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.

Instead of buying a paper lantern, you can create one yourself. It is very easy to do, and you can make them out of just a paper bag a candle. Place the bag on the ground and plop the candle in it (be sure to light the candle first to avoid lighting the paper on fire). If you are using a white paper bag, you are doing what the Spanish do during Christmas. When making your own lantern, be sure to use paper bags which are made from one hundred percent recycled materials to ensure that you are being as environmentally friendly as possible.

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.

When using candle-lit lanterns, you can replace the candle with a mosquito repellent candle. This way, you can enjoy a nice dinner with your family, mosquito-free, and be helping to preserve our environment at the same time.

Cody Scholberg, an expert of lighting fixtures, writes at the Paper Lanterns Guide about the uses of paper lanterns. Learn how cheap paper lanterns can be used to repel mosquitoes!