August: better known as the "Sunday" of summer. It's that time of year again, and we college students are a few weeks away from living on our own again! As exciting as it is to be living on our own (and not paying our own utility bills) we must stop to think about the impact our choices and lifestyle choices have on our environment, locally and nationally. Trust me, as a soon to be sophomore I totally understand that our green thumb, or lack there of, is one of the last things on our minds as we enjoy our college time, but with this article, I hope to enlighten you with some easy, simple, and cost effective ways to help the environment while away at school! Remember, every step, big or small, has an impact on the world around us.
1. Cut down a little on shower time.
As we deal with our stressful college days, a nice hot shower is just the thing to help us feel better. However, according to Home-water-works.org, when we shower we use around two gallons of water per minute. This may not seem like much, but by cutting back your shower time by even one minute every day, you could save 730 gallons of water per year (assuming you bathe everyday!)
2. Unplug when not in use.
As millennials, we are often stereotyped as the generation that can never unplug from our devices. While our strings of lights, lamps, chargers, and speakers are a must have at school, they can still waste energy if they are left plugged in when not in use. Simply unplugging the devices when you're finished using them could make a huge impact!
3. Donate, Donate, Donate.
So many times during the school year, especially at the end, we find ourselves wanting to get rid of old clothes or items we bought for our dorms and end up tossing them out. Not only does this take up a ton of space in landfills, it is also a lost opportunity to help out a good cause. Salvation Army, Goodwill, Christian Layman, and many other organizations will gladly resell your donated items to help out those in need.
4. Buy smarter.
Even before Macklemore made it cool, thrift shopping has always been a great way to reduce your environmental foot print! Not only are the clothes cheaper, you can find many brands and sizes while reusing clothes already made, instead of purchasing new ones. And once again, this truly helps those in need with portions of profit going directly to charity!
5. End the plastic.
For only a few dollars, you can purchase a very cute or handsome reusable water bottle that you can refill time and time again! This helps keep plastic out of land fills and is very easy to do. At many colleges, many filtered water fountains are available which would be perfect for this.
6. Cut back on paper.
Almost all professors utilize Powerpoint, so it is often helpful to print them out for studying and notes. Instead of doing one slide per page and printing one sided, try using the three slides per page plus note lines setting and print double sided! Easy changes like this can cut back on paper use tremendously.
7. Use washable utensils
As much as I hate doing dishes, I know just how many plastic forks and spoons I have thrown out after late night Chinese food runs (which at times were quite often.) By telling food companies not to send plastic utensils and using your own, you can save more plastic from entering landfills. The same goes for plastic plates, bowls and cups!
8. BYOB- Bring your own bag.
Not only are plastic bags flimsy and fragile, they are yet again another huge contributor to landfills. Stores go through these supplies in astronomical numbers. By bringing your own reusable shopping bags, you could easily save 5+ bags per trip. This can really add up! TIP: if you think you would forget to bring these when you go shopping, keep some in your car so you don't leave them behind in your dorm!
9. RECYCLE.
Almost didn't include this one because most people nowadays do recycle. More and more colleges are providing recycling bins in dorms, lecture halls, and other campus facilities. Simply locating these and putting the right items in, you can make a huge difference in your campus' footprint. Don't forget to recycle those old notes from last semester too!
10. Get involved.
If after reading these tips you find yourself super excited to go green, then here is my last suggestion. Get involved! Joining an environmental club at your college is a great way to make new friends while making a difference in your community. The world could use more people willing to help care for it!
With these easy tips, you can find yourself helping the environment right at school. Taking even the smallest of steps can make a world of difference! Cut down a minute on your shower and reuse that nice water bottle. Feel proud of yourself for helping the environment around you!
