Just like you, Santa looks forward to celebrating the holidays at Christmas in the Park each year.To ensure our favorite holiday tradition is sustainable for future generations, Santa is excited to announce that the Park is going Bright Green!
Nine years ago, Christmas in the Park made the switch from the old, power-eating Christmas lights to the energy-efficient LED Christmas lights. Back then, LED lights were still in the experimental stage, but Christmas in the Park jumped at the opportunity to save energy and go green. After switching to LED lights, Christmas in the Park cut their power consumption down by 70 percent, leading the way for a more efficient, bright green San José.
The City of San José is currently certifying Christmas in the Park as a 'Zero Waste Event.' Our vendors and visitors are being educated on ways to go green this holiday season in an effort to preserve the environment for our future generations. Along with the fun and festivities, Christmas in the Park's new environmentally friendly elements help make this tradition better for our community, our children, and our planet.
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| The Bright Green Tree Zone |
Decorating a Christmas tree at Christmas in the Park has been a San José tradition that we all look forward to every year with warm memories - whether it was battling a glue gun to make a special ornament that all would revere or sharing a walk with family through the park while “ooing” and “aahing” at the creativity. This year, we’ve created a new section at Christmas in the Park called the Bright Green Tree Zone – which brings an eco-friendly twist to this cherished tradition.
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| BGTZ tree decorated by Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County |
The trees found in this new zone may look a little different than a typical Christmas tree, they may even remind you of a certain Peanuts character who loved his small tree. Well this year, "Charlie" is going green!
The potted, California native Cedar trees you will see near Santa’s Den are maintained by the non-profit, Our City Forest. Taking our green commitment one step further, these living Christmas trees are thriving on recycled water which helps save drinking water for all of us. So, although they may look a little different, we like to call these ‘the trees that keep on giving.’ Also, they are decorated with ornaments that demonstrate the possibilities for creative reuse of items that end up in landfills.
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| A handcrafted ornament created from a used plastic bottle (Williams Elementary Daisy Troop 61225) |
In keeping with the Bright Green spirit, the City of San José will be giving back to the community long after Christmas in the Park ends and the New Year’s Eve ball drops by planting these trees at San José parks and schools. We hope you will get inspired by our environmentally-friendly trees and start your own green holiday tradition.
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| Tiger Troop Pack 611 decorating a BGTZ tree |
Do you have the energy to keep the light shining bright? Become part of the newest Christmas in the Park display – Firehouse Christmas – by using your strength to power the lights and animation. Feel the difference between the energy it takes to light an energy-efficient light bulb versus an incandescent one.
- Show off your favorite reusable bag at Christmas in the Park. In preparation for the City of San José Bring Your Own Bag ordinance starting on January 1, 2012, this event will be a Plastic Bag Free Zone. Plastic bags will not be provided by vendors at the Park.
- Visit Christmas in the Park on Saturday, December 17 to participate in the Bright Green San José day! On this day only, make a reusable bag out of an old t-shirt, take the reusable bag pledge for a free reusable bag to take home, and more. Check back for more information.
- Help Santa reduce 75 percent of the waste from the event that goes into the landfill. Use the eco-station containers throughout the event to compost and recycle your food service ware and other items.
- Fly a reindeer, ride your bike, take the bus, light rail or carpool to Christmas in the Park. You’ll save on parking costs and reduce your impact to our planet. Find your public transit options here.
- Reducing about 80 percent of the event’s electricity needs by using LED lights on all community trees and converting the display lights to energy-efficient options.
- Reducing a minimum of 75 percent of the event’s waste that goes to the landfill by:
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| Eco-station containers found throughout the event to help visitors reduce waste |
Requiring compostable and recyclable food service ware.
- Offering compost and recycling bins (eco-stations) at every waste disposal station.
- Reusing the groundcover cloth (snow cloth) for landscape management and erosion control in our community after the event.
- Reusing old event banners to cover regular park garbage cans so that all items go into the correct recycle, compost, and landfill bins.
- Encouraging the use of reusable bags.
- Decreasing the event’s carbon footprint by:
- Purchasing all the trees from a sustainable tree farm.
- Using living potted trees at the Bright Green Tree Zone through a partnership with Our City Forest. After the event, the trees will be replanted at schools and parks throughout our community. Replanted trees provide shade, reduce energy costs, capture greenhouse gases, filter air pollutants, reduce erosion, and boost property values.
- Saving valuable drinking water by using recycled water to water the potted trees in the Bright Green Tree Zone.
- Give the gift of an experience. Save on a trip to the store and reduce your holiday waste by treating your loved ones to a memorable experience, such as an evening at Downtown Ice or a visit to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.
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| Holiday gifts wrapped with reusable materials |
Wrap presents with reusable materials, such as scarves, napkins, or newspaper. Surprise your friends and family with personalized wrapping, such as sheet music or a collage, for a special touch that also makes the planet happy.
- Pour the fats, oils, and grease from your holiday feast into a sealed container and throw it in the trash. You’ll avoid a costly clogged drain, and your plumber and our wastewater treatment plant will thank you!
- Decorate your home and Christmas tree with energy-efficient lights to save energy and lower your electricity bill. Christmas lights are a holiday staple, and now they are better on the environment and your wallet. Just ask Blinky the Reindeer!
- Give your cut Christmas tree life beyond the holidays. In San José, leave it out at curbside for pick-up to be composted. Find your neighborhood tree collection times or nearest disposal facility at the Earth 911 website.
- Choose a potted Christmas tree for a sustainable holiday this year. Our City Forest can help you find a living Christmas tree that is compatible indoors and can replant the tree in our community to enjoy after the holidays.
See more tips on our Holiday Tips page.
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