It's no news that the earth is deteriorating in many different ways because of the way we are treating the environment. There is an increase in industrial pollution, erosion is occurring because of an increase in over-development of land for housing and agriculture, pesticides are being used in the food that we eat and later infiltrates itself into water, carbon dioxide that is emitted by our transportation is worsening our atmosphere, and using oil for energy is a major cause in air, water, and food pollution on earth.
I can throw at you dozens of statistics on how some people in this world are, sometimes unknowingly, contributing to the destruction of our planet. But, you can look up those statistics on your own. I want to give YOU the POWER to DO SOMETHING about this! I have listed ways that college students can easily change some of your unhealthy environment-costing habits into habits that can save the environment.
1. Meatless Monday's
The meat industry produces about 1/5 of the world's greenhouse gases. So, cutting down the demand for meat would, in turn, cut down the greenhouse gases that are emitted by the meat industry. Have your friends join you in meatless Monday's as well and you can start a great movement. Take the meatless Monday pledge here!
For another take on why you should go meatless, watch the video below to see how the cows in the United States emit methane gas into the atmosphere and destroy the atmosphere.
2. Use reusable bags and water bottles!
Instead of asking for your groceries or student to-go-meals to be bagged (or the horrifying double-bagging) in plastic bags, use your reusable bag! And you can even have cute designs. Here is a great website that has different sites to buy cute reusable bags. Why are plastic bags bad? Read here for more info. Also, ditch those plastic water bottles for goodness sakes! AND, you can go one more step and start buying biodegradable products!
3. Unplug!
There's no need to waste energy by leaving your chargers, curling irons, straighteners, lights, and microwaves plugged in when they're not in use. This is an even easier task to do if you use an energy-saver power strip, that way, that's the only thing you need to unplug on your way out to class.
4. Carpool
If you live off campus, figure out your roommates' schedules and have a carpool schedule set up to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Of course, when you want to go out with your friends, figure out the least number of cars needed to reduce the number of cars going to the same location.
5. Walk or ride a bike
Most college campuses are near restaurants, coffee shops, shopping centers, etc., so schedule in those extra 15-20 minutes of walking time to your day and save the air.
6. Use blackle.com
This is the eco-friendly solution to using Google. Even powered by google, this site uses
7. Make no-energy meals or environmentally friendly meals.
Salads, sandwiches, wraps, etc., are all delicious and environmentally friendly meals that you can make without a microwave, stove or oven! For more recipes: click here!
These are easy and adaptable habits that college students can start doing NOW. Tell your friends, spread the environmentally friendly message, be an example. Set a goal to start these tips (with your friends) before Earth Day this year, Friday, April 22, 2016!
