With the Academy Awards ceremony just a few weeks away, many of us are on hot pursuit to see some of the nominees before the big ceremony on February 26th. Whether you head out to the theater or host a movie night at home (or have an Academy Awards ceremony celebration!), there are some easy steps you can take to make your movie night environmentally friendly.
For a Limited Time receive a
FREE HR Report "Top 10 Best Practices in HR Management." This comprehensive special report will give you the information you need to know about these current HR challenges and how to most effectively manage them in your workplace.
Download NowIn the theater. Some of the nominated films are still in theaters. If you go to one of those, "green" your evening by walking, biking, or taking public transportation to the theater if possible. Of course snacks are key to any movie viewing, but we all know that the theater concession stand can wreak havoc on wallets, waistlines, and the environment (think of all of the waste with disposable containers!). To avoid these pitfalls, you can either eat at home before the show or bring snacks (don't tell them we told you to do this!) and water in a reusable bottle with you. If you're lucky, your local theater has been stepping up its sustainability efforts and serves organic and healthy snacks.
At home. With home theater systems and the great picture quality of modern films, staying home for movie night is a tempting option. Many of the Oscar-nominated movies have been released on DVD, and there are always "green" classics to enjoy anytime (check out Grist's roundup). As always when spending time at home, keep your thermostat at a comfortable yet energy-efficient temperature, serve snacks that involve minimal packaging, and walk or bike to rent the movie (or order one from home) to cut down on transportation costs.
So which option is more eco-friendly? According to Slate, both going to the theater and staying home have advantages and disadvantages, depending on transportation and the energy efficiency of theater and home appliances. So either option can be a "green" way to spend the evening if you take a few steps to reduce your eco-footprint.
Do you have any tips for "greening" movie night? And what's your favorite movie with an environmental theme? Tell us on our Facebook page!