Five Ways Help Your College Go Green

Who says it's not easy to go green?

Earlier this year, Princeton Review published a study reporting that about 68 percent of students admit to being influenced in their choice of college by the environmental score of the university.

There’s also been a very growing need for change at the grassroots level. As students have become more aware of the carbon footprint they’re leaving behind, they’ve increased their efforts to reduce them. Much of the motivation is found in the economics; going green is often synonymous with frugality.

Below are five ways that students can help their colleges (and their budgets!) by becoming green.

1. Advocate for an on-campus garden.

By adopting an on-campus garden, colleges could supply their cafeterias with healthier options and develop a food pantry for community members. Colleges which require classes in agriculture or sustainable development could incorporate the care of the garden into their curriculum. Well-kept gardens also pose the potential of drumming up revenue from wealthy alumni and community philanthropists by giving the campus a lush, green appearance. Schools could depend on gardens to decrease rising tuition costs.

2. Eliminate trays for the cafeteria.

The buffet-style set up of most cafeterias, complete with over-sized trays, is legendary for creating the dreaded “freshman 15.” Recently, colleges have begun eliminating the tray system completely. At Emory University, this decision resulted in a 14,587 pound reduction in food waste. By decreasing these numbers across the board, colleges would be able to justify lowering their meal cost and thus become more accessible to lower-income students.

3. Stage a conservation competition on campus.

College students are notorious for long showers, disposing of half-eaten pizza slices, and forgetting to turn off their computers.To combat the disposable lifestyle, opposing groups can compete against each other to determine which can recycle the large amount of paper, compost the most vegetable rinds, or save the most water. The ideas for reusing, recycling and reducing in a college living environment, especially dorm rooms, are endless.

4. Organize a campus-wide rummage sale.

The beginning of each semester is marked by a frantic stop at the college bookstore to stock up on textbooks. Yet much of what students need can be found without hefty price tags, if they’re willing to take gently and not-so-gently used items. This upcoming semester, instead of paying inflated prices for college essentials, get permission from college administrators to host a rummage sale in a public place where college students, faculty and staff can buy, sell and trade at greatly discounted prices.

5. Be a green gadgeteer

Laptops, iPods and digital cameras have become tools of survival for college students, dependent on energy-draining chargers to be powered up. But there are greener alternatives available. The Solar Style portable solar panel is competitively priced ($29.99) and charges most devices. By opting for rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones, college students can save dozens of dollars in the long haul, as well as reducing their dependence on a non-recyclable item.

Have you adopted a “green” lifestyle on campus? Tell us about it.