New Energy Star Products for N Electronic Gift? Recycle the Old One Encourage gift recipients to [reuse or recycle](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/03/5-easy-ways-to-be-sustainable-when-moving/) their old electronics, allowing the valuable materials within to be used again in new products. This also helps to save natural resources. Check out EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling initiative for more information. It explains how to safely recycle electronics, including cell phones, computers, and TVs. ### Reusable Bags: Millions of paper and plastic bags end up in the landfills every year. Skip the extra bags and bring reusable cloth bags when shopping— they’re environmentally friendly and cost efficient. ### Skip the Excess Wrapping: Try wrapping gifts in recycled paper bags or recycled wrapping paper. Alternatively, give gifts that don’t require excess packaging. This helps to keep more trash out of landfills. ### Have a Water Efficient H2Oliday Preparing for and cleaning up after a holiday meal often requires more water use than usual. Running your tap continuously while preparing food or washing dishes wastes water. It can use more than two gallons of water every minute your tap is running. EPA’s [WaterSense program](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/08/help-share-watersenses-watersavingyard-challenge/) provides useful tips, and over 4,000 products have earned the WaterSense label. These products save water,[ energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/08/10-largest-wind-project-development-2022/), and money. If every American household reduced their water use by 10 gallons on just Thanksgiving Day, it would save more than 1 billion gallons of water. More information on Energy Star products: [http://www.energystar.gov/products](https://www.energystar.gov/products) More information on Winter Tips: [http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-winter.htm](https://web.archive.org/web/20171216160352/https://www3.epa.gov/epahome/hi-winter.htm) More [ways to Reduce](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/08/finance-10-ways-to-go-green/) Holidays Waste: [http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/funfacts/winter.htm](http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/funfacts/winter.htm) Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355 ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641? s=300&d=monsterid&r=g) greenlivingguy The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke # Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow. [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/) [ ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/)