How to Throw an Eco-Friendly Holiday Party in Your Evanston Home!

Now that Thanksgiving is only a week away, we’re sure that many of you are getting your Evanston home ready to host friends and family for the celebration. It’s a great time of year to enjoy living in Evanston and remember all that we have for which to be thankful.

In our line of work as Evanston Real Estate agents and property advisors, we believe in providing well rounded service to our clients. That means, we’re not just giving advice on buying or selling a home, but also tips for how to enjoy the home in which you live.

Your community is also a big part of your lifestyle and, for those of you living in Evanston, we’re sure you already have a list of reasons you love to call this great city “home.” One of the highlights for us is that Evanston is committed to preserving its’ environment and takes a pro active approach to educating and providing opportunities for the community to get involved in its’ eco friendly endeavors!

As you open up your Evanston home to friends and family, why not think through some of the ways you can contribute to Evanston’s green environment by hosting an eco-friendly holiday party! Here are a few ideas to help you get started!

1. Buy Local- Shopping locally from farmers and other various growers for ingredients for your holiday party (or any time!) is a great way to cut down on our carbon footprint as well as help support sustainable growing in Evanston and surrounding areas.

2. Reusable Towels- When cleaning up after your holiday party; be sure to use reusable towels instead of paper towels. Microfiber towels will hold on to dust, dirt and food particles since the fibers act like a magnet. After cleanup, throw them in the wash and you’ll be able to reuse them over and over!

3. Switch to Convection- Now, we don’t expect that you’ll run out and buy a new oven before your holiday party, but this is something to consider for the very near future! Switch from a conventional oven to a convection oven. The difference? A convection oven continually circulates heated air, which means food cooks more quickly and reduces energy usage by 20%! Imagine being able to prepare food faster and save on energy- all from one appliance!

4. Cloth Napkins- These “things of the past” are making a comeback! The average American will use around 2,200 paper napkins per year- which are never recycled! Using cloth napkins will cut down drastically on waste and will make any event feel more special.

5. Chill Out- Be sure to put a pitcher of water in your fridge at least an hour before your party to ensure it’s completely chilled. Those that prefer water won’t have to stand at your sink and let the water run until it gets cold. The average kitchen faucet flows at a gallon per minute! Thinking ahead can help to chill water before will reduce the waste that a running faucet will produce!

6. Nix the Microwave- As much as possible, reheat or cook items in the oven or on the stove. Certain plastics can produce harmful fumes when put in the microwave and, while not overtly harmful, microwaves do leak radiation. It’s just better for your health and for the environment to use other options as often as you can!

7. Glass Containers- Storing leftovers or dried foods in glass containers with lids are much safer than the plastic alternative. When heated, certain plastics can break down and put chemicals into your food. Learn more about harmful and safe plastics.

8. No-Cook Dishes- Save energy and give your oven a rest by preparing dishes that don’t have to be cooked. Think: salads, fruit dishes, veggie dips, yogurts and much more! You’ll find yourself being more creative and spending less time in the kitchen!

9. Fill the Dishwasher- To avoid wasting water and energy, be sure to have a full load each time you use your dishwasher. Surprisingly, new energy efficient dishwasher can be more eco-friendly than washing dishes by hand! Be sure to air dry and skip the pre-rinse cycle as most newer models are effective enough to get your dishes clean without the added step!

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to hosting an environmentally conscious holiday party that you and your guests will be sure to appreciate. In fact, you can put these into practice all year long to cultivate a “green” environment in your Evanston home!

If you don’t currently live in Evanston, but have been considering moving to this charming city just north of Chicago, please let us know! We would be happy to answer your questions regarding the Evanston Real Estate market and lifestyle.

We look forward to hearing from you!