I'm not going to bore you with a handful of statistics about carbon dioxide levels and the melting of the polar ice caps. We know that already. We know we need to step it up and be a little greener.
As a college student, it's sometimes hard to be green. We have laptops, we drive cars, we eat food that comes in styrofoam boxes. It's pretty much unavoidable. But there are a few little things we can do to try to balance the scales.
1. Recycle
Yeah, yeah, I know you've heard it a million times, but it's so important! I just came home after spending a week in Seattle, where they fine residents for putting recyclables in the trash. Personally, I think that's brilliant! The house we stayed in had a regular-sized dumpster for recycling and a tiny black box for trash. The man we rented it from also had very colorful, laminated sheets telling us what to put where. I know a lot of people who don't recycle, and it pains me to see them throw their plastic bottles in the trash. Please, please, please recycle! It's so easy.
2. Compost
I understand that it's not ideal to have a huge pile of compost sitting in your dorm room, but if you own a house on or off campus in Indy, it's pretty simple. A company called Earth Mama Compost will pick up your compost from the curb just like a trash service. According to their website, composting "keeps over 36 million tons of food waste and organic matter out of landfills, where, as it degrades, emits methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming." Green with Indy is another great composting service.
3. Water
Get a refillable water bottle, preferably glass or stainless steel, and use tap water or the Brita stations around campus. It will save money and the earth!
4. Books
I have a slight problem with books. I like them a lot. So much so that I actually had to face the window in Barnes & Noble yesterday so I wouldn't buy anymore. I don't do kindle or nook and any e-books, I have to be able to physically flip through the pages and smell the paper and ink. High maintenance, I know. Because of my obsession, I buy used books whenever I can. They're cheaper, they have more character, and they're less intimidating. As an English major, I like to keep most of the books I buy because they're typically novels as opposed to thousand-dollar textbooks. So I buy them through Better World Books or Amazon (if I have a giftcard). Renting is ideal, but if you're like me, used books is the way to go. Save the trees!
5. Clothes
Goodwill and thrift stores. There are a few of them in Indy, including Broad Ripple Vintage and Thrifty Threads. Again, not only are you saving money and reducing the need for more materials and production of goods, you're getting something with character. Also, living in half of a 12 by 12 room my first year really opened my eyes as to what I really need in regards to clothing. A lot of us wear the same things over and over again, letting the clothes in the back of the closet collect dust even though we are sure we're going to need them sometime in the future (which we're probably not). Donate! Get some extra cash and clear out some space in your closet.
6. Starbucks
It's OK. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. I. Love. Starbucks. During the school year, I probably went there four times a week if not more. I am an avid contributor to the mountain of empty Starbucks cups on campus, and I am ashamed. My shame is not great enough for me to stop going to Starbucks, but it is great enough for me to get my act together and just start using my reusable coffee mug. I know washing dishes is a pain, but just picture yourself as a superhero who is helping the entire world and you'll feel better.
7. Electricity
My freshman year roommate would always leave the light on when she left the room. It doesn't seem like a huge deal, but if half the building did that, or half the campus, it would quickly start to add up. Unplug stuff you're not using, turn off the light, etc. You've heard it all before. But now is the time to do it! The habits you form in college have been shown to stay with you for most of your life. (I don't know if turning off the lights fits under this category, but it's worth a shot.)
8. Miscellaneous
Carpool, use your own grocery bags, turn off the water when brushing your teeth. It's all pretty simple stuff, and I have faith in you! I'm definitely not the poster child for going green, but I do try to practice what I preach. I am very proud of myself for getting one of my ant-recycling friends to start recycling last year, and if that's all I ever accomplish in life... well, I'd be pretty disappointed, but not as disappointed as I'd be if I never accomplished anything and failed to convince her to recycle. Reduce, reuse, recycle! Go green! Stay in school and all that jazz!
