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Creative, Practical and Useful Gift Ideas

Submitted by Lorene Bartos, UNL Extension Educator

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The busy holiday season is here. It’s time to decorate the home and purchase gifts for family and friends. In all the hustle and bustle of the season we must remember safety and saving our environment. Individuals and families may appreciate practical and useable gifts. Often we overlook some of the opportunities we have to help people have a safer, healthier and more energy efficient home.

As we think of the home and gift giving, some energy saving and environmentally friendly gifts come to mind.

An energy basket or kit is one idea. It might include a few compact fluorescent light bulbs, non-expanding caulk or regular caulk, rope caulk, a low-flow faucet, insulation wrap or tape for water pipes or a draft dodger.

A smoke alarm along with any batteries needed is a gift to say "stay safe."

Another similar item is a carbon monoxide alarm. Even if they have one already, a second one can act as a backup. Having a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedroom areas and on every floor is suggested.

Last year, there were extended power outages in several areas of the state. Households used candles or older kerosene lanterns for lights at night, both of which can be hazardous. Crank up flashlights, radios and cell phone chargers make emergency lighting and radios possible and are safer. Sometimes we look for the flashlight only to discover the flashlight has missing or dead batteries. Crank up lights and radios are available through catalog services, specialty stores and some hardware and home stores. Also, they can save energy.

In addition to hand crank or battery powered lighting, exterior solar lighting and LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is becoming more readily available. This lighting can mark pathways, steps or sidewalks for safety. Some solar and LED lighting are available with motion lights. The solar unit is mounted on the roof of a home or area that receives sunlight. A cord extends from the small collector unit to the light near an entrance door. With LED, solar powered and fluorescent lighting, energy used for lighting can be significantly reduced. These are available through mail order, on-line and in some lighting and home stores.

An environmentally friendly gift would be the reusable shopping bags. I even found a red Nebraska one. What a fun need gift for the Nebraska Sports fan. Fill it with some of the other energy saving gifts or just give the bag.

Another way to save financially and share your talents or skills is to give a coupon for help around the home, lawn mowing, snow shoveling, washing windows, flower planting in the spring, a homemade food items, or even babysitting.

Wrap gifts in towels, newspaper or comics, or decorated brown paper bags.

Think about the person and his or her household needs year round. What items would help make the home and environment safer and healthier as well as more energy efficient?