Going Green in College

College life is a time where habits start, both good and bad.  Without parental supervision, a person can fall into routines of going to bed at 5am and waking up at 2pm, eating a pizza and ice cream diet and living in dorms that hazmat teams fear.  College is also a great opportunity to start fresh and start showing some love for the world around us.  Many colleges have integrated eco-friendly sections into their college handbooks.  Sustainable living facilities and green teams have been popping up on campuses across the globe.  Even with an overload of credits, spending some quality time with friends and juggling clubs and work, a person can live an ecofriendly life.

Adopting an environmentally friendly lifestyle is not as intense a commitment to say adopting a border collie (which is a very energetic dog for those who don’t know).  For instance, it doesn’t take much effort to have a separate bin next to your garbage for recycling. There is an easy formula to follow to recycle properly, and believe me, it is a much easier than formula derivatives:

Good to Recycle

Dispose of Separately

Glass

Anything covered in oil – Trash

Aluminum and tin cans

Batteries – Find local drop off point: Stores like Target, Walmart, or even some post offices

Plastics 1-7 (except #6 Styrofoam)

Compact florescent lights – Drop off point

Plastic bags and stretchy plastic film

Prescription meds – DO NOT FLUSH! Most pharmacies will accept old prescriptions

Paper

Nail polish, paint and household items – Drop off point

Flattened cardboard

Electronic items – Stores like Best Buy and Target

If looking to take the eco-friendly life as serious as those people with dreads wearing the treehugger shirts, try composting.

Here are some other guidelines to living a sustainable life in college:

1. Stop using plastic grocery bags. Take reusable bags when shopping at the market.
2. Ditch plastic water bottles, try out a reusable one.  Some even have filtration systems built in!
3. Walk, bike, carpool, and use public transit as much as possible: it is cheaper, healthier, and is a great way to make friends.
4. Avoid buying new stuff by creatively reusing old things, swapping things with friends, and shopping at thrift stores.  Also, when you need to get rid of things, instead of throwing them out, give them to friends, donate them, or sell them online or at a garage sale.
5. Support local farmers by checking out farmer’s markets and buying local organic vegetables and fruits at supermarkets.  It’s a healthier option for both you and the Earth.
6. Avoid harsh chemicals and buy natural alternatives and biodegradable products
7. Instead of blasting the heat, try keeping your room at a constant 68 degrees, which is both comfortable and not energy wasteful.  Also, never open the windows with the heat on, but always try to regulate your room temperature by adjusting windows before reaching for the thermostat to crank up the A/C.
8. Be power conscious by using power-strips and compact florescent lights.
9. Quick showers: the environment and your roommates will thank you.
10. Get involved on campus sustainability projects.

-TravelBug

I’m reading Algebra 2: California