12 Tips for Going Green in College

The best four years of your life seem to go by in a blur of classes, your social life (Greek-lettered or otherwise), and…sleeping till noon. It's finally your life, and you get to do whatever you want! So why not make the autonomous decision to do what you can to live a greener, healthier lifestyle? It's important that we, as the future movers and shakers of America, think about how our current behaviors are affecting the environment and our future. Wouldn't you like to graduate and head out into in a world that isn't insanely hot and filled with garbage? Here are 13 tips for going green NOW so you can enjoy the planet and a greener, brighter future. #1: Unplug your cellphone, iPad, TV, laptop, and such, post charging. Your dad probably bought you four power strips during your freshman year in an effort to be over-prepared. Use them! Plug all your device chargers into one strip and then shut off the strip when they're finished charging. It takes four seconds and it's an easy way to conserve energy. #2: Wash your laundry in cold water and let it air-dry. Going from having your mom do your laundry to doing it yourself can be a nightmare. What exactly do all those buttons mean?! If your university uses washers and dryers that don't allow you to manually change the water temperature, selecting the "delicate" cycle will allow you to wash your clothes in cold water. Washing in cold water saves energy and prevents your fabrics from fading. Also, make sure your loads are FULL! This allows for fewer loads and, therefore, less water use. When it comes to drying, invest in a drying rack. It costs around $10, and air-drying, while good for the environment, also prevents your clothes from shrinking. Besides, it saves you a boatload of quarters. #3: Ditch the plastic water bottles. Here's an economics lesson that you don't need to pay $500-a-credit-hour for: Paying 1,900 times MORE for something that flows freely from a tap is BAD. But that's what you're doing whenever you buy bottled water—and it's a waste of plastic, to boot. Shell out $20 for a good reusable water bottle that will save you a fortune on bottled water (and probably last way longer than your four years on campus). #4: Buy a mug. While you're shopping for beverage containers…invest in a ceramic cup or a stainless steel travel mug and pledge to ditch those paper cups from your college's coffee shop. You might even get lucky and score a discount on the drinks you buy. #5: Put the car keys down. Chicks dig a dude on a bike. While you should probably leave your Harley at home, try opting for a bicycle as your main transport. The benefits are numerous: Your commute to class is exercise, you're not polluting, and you're saving money on gas. If that's not a win/win/win situation then what is? #6: Print less. Is it really necessary for you to print out your professor's entire published works…single-sided? Nope. Use your e-reader or iPad to read the document and to bring notes to class. Just make sure to keep the Fruit Ninja–playing in class to a minimum! #7: Print double-sided. When you must print, print double-sided. This way you cut your paper use in half, shaving a few pennies off your printing supplies bill in the process. And while you're at it, use recycled paper for heaven's sake! Every major office store sells it now. #8: Rent! Textbooks are expensive and are you REALLY going to consult your calculus textbook thirty years from now? Take advantage of your university's textbook rental service if it has one. If not, go online. Even Amazon rents textbooks now. #9: Clean naturally. Sharing a bathroom can be gross. That doesn't mean you need to expose yourself to harsh chemicals in order to get it clean. Instead of all the bleach, try using a vinegar solution or one of these cheap, easy homemade cleaning recipes that work to clean your bathroom surfaces. They're better for the environment, and you'll be able to use your teeny-tiny dorm bathroom without falling prey to a coughing fit. #10: Turn off the tap. When brushing your teeth, turn the faucet off while scrubbing away. When showering, turn off the water while you're shampooing, turning it back on to rinse. Every few seconds count! #11: Recycle…everything. Everyone knows you can recycle paper and plastic—but not everyone does it. In fact, college kids are less likely than older generations to recycle, according to surveys by the Pew Research Center. So be the change! Learn to love the blue and green bins! You can recycle other items too, such as clothes. Cut up old T-shirts to use as cleaning rags, or donate them to charity. And here's how you can make money off clothes in good condition that you no longer want. Check out earth911.com to find umpteen dozen ways to recycle anything and everything you need to dump. Just think twice before you toss something into the landfill. #12: Talk to your student government. If making your campus a greener place is important to you, talk to your student senate. You'd be surprised about how many students share your sentiments. The more voices are heard, the more the college will do to heed the demand. What do we want? Utensils made from vegetable fibers! When do we want them? NOW! via Rodale News http://www.rodale.com/tips-going-green