Though colleges around the world have taken measures to reduce as much of their carbon footprint on the environment as possible, it is not enough. Unless students join hands and make changes to their lifestyles both at home and on campus. It might be increasingly hard to reduce the harmful effects that are being felt in the environment around us.
Going and living green should be the priority of every student and other responsible individuals. You can do several things to become an eco-friendly student with these eco-friendly tips and simple changes
Transport
Start using sustainable transport, carpools and public transport are the best. You can walk or cycle to places that are not far. Sustainable transport reduces congestion and pollution; it improves the public’s health, leading to reduced costs of healthcare and, overall, a better environment.
Power Usage
Let the earth and your pocket thank you by turning off the power of appliances when not in use. Use LED bulbs, which though a bit costly, will save you money on electricity bills later. Next, turn off the lights of their room and the bathroom when you come out of there. Standby power is like a leaking faucet. Though small, it can contribute to a 10% increase in your bills.
Recycle
Get into the habit of recycling everything. Papers, books, clothes, shoes, bottles, cans, and anything else that you can think of can be put into the recycling bin and be turned into something new. Also, try to buy reusable items yourself or those which have been produced from recycled materials. These can include recycled paper and stationery that has been made from consumer waste. As far as possible, avoid the use of plastic bags and containers. For drinking water, use bottles that can be refilled, like stainless steel and glass bottles, instead of single-use plastic bottles.
Local Is The Best
Support your local market by buying fresh vegetables and fruits from them. Buying locally means lower transportation costs and lower emissions during the transport of your products.
Compost Your Waste
Compost your food and wet waste instead of sending it to landfills with the rest of your garbage. Composting will help in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Buy Less
If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. It is as simple as that. Extend the lifespan of things that you already own by upcycling and reusing them. Buy in bulk the things that are not perishable, such as detergents, soaps, cleaning products, shampoo, etc. This will save you money and trips to the supermarket and will reduce the amount of packaging used and wasted. On the other hand, buying perishable items in large quantities is foolish-they spoil fast, and leftovers usually end up in trash cans.
Cook Your Own Food
For another zero-waste lifestyle tip, try cooking your own meals. Takeaway and prepacked food in plastic or Styrofoam are unhealthy, costly, and harmful to the environment. Cook in moderation and avoid contributing further to the global food wastage problem. Store leftovers in a sealed container, refrigerate them and heat them before eating again.
Final Notes
More and more college students are taking part in green projects and playing active roles in trying to protect the environment. It is estimated that an average college student accounts for 640 pounds of trash yearly. Initially, it may be hard to get into a behavior pattern that limits waste, but gradually, by following the above tips, you will be able to become eco-friendlier and live greener.