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Sustainability tips for college students

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Wednesday, 07 August 2019

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'Go Green' – An individual responsibility

The concept of "going green" has become a trend among youth since recent years. With climate change and other environmental issues in many of today's headlines, it has become fashionable -- even profitable -- to use the term. But many lack a full appreciation of and awareness for what it really means to go green. According to Angie De Soto, Director of the Sustainability Institute, "Sustainability involves becoming aware of the impact of all the little decisions that we make."

Here are some easy sustainability tips for college students to 'Go Green':

Rent, Borrow, or Share a Bike
Bikeshare programs are becoming more common, both on campuses and off. Riding a bike helps reduce carbon emissions and keeps the rider in better shape, but it can also become a productive habit. Ludovic Lemaitre helped bring a bikeshare program to Randolph College, and he puts it this way: "The bikeshare program is practical, which gives students an incentive to use it. And then they might find that they feel good about going on bike rides -- it's fun, it's destressing, and relaxing. It's something students might then pick up as a habit, and it can set things in motion for other eco-friendly behaviours."
Pay Attention to Packaging and Bags
Merry Rankin tells students at Iowa State to just say no to bags at the grocery store and elsewhere. "Bring your own bag or just don't take a bag," she says. Similarly, look for products that have less packaging, which equates to less trash and less material that will end up in a landfill to emit methane and other pollutants
Unplug
At Iowa State, Rankin estimates that the average student brings five electronic devices to campus with them. She also points out that unplugging those devices is a big piece of the puzzle and a good habit to get into. The AASHE and other campus sustainability organizations sponsor "power down" days and nights, when students are encouraged to curtail energy usage. There are even dorm vs. dorm sustainability challenges that go on for weeks and even entire semesters.
Use Reusable Water Bottles and Coffee Mugs
Instead of buying bottled water and contributing to the packaging consumption problem, buy a refillable bottle to carry around campus. If you're a coffee drinking, get a reusable mug. On-campus dining and cafe facilities should offer a discount to students who bring their own mug.
Use an LED Desk Light
While LED bulbs do cost more up front than incandescent and CFL bulbs, they last longer. A lot longer. And they're made to be quite sturdy. At Randolph College, Ludovic Lemaitre tells students, "When you come in as a first-year and move into your dorm, you buy an LED bulb for your desk lamp. You can go through four years without having to buy another bulb."
Watch Your Water Usage
Water is a precious resource. Shaving a few minutes off of your shower time on a regular basis, and waiting until you have a full load of laundry to do a wash are both good sustainability practices. As an exercise in sustainability awareness, Angie De Soto recommends that students also stop to think about what they're doing when they brush their teeth. "Do you leave the water on while brushing your teeth? It's a small thing, but the energy that was used to clean the water that just runs down the drain, that's something that's worth thinking about," she says.
Recycle and Compost
Angie De Soto thinks of recycling as one of the big "gateway" behaviours for sustainability. "Recycling forces students to think about where they are putting their trash, which doesn't come naturally for many people," she explains. Most colleges and universities will have a recycling program in place on campus. But not all recycling is the same. Find out whether your campus has a single-stream system, in which all recyclables are placed in one receptacle and sorted out later, or a system that requires you to do the sorting before making a deposit. Larger and multi-site campuses may have more than one program, so take the time to check it out and learn what can and can't be recycled. Composting initiatives are also spreading on college campuses. Usually, this is something that institutional kitchen facilities will do a lot of the work on, but it's still worth knowing how your school -- and city, if you live off campus -- handles leftover food waste.
Be a Smarter Shopper
While some clothing brands have started selling environmentally-conscious clothing lines, the reality is that most of these are out of reach for college students due to higher prices. If you can't see yourself wearing something at least 30 times, don't buy it. You can also host clothing swaps with friends, buy vintage, or give your unwanted, gently used clothing another life by donating or selling them instead of throwing them away.
Buy Second Hand
In addition to clothing, students can purchase many household and everyday living goods second hand to cut down on the use of new resources and to reduce waste. As Merry Rankin points out, when students move out at the end of the academic year, they get rid of all sorts of furniture, couches, and futons. "All these bulky items end up in a landfill," she says. Rather than buying commonly used items brand new (e.g. coffee makers, wall hangings, books, backpacks), students can save money and reduce waste by giving items a second life.
Walk
As often as possible, consider walking rather than driving. If you live in a safe neighbourhood, walking can help cut down on emissions while also providing a free and easy way of getting exercise. Students save money on fuel, car maintenance, gym memberships, and parking passes while also doing their part to create cleaner air around them. Some schools sponsor walking challenges with prizes for those who walk the furthest.
Turn Off Lights
This one might sound like a no-brainer, but it is a practice that many students forget about. Turning lights (and televisions) off when you leave a room can add up to serious energy savings – especially if your dorm or apartment has not switched to energy-efficient lighting. The money saved may seem small, but the real payoff is energy conservation. In summer months, it's also important to remember that standard incandescent light bulbs use only 10% of their energy towards light – the remaining 90 percent goes towards heat, meaning students must run the air conditioner more to keep their room or apartment at a comfortable temperature. Using less energy results in lower electric bills, but it also means less greenhouse gas emissions.
Eat Less Meat
Did you know that raising and preparing meat produces between 10 and 40 times more greenhouse gas emissions than growing and harvesting vegetables and grains? This does not mean you have to go vegan though -- just cutting back on your consumption of meat and dairy can go a long way in supporting a healthy world. Try being vegetarian once a week, then go from there. As a bonus, eating more vegetables can help you live a healthier life.