Green Diwali decoration tips: 10 sustainable tips for festive celebrations

Come Diwali, your home sparkles with lights, and the air fills with celebration. As you gather with family and friends to make the most of the festive season, sharing delicious sweets and creating lasting memories, it’s important to pause and reflect on your choices, especially regarding energy consumption. While you light up your surroundings, consider how you can also embrace sustainability. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy the festivities while reducing your environmental impact, ensuring a brighter future for the planet.

While you celebrate festivals, it’s essential to be mindful of electricity use, says Bharath Rankawat, Founder and CEO of Enlog, an electricity management start-up. He suggests that making small yet impactful choices can reduce waste and contribute to sustainability.

Here are some practical tips, suggested by Rankawat, that will help you enjoy the festive season and be kind to the planet:

• Switch to LED fairy lights: LED lights are an excellent alternative to traditional bulbs, using 80 percent less energy and lasting longer. They provide the same festive glow, ensuring your celebrations shine bright without the extra energy costs.

• Use smart plugs for automation: Avoid the hassle of remembering to turn off your lights. Smart plugs allow you to schedule your lighting, helping to cut down on wasted electricity while keeping your home festive.

• Monitor energy use in real-time: Hosting large gatherings can increase energy consumption. Real-time energy monitor devices help you track and manage usage, ensuring efficiency without compromising comfort.

• Organise gatherings in one area: Instead of lighting and heating multiple rooms, concentrate your guests in a central area. This reduces energy waste and creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

• Smart heating for winter: As temperatures drop, consider using smart thermostats. They adjust based on your schedule, warming your home when needed and saving energy when it’s not.

• Time your light displays: Instead of keeping lights on all day, limit them to peak times, like 6 PM to 10 PM, when they’ll have the greatest visual impact and reduce energy consumption.

• Green gifting: Consider giving energy-efficient gadgets, like smart bulbs or solar chargers, as gifts this year. It’s a thoughtful way to encourage sustainable habits among loved ones.

• Cook efficiently: Use energy-efficient appliances like induction cooktops or pressure cookers for your holiday meals.

• Carpool to family gatherings: Cut down on emissions and save on fuel by carpooling. It’s also a great opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, you can start your favourite playlist and even enjoy some carpool karaoke along the way.

• Host a candlelit dinner: For a cosier atmosphere, think about hosting a candlelit dinner. It sets a beautiful mood and helps reduce electricity consumption.