As a college student, you have a lot going on. Being environmentally-conscious may not be at the top of your list. However, there are a lot of little things that you can change in your daily routine to help the environment. I asked my super environmentally-aware/proactive friend (we should all strive to be like her) for some tips that she would give to college students:

1. Unplug your chargers when you leave your room

It saves electricity!

2. Instead of a Keurig, drink coffee from the dining hall

It's usually free at most schools depending on meal plans.

3. If your room is cold, put on a sweatshirt

See if that’s better before turning up the thermostat.

4. Recycle your beer cans and wine bottles

Reduce, reuse, recycle, just like they taught us in elementary school.

5. Actually use reusable water bottles

Most colleges have the filling stations all around campus so it’s convenient also!

6. Do your homework in a communal space like the library

The lights will be on in the library regardless, so instead of everybody using the lights in their own room, if everyone went to the library you would conserve energy.

7. Buy prepackaged food/snacks in bulk

It overall uses less packaging and creates less waste.

8. Wear clothes multiple times before washing

You do fewer loads of laundry overall (also use cold water to reduce energy for heating) and you don’t have to do laundry as frequently.

9. Pick 2 songs to listen to while you shower so you can jam out to a fun timer and save water

Don't go over those two though!

10. Walk to class instead of driving or ride a bike

You can share a bike with friends also!

11. Carpool home for breaks

Grab your closest buddy and ride home together. You can talk about all your plans to sleep and eat and sleep and...

12. Reduce your meat consumption

Start with having one meatless day a week and go from there. Take advantage of the vegetarian options your dining hall has and have a more sustainable diet.

13. Be careful of portions at buffet-style dining halls

This way, you don't end up wasting a ton of food.

14. Think about if you actually need to print something for your class before doing it and wasting paper

If you can slide with just writing out answers on your laptop, do that and help keep our trees where they belong, in the ground.

15. Call your state representative, state senator, congressperson, or senator before or after your classes

Advocate for the change you want to see in the world and in the environment.

16. If you have an idea for a larger change on campus, advocate for it and make a systematic difference

Examples are having the dining hall compost food waste, removing plastic water bottles from school stores, putting recycling bins in more convenient places, pushing for low flow shower heads in dorms,... basically anything that would be a schoolwide improvement. Advocacy and being active on campus is the best way to achieve change so that everyone’s carbon footprint can decrease.