(AP/Photo)
December 3, 2008- With the holidays around the corner I decided to do a timely story. With the recent trend to go thrifty this holiday season, why not be green? Due to economic conditions Christmas budgets may be tighter this season. According to a report by the American Christmas Tree Association, purchasing an artificial tree this holiday will be saving you money in the long term and helping the environment.
Based on a ten year analysis the association reports, "the purchase of a single, pre-lit artificial Christmas tree costs seventy percent less than the purchase of ten real Christmas trees during the same ten year period." That means that buying real Christmas trees will end up costing more than three times as much as one artificial tree.
While interviewing buyers at a local tree farm, I found some didn't believe they could be saving money by buying artificial. Others preferred buying real trees despite the savings because it was a long family tradition. Amanda Henkle, Syracuse resident, preferred artificial trees adding, "you can buy the evergreen room fresheners." Steve and Lucy Nami, also Syracuse residents, said they have had real trees twenty-nine years out of the thrifty-nine years they have been married. The Namis proclaimed, "it's hard to pass up the real smell of an evergreen."
The study also claims the best way to reduce your carbon footprint is to buy an artificial tree rather than drive around looking for the perfect real one. Dan Martini however, who has run his Christmas Tree Farm in Syracuse for about twelve years, says the plastic involved in manufacturing and the disposal of plastic trees is much worse for the environment.
While the debate continues the numbers are indisputable. If you want to save a tree this season by going green, while keeping more green in your pocket over the long run, then purchasing a pre-lit artificial is the way to go.
Savings for the Holiday
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