Dorm life can be made greener with some tricks

Living in a college dorm or apartment is often not “eco-friendly.” The green lifestyle is a difficult and sometimes expensive endeavor. With convenience and comfort driving the average college student’s way of life, being environmentally friendly can take a “back burner” position. However, there are many ways that college students can “go green” and practice a more earth-friendly way of living for considerably little time and money.

When living in buildings with many other inhabitants and extensive use of resources, simply making sure to turn off lights when leaving and conserving energy can be an easy and far-reaching way of keeping “green.” One should also be an informed consumer. LED lighting and power-saving electrical strips are cheap and easy to attain products that make energy conservation more feasible. According to Energystar.gov, a consumer guide for energy efficient products funded by Environmental Protection Agency, these simple measures can reduce electricity use by 50-75 percent.

Despite most universities adopting a more electronically driven approach to submission of papers and material dispersal, paper waste is still omnipresent in college. In classes, professors and students can work together to find electronic ways of submission and transfer of handouts and other works that professors need to deliver to a wide number of students. A system of this sort would reduce the amount of wasted printer paper and encourage the wiser use of printers.

Paper waste also comes as an issue within the dorm rooms. Although paper towels, plates and other kitchenware are extremely convenient for the on-the-go student, they create unnecessary waste. Spending $10 to $20 on a few dishes and cloth towels can alleviate kitchen paper product waste.

Washington D.C.’s American University, for example, pledged in 2013 to have zero waste by 2020, a feat only possible due to the composting program throughout the university. Because of this program, AU is already two-thirds of the way towards reaching their goal of waste reduction.

Aside from the obvious waste of paper, water is another resource that is currently over-used and its conservation is overlooked by college students. Though it seems easy to just keep water running in the bathroom while one brushes teeth, turning off the water while shaving and face-washing can make a huge impact on water conservation.

University of California, Santa Barbara has also taken water conservation very seriously. It has reduced its water use by 20 percent before its goal date of 2020 through one of the most extensive water management plans in the country. The school has even set a new plan to reduce its water consumption by another 20 percent before 2028.

Though hallmates banging on shower doors might make it difficult to spend too long in the shower if you live in a dorm, Living Green and Saving Energy, an environmental resource, estimates that cutting shower time down by four minutes would save 3640 gallons of water a year.  Especially in a dorm where so many people are using water all at one time, simply shutting off the faucet a little bit sooner can help save a surprising amount of water.

“I used to take really long showers and waste so much water,” said Robyn To, a sophomore majoring in computer science (games). “[Now] in our apartment, me and my roommates try and keep our water use in check by taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet if it isn’t needed for immediate use.

To called for a program within his residence building to advocate for smart water usage.

“I wish we could start some sort of initiative for our whole building here because I think it could really make a huge difference if we could inspire people in our greater community to think twice before wasting water that is becoming increasingly harder to get, especially here in California,” he said.

But it doesn’t just stop at water. Plastic waste is another issue that often goes overlooked. Though going to the vending machine for a bottle of water or soda seems convenient, investing in a reusable water bottle cuts down on the amount of plastic waste produced around the entire university.

When plastic objects must be used for kitchen utensils and dishes, it is important to recycle whenever possible. Many universities have trouble enforcing recycling programs since students don’t always take the time to separate out recyclables from regular trash.

It seems that the only way to go green as a college student involves reducing, reusing and recycling materials that threaten the environment and the precarious state of resources. Being conscious and informed about food products is also an important part of being green however.

“I think living where we do makes it so easy to be more conscious of your food options,” said Emma Suffridge, a sophomore majoring in communication. “Being able to go to local farmers markets and support organic and environmentally conscious businesses and food producers is so convenient.”

Sustainable seafood is another important part of living a green lifestyle. Many types of fish are farmed and caught in a way that leads to environmental degradation. Species such as sea bass and red snapper are very often associated with unsustainable practices of fishing. Making sure to read the labels and be educated about what species of fish are caught with sustainable practices are easy ways to make sure what you are eating is safe for the environment.

Decreasing meat consumption is also a way to promote a green lifestyle. Raising large animals such as cows and pigs puts great strain on the environment and leads to the emissions of large amounts of greenhouse gasses. Consuming meat such as chicken and other poultry requires significantly less environmental strain, saving the atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming.

Sewanee University of the South has created a program that encourages students to be more conscious about their food choices.  They have opened a farm that produces locally and consciously grown organic foods served in dining halls across campus.

If all else fails, getting involved on campus is a great way to find out and to be educated about going green within a university setting. Organizations and clubs such as the Environmental Affairs Organization and the Environmental Student Assembly help to guide and develop students into environmentally sustainable and proactive students. Getting involved in a student organization with other young people can often provide the education and drive for students to become more “green friendly” in a college setting.