The last thing you probably want to think about between classes, clubs, and a social life at school is the different ways to go green at college. But going green is incredibly important, and not that hard. There are so many small steps you can take towards protecting your environment. Here are some of my tips on the best ways to go green at college and lessen your impact on the environment.
This is one of the easiest ways to go green at college. Why take the bus or a car to class when you can take a beautiful stroll along campus to get to class? It not only cuts down on your carbon footprint and reduces oil intake, but it is a great way to get some quick and easy exercise throughout the day.
So by now you should already know that recycling in college is a simple way to go green. Most campuses already have recycling efforts in place, but even if your apartment's off campus, it is important to not throw away everything. And it goes a lot further than recycling paper and cardboard. You can recycle your old electronics too.
Why throw away your old school supplies at the end of each semester? Or why throw away all of those old t-shirts you no longer want? One of the great ways to go green in college is to reuse all the different things in your life. Use DIY projects to revamp your clothes, the corks from wine bottles, even leftover food cartons. It is so easy to find DIY projects online. So why not try being crafty and reducing your trash impact at the same time?
While I am sure you would love to spend hours on end in the wonderful dorm showers, by shortening your showers, you can save tons of water. Tips for shortening your showers: only wash your hair every other day and keep the deep thoughts to a minimum.
Who says going green can’t be fashionable? Going along with the reusing tip, you can revamp your clothes. Or you can recycle your clothes by selling them to a thrift shop. It means less clothing in the trash and you have some extra cash to spend at other consignment stores.
When you buy local products, it means less shipping across the country, which means less of a carbon footprint. Buying local also supports your local economy. Also, by finding local activities rather than traveling far to do fun things, you will cut down on your gas usage and your carbon emissions.
Going green has now gone high-tech. One of the easiest ways to go green at college is by switching your appliances to energy efficient appliances. Another option is to purchase used appliances and electronics rather than brand new ones. And a great alternative when buying textbooks is to get an eBook so you don’t waste the paper of a huge textbook.
Now that you know the ways to go green in college, it is time for you to inform your student body. Join clubs on campus that are dedicated towards going green and come up with ways to educate those around you. Make sure your friends and roommates are going green and try to come up with ways to make going green more fun.
College can be a stressful time and sometimes the last thing you want to think about is going green and saving the environment. But going green doesn’t have to be a huge production. Take these small steps and you are already on your way to saving the environment. What did you think of these ways to go green at college? What other ways are there to go green at college? What are some of the ways you try to save the environment?