BY NATHAN JOHNS
The month of April is Earth month, a whole 30 days celebrating keeping our wonderful world clean and green. This is a great opportunity to pick up some green habits in your daily life. We all know it can seem hard to go green with a hectic college lifestyle, but here are some little things you can do to make a difference and make our campus a better place.
Recycle at the Union
The Memorial Union has recycling bins that you can use to recycle paper, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. You can use these to recycle leftover containers from lunch, or get rid of old worksheets without filling up a landfill. If you want to be extra green, save recyclables from your dorm room and bring them here at the end of the week.
Use a Reusable Mug from Starbucks
Believe it or not, Starbucks will gladly make your drink of choice in your own mug. Just bring your mug, and ask them to make you drink in it. It’s that simple. If you’re unsure of the size, just ask the barista. Starbucks even sells reusable mugs that look like the real deal, and might even get you a discount. It’s a win for you and the world!
Refill and Reuse a Water Bottle
Water fountains all over campus have water bottle refilling stations where you can bring your water bottle and quickly refill it. This is a much better alternative to using using disposable bottles, as it saves money and the earth.
Turn down the Temperature in Your Room
Turning the temperature down in the winter and up in the summer is a great way to do your part in saving energy. Setting your thermostat to somewhere around 68 degrees and bundling up while you’re in your room can save a lot. When you leave, you can turn it back even further, or just turn it off, as you don’t need to heat or cool your room while you’re not there.
Ditch the Car and Catch a Ride to Class
If you live off campus, you likely drive to class every day. To save on fuel and emissions, trying riding a bike to class if you own one. If you don’t own a bike, you could also carpool, ride a skateboard or even walk to class if you don’t live too far away. Another plus to this tip is that you’ll save money on gas too!
Turn in your Assignments Online
Some professors will allow you to use blackboard or email them assignments instead of handing in printed copies. Ask your professor and explain that you’re going green for green month. They might even join you and do more assignments online. Save the trees and go digital when you have the option!