Going Green in College: Greening Your Living Space

College students who live in apartments off campus, are generally pretty energy conscious. Face it, there’s something about seeing your name on an electric bill that makes shutting off lights a very easy thing to remember. But those students who live in a dorm may not always think about shutting off lights and cell phone chargers.

Going Green is important and it’s up to all of us to reduce our energy use, recycle and ultimately contribute to a cleaner planet, even if you aren’t currently paying the bill!

So read on, my fellow students for some quick, easy and cheap things to you can do to “Go Green” on a daily basis:

1.    Lights: Place your keys on a 3M sticky hook, which can generally be found in a campus bookstore for about $5, next to your light switch. That way each and every time you take your keys and leave you see the light switch and remember to turn it off. Another important tip for limiting light use is to open the blinds, drapes or whatever window coverings you may have. Using natural light during the day is a big energy saver and will also reduce your electric bill. Additionally all lights in your room should be compact fluorescent lights, which save the most energy. Be sure to look for the energy star label as well.

2.    Heat: Heat is something many of us will be using quite soon, if you aren’t already! In my apartment I have forced air, which is different from my radiators at home. I was wasting a ton of energy by turning the dial up and down in order to be comfortable in the apartment, but I’ve finally found a solution—heaters! I use two portable heaters and keep my dial at a constant 60 degrees (this can be adjusted depending on how warm you like to be) in order to save energy and money!

3.    Paper Plates: Using paper dishes may seem like a quick solution, but ultimately it ends up being a big waste. Buy cheap tableware, which can generally be found at a supermarket, and also buy a set of utensils. You may have to wash more, but ultimately you will save money and the planet.

Try out these tips and check back for more on “greening” your workspace, your transportation and your cleaning products. And check out these tips from Suite101 on greening your dorm.