Green Living
Each student has a part to play in making our campus more sustainable. Here are some easy ways reduce your carbon footprint.
- Turn off the air conditioner when you are not in the room, or use a fan instead.
- Put a box for recycling in your dorm room or common room so it is convenient to collect recyclables.
- Unplug appliances like printers, microwaves, chargers, etc. when not in use because they use “phantom” energy even when they are not turned on.
- Choose Energy Star appliances when you purchase a refrigerator or microwave.
- Buy second-hand furnishings and repurpose household items.
- Buy local instead of shipping items long-distance. Consider renting a storage unit in the summer instead of having items shipped home.
- Use compact florescent light bulbs instead of conventional bulbs—especially avoid halogen torchiere lamps because they use hundreds of watts of electricity.
- Do not throw old batteries in the trash—recycle them at the Help Desk in William Smith Hall. Consider using rechargeable batteries.
- Do your laundry only when you have a full load.
- Pay bills and check your bank statements online.
- Use double-sided printing when submitting your papers.
- Read documents online instead of printing them—you can highlight and take notes electronically using programs like Acrobat or sites like Evernote.
- Use reusable cups, plates, and utensils.
- Use the reverse side of old papers as scratch paper.
- Use a water filter such as a Brita instead of drinking from a plastic water bottle.
- Use reusable bags when going to the store.
- Use reusable mugs when getting coffee or other drinks.
- Put your computer in sleep mode when you are not using it.
- Take shorter showers—turn the water off when you shaving or scrubbing.
- Do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth.
- Use natural light instead of electric light when possible.
- Look for eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products—especially phosphate-free.
