College: the best years of your life. You’re grasping independence, living away from home, learning, and exploring life. You’re also consuming energy, and I don’t mean calories, I mean kilowatts.
Living on a college campus, it’s easy to be consumed by the ever-popular green media, but it’s also a critical time to be concerned about your own consumption habits, as you prepare for your life after college. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2007 approximately 11 million students were enrolled full-time in universities in the US, most living in dorms, apartments, rental houses and condos. Going from living in a dorm or place with all-inclusive rent to paying utilities can be a huge shock because most students don’t even realize how much energy and water they use, let alone the waste that they discard.
Typical tips like:
1. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
2. Turn off lights when you’re not in your room.
3. Don’t leave the TV on when no one’s watching it.
are great, but we’ve all heard them.
Sometimes when you are living in the dorms or you don’t own your own home it’s hard to know what you can and can’t do to conserve energy. The idea is not to feel hopeless but rather heartened in a great understanding of the things that you can easily do every day. Hopefully some of the following hints will turn you shades of green and give life to your campus.
This really is a vital issue. Climate change, whether you believe it or not, is real, and you're a part of it. Those approximately 11 million students attending college, at the per capita rate of 19.78 tons of carbon, will emit 891,682,400 tons of carbon (the leading greenhouse gas) over the four years at college (Energy Information Administration). Every little bit of energy conserved can only reduce that number. The whole earth may not be in your hands, but every bit of energy used leaves an imprint.
As college students, hopefully you're up to a challenge: consume less to create more. Create more with the energy that we do have, create more awareness, create more connections with the earth- be creative.
Maybe you can even learn to knit in your spare time...
In Control: Changing temperatures without changing climate
If you live in a dorm, you may feel like you don’t have control over the temperature in your room. You don’t have AC, your university uses centralized heating, or your roommate is Goldilocks and can’t make up his or her mind. If you do live in a dorm, you also probably don’t know that 50% of a household’s energy use comes from heating and cooling. If you live off campus and pay your own utilities, you should note as well that that energy use transfers directly to your power bill. Whether you have control over the thermostat or not, there are some additional things that you can do to reduce your energy use in this area, in all seasons (of the year and of life).
1. Hold the phone: dialing up and down
In the winter keep the thermostat at 68 degrees and lower it to between 55 and 60 degrees when you’re gone and at night time. “Lowering your thermostat just two degrees during the winter saves 6 percent of heating-related CO2 emissions.” http://www.ecomall.com/
In the summer, keep the temperature between 75 and 78 degrees when you have the AC running. You can also dial up the temperature when you’re not turning an empty room into a refrigerator.
2. Abracadabra: curtains
Curtains do more than just provide privacy; they can also help maintain a good room temperature. Buy thermal insulated curtains and keep them closed at night, especially in the winter. Then open them up during the day to let the sun do its job to warm the room. In the warmer months close curtains to cool off the room while you’re away.
3. Your biggest fan
Use an energy saving fan instead of AC. You can purchase one here if you’re interested. For those dorms without AC to begin with, this is a great investment.
4. Au natural
If it’s nice out, switch off the AC and open your windows. Just don’t open windows and have AC running at the same time. On warmer fall and spring days, turn the heat off all together, and try to wait as long as you can to turn the heat on for the winter.
5. Accessorize: Weatherize
Windows, Floorboards.
6. Let them vent
Move furniture away from vents so that they can work to their full capacity.
7. Shut it
Close doors and air vents to unused rooms. That way you’re not heating or cooling spaces that don’t need it.
Photo Source: http://www.lcra.org/newsletter/currents/nov06/energy_tips.html
Let there be Light!
Lighting is essential in any home; making up approximately 25% of a typical electricity bill, but luckily, also one of the easiest ways to make your home more eco-friendly. A few simple steps can get you started.
Getting cornered:
Placing lamps in corners can increase the amount of light given off because the light will reflect off of two walls instead of one. (Pennsylvania Utility Choice)
It’s all in the bulb:
Firstly, don’t use unnecessary wattage; choose a smaller one when possible. Then, keep your lighting fixtures clean because dirty bulbs don’t give off as much light. (Pennsylvania Utility Choice)
Glow Florescent:
Invest in CFL light bulbs! Compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) produce light much more efficiently than traditional incandescent light bulbs. CFL light bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and can last up to 13 times longer. (Flex Your Power)
Buyer Beware:
Before making the switch to florescent bulbs, beware that they do contain a small amount of mercury, only approximately the size of the tip of a ball point pen. The energy conservation benefits are worth it as long as they are disposed of properly. "According to the EPA, a power plant will emit 10 mg of mercury while producing the electricity needed for one incandescent bulb over the course of its lifetime. A CFL, in contrast, would result in the emission of only 2.4 mg of mercury over the same period." (Flex Your Power)
To find a recycling program near you click here. For more information on CFL blubs, click here.
Below is a short video that helps put lighting facts into real life terms.
Getting cornered:
Placing lamps in corners can increase the amount of light given off because the light will reflect off of two walls instead of one. (Pennsylvania Utility Choice)
It’s all in the bulb:
Firstly, don’t use unnecessary wattage; choose a smaller one when possible. Then, keep your lighting fixtures clean because dirty bulbs don’t give off as much light. (Pennsylvania Utility Choice)
Glow Florescent:
Invest in CFL light bulbs! Compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) produce light much more efficiently than traditional incandescent light bulbs. CFL light bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and can last up to 13 times longer. (Flex Your Power)
Buyer Beware:
Before making the switch to florescent bulbs, beware that they do contain a small amount of mercury, only approximately the size of the tip of a ball point pen. The energy conservation benefits are worth it as long as they are disposed of properly. "According to the EPA, a power plant will emit 10 mg of mercury while producing the electricity needed for one incandescent bulb over the course of its lifetime. A CFL, in contrast, would result in the emission of only 2.4 mg of mercury over the same period." (Flex Your Power)
To find a recycling program near you click here. For more information on CFL blubs, click here.
Below is a short video that helps put lighting facts into real life terms.
Socket to 'Em
Did you know that your appliances, television, computer, etc., even if they are not in use, still use energy as long as they are plugged in? This issue is commonly referred to as “phantom energy”. Phantom energy accounts for approximately 5% of household electricity use. A simple way to cut down on phantom energy use is to unplug electrical items when they are not in use. The easiest way to do this is to plug appliances into a surge protector that can easily be switched on and off.
Think Smart, Plug Smart
A new product, meant to solve the problem of phantom energy, called the Smart Plug, is being developed. The Smart Plug has a motion detector so it can sense when there is little activity in a room, therefore being able to shut of electronic devices that are not in use, but still consuming energy. (Daily Mail)
For more information on the Smart Plug, click here
Below is an entertaining video that shows ways you can hunt for "phantoms" in your own home!
Think Smart, Plug Smart
A new product, meant to solve the problem of phantom energy, called the Smart Plug, is being developed. The Smart Plug has a motion detector so it can sense when there is little activity in a room, therefore being able to shut of electronic devices that are not in use, but still consuming energy. (Daily Mail)
For more information on the Smart Plug, click here
Below is an entertaining video that shows ways you can hunt for "phantoms" in your own home!
Water, Water Everywhere
According to Earth Easy, most people in North America use 50 to 70 gallons of water indoors each day. Conserving water around your home may take a little effort but it will pay off in the long run by saving you money!
Cap the Tap:
The first and easiest thing you can do at home to conserve water is don’t leave the water running. Turning the water off while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving, can save a household 5 to 10 gallons of water per day.
Keep it Short:
¾ of water used indoors is used in the bathroom (Earth Easy) so one way to conserve water is to shorten your shower time; short showers use half the amount of water that baths consume. Another easy way to reduce the amount of water used in your shower is by installing a low flow shower head, which drastically cuts down on daily water usage.
Leaks Lose Water:
Also, since most water is used in the bathroom, be conscious of leaks! A simple way to check for toilet leaks is by putting a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank, without flushing, if color starts to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, there is a leak. (Earth Easy)
Fill it Up:
Appliances such as dishwashers and clothes washers use large amounts of water so wait for a full load before you run them. If possible, use front loading washing machine, which uses 40-60% less water than top loading machines. Also, washing clothes in cold water reduces energy used because there is no need to heat the water.
Photo Source:http://www.retrojunk.com/details_articles/3129/
Learning the 3Rs
Reading, writing, and arithmetic are still important, but most students now also know about the three R's that help the environment too: reduce, reuse, and recycle. These topics are self-defined by their names, and most students are aware of them, yet those living in college dorm rooms and apartments continue to discard tons and tons of trash every year. Eating on the run and grabbing coffee from the local coffee shop may fit well into your schedule, but can generate unnecessary waste if you’re not careful. Here’s a little refresher course on the three R’s, with some suggestions that are especially relevant to college students.
Reduce:
If you’re buying food or getting it from a campus fast-food style restaurant and taking it back to your dorm, don’t grab too many napkins or condiments. We all grab a little more than we probably should, thinking that we’ll use them at a later point, but most of the time they just end up getting discarded. Also, along those lines, invest in some utensils and even some bowls and plates that you can use instead of that plastic fork and spoon.
Also in the realm of food, depending on how your university runs its dining halls, it may be like an all-you-can-eat buffet. The problem with this is that students will put more on their tray than they can really eat, making it a “more-than-you-can-eat buffet” which translates into food waste. One way to make sure you’re not taking too much is to not use a tray. Ohio University did a food audit in one of its dining halls, measuring food waste on two normal days as opposed to food waste on a “no-tray” day. On the “no-tray” day food waste was reduced by almost 28%. (OU Office of Sustainability)
Students generate a lot of paper waste. The internet is becoming more and more helpful in reducing paper-use, but all of those online readings and power point presentations still seem to end up on paper and later in the trash can at the end of the semester. Firstly, print only what you need to, and print double sided whenever you can. If you have to print single sided, or if you have print-outs from class that are just on one side, save them as scrap paper and take notes or print on the back side. Then, of course, when you’re finished, make sure to recycle.
Reuse
College students are always trying to save a dollar or two and shopping for reusable items is a great way to do just that. In the fall when you need a rug or a mirror or even some furniture, try to buy it second hand at a thrift store that has the items you need. Thrifting for clothes and other stuff is also a fun, affordable, eco-friendly way to get your shopping fix in. Then when you’re done with these times either at the end of the year or when you switch out some of your wardrobe, donate them to goodwill or another charity if they still have life left in them.
You may not even realize it but buying used textbooks is actually an environmentally friendly thing to do. Instead of buying a brand new book from the publisher, get it online for cheaper and save the paper and ink it takes to print more textbooks. Again, at the end of the semester, sell them back to keep the cycle going.
I know you’ve all seen those reusable grocery bags, but they’re not just for grocery shopping. If you go shopping, either to an off campus store, and on campus market, or an on campus fast-food restaurant, buy a reusable bag and use that instead. Or if you must get plastic bags, use them for your trash; don’t just throw them away.
If you always get coffee to go in a local coffee shop, bring a travel mug along and have them fit that up instead. If you drink a lot of water, use either a plastic or metal water bottle instead of individual plastic bottles. If you live off campus and but bring your lunch to campus every day, invest in some good Tupperware instead of using all of those plastic baggies. Use more washcloths and towels instead of napkins and paper towels. Just be creative.
Recycle
Most universities have a recycling program. You can usually access their information from the main student’s page on the internet. If your dorm doesn’t provide you with recycling bins, use old boxes or purchase some small plastic trash cans and talk to your roommate about sorting the trash. Off campus, see if you can sign up to have your recycling picked up for you or if there’s a local drop off for recycled goods. Here’s a quick reminder of generally accepted recyclables:
Cardboard
#1 and #2 Plastic
Magazines/Catalogues
White and Color Paper
Beverage Cans
Steel Cans
Glass Bottles
Newspaper
Also, you can find places that will accept old cell phones and even computers. This site allows you to donate your phone in order to purchase a phone card for a soldier overseas. Don’t just throw away electronics.
And if you learn through music, just take it from Jack Johnson:
Photo Source: http://recycle.dpw.dc.gov/recycle/cwp/view,a,1375,q,634588.asp
Express your voice
So you may be really interested in cutting back on your own energy, water, and waste consumption, and may at times get discouraged and feel like you’re efforts are not making a different, especially if living in a dorm. Even though students may not have the authority to turn down the central heat in all the buildings during the winter or change all of the light bulbs to CFLs, you have the power to talk to those in power. As students in a democratic society, from a young age you learn that the people have a voice, so why should that be different in the university setting? You do have a voice and a right to express your opinions in a peaceful and organized fashion to those in charge, be it the university president or board of trustees, or even the student government on campus.
Think about things that could feasibly be changed around the university and then take the time to write a letter, set up a meeting, organize an event to raise awareness, join a group on campus, and bring these issues to the attention of those who can make changes on the university level. You’ll have to do your research, but there are some great success stories of how universities have been taking the initiative and going green. Some starting points include:
* turning down central heating in campus buildings to 68 degrees in the winter if it is not already at that level.
* starting a bicycling program of providing better public transportation, as the University of Miami has done.
* taking the environment into consideration when building new buildings and dorms, or even creating an environmentally focused dorm, as has been done at Northwestern University.
* buying water conserving toilets and toilets that don’t automatically flush, which wastes water.
* buying low-flow shower heads and faucets, which would eventually save the university money in the long run as well.
*promoting environmental themes within various curriculum.
* replacing old bulbs, when they burn out, with CFLs.
These are not changes you can make on your own, but most likely there’s some sort of an environmental organization on campus that would love to help make these desires known to the university and to raise awareness. It doesn’t have to require a ton of time, just some initiative.
Think about things that could feasibly be changed around the university and then take the time to write a letter, set up a meeting, organize an event to raise awareness, join a group on campus, and bring these issues to the attention of those who can make changes on the university level. You’ll have to do your research, but there are some great success stories of how universities have been taking the initiative and going green. Some starting points include:
* turning down central heating in campus buildings to 68 degrees in the winter if it is not already at that level.
* starting a bicycling program of providing better public transportation, as the University of Miami has done.
* taking the environment into consideration when building new buildings and dorms, or even creating an environmentally focused dorm, as has been done at Northwestern University.
* buying water conserving toilets and toilets that don’t automatically flush, which wastes water.
* buying low-flow shower heads and faucets, which would eventually save the university money in the long run as well.
*promoting environmental themes within various curriculum.
* replacing old bulbs, when they burn out, with CFLs.
These are not changes you can make on your own, but most likely there’s some sort of an environmental organization on campus that would love to help make these desires known to the university and to raise awareness. It doesn’t have to require a ton of time, just some initiative.
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