Going Green with Paper Lanterns

Recently, the importance of keeping our environment clean has become better known. Most of us cannot reduce the colossal amounts of pollution produced from factories or the thousands of cars that must be driven each day, but we can change the things in our daily lives, things which will add up to a big effect. By changing what we use each day in our daily lives, we can contribute towards a cleaner environment. One way we can do this is to use paper lanterns.

By using paper lanterns, we can greatly reduce the pollution created from the manufacturing of plastics. Paper lanterns are not resource intensive; they are simple objects which are very easy to make. They can often be made with one hundred percent recycled materials. They often are made up of just paper, wire, an expander, and a candle. In the case of electrically lit lanterns, a cord with a socket and a bulb are needed in place of the candle.

When you are shopping for paper lanterns, be mindful of what the lanterns are made out of. Try to contact the manufacturer or ask the sales clerk if the products are made out of recycled materials or not. Also, pay attention to the expander. Metal expanders are healthier for the environment, because they do not use fossil fuels in their creation like plastics do. As a bonus, metal expanders are less likely to catch fire, which makes them safer, too.

You do not always have to buy a paper lantern, for you can make one yourself. The simplest kinds of lanterns are those made from just a paper bag set on the ground with a candle inside. During Christmas, you can follow the Spanish tradition of using a white paper bag candle lantern; they are very beautiful. When you are making your own paper lantern, be sure to use only bags made from one hundred percent recycled materials; this way, you know you are doing your best to protect our environment.

A good, environmentally sound choice for electrically-lit lanterns is compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFCs. These bulbs use much less electricity to provide the same amount of light as regular, incandescent bulbs. Therefore, you can preserve energy by using these in your paper lanterns.

If you are using candle-lit lanterns, you can replace the standard candles with mosquito repelling candles. Try this next time you want to have dinner outside with your family. You can just use a paper bag and a mosquito repellent candle, it that is all you have. You will be able to enjoy a nice, candle-lit dinner, mosquito free, while knowing that you have done your part to contribute towards a cleaner environment.