Recently, I’ve become way more environmentally conscious. I’ve realized how important it is to conserve and protect our natural world and instead of ignoring the matter, I’ve decided to take action. I thought this was a pretty inconvenient time for me to decide I wanted to make a change, but after doing some research and making some small changes, I’ve realized how easy it can be to help our Earth, even as a super busy college student. I used to run from my green-conscious self because I never thought there was anything I could do to help that would actually make a substantial difference. I assume many people feel the same way, in that they think that going green means changing who you are or your whole lifestyle. But in reality, there are so many minimal things you can do, which are easy, small tasks, but nonetheless make a world of difference when more people accept this fact and choose to participate. Here are just a few lifestyle changes you can make that make going green as a college student an easy endeavor:

1. Use a S’well bottle

Seriously people, these things are MAGIC. I used to always grab a Poland springs water bottle quickly on my way to class and then throw it out (not even in the recycling bin--I know, I used to be terrible) right after. Once I noticed how quickly I would go through a large pack of bottles, I realized the insane amount I was wasting. I started using a reusable water bottle and recently purchased a S’well bottle. When I first heard these bottles keep liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 I didn’t believe it, but it’s completely legit. I put ice and water in mine one day, and the next day (about 18 hours later) opened it up to find the ice cubes still there and the water still totally cold. I was amazed. The best part is that you’ll be giving back even more by purchasing one of these bottles because S’well is a partner of many charitable organizations. For example, they donate a large amount to Unicef to help provide children in over 100 countries around the world with clean water. Also, the bottles come in so many awesome colors and designs, it’s always a cute accessory to carry with you. They might be pricey for a college student but think about all the money you’ll save in the long run by not having to constantly buy packs of water! Plus, there are always cheaper alternatives. Just having a reusable water bottle (BPA free of course) is enough. As stated on the S’well website, “In the US alone, an estimated 50 billion plastic bottles are dumped in landfill sites each year, and over 200 billion globally.” That’s terrifying and straight-up unnecessary when it’s so easy to prevent this from happening. Make the effort to buy and use a reusable water bottle and you’ll be one less person contributing to that ugly statistic.

2. Support more brands like this

S’well’s mission to rid the world of plastic and their dedication to helping other aspects of the world by being involved with many different charities is awesome. Buying their products make you feel better because you’re not the only person benefitting from it, so you should definitely consider purchasing from other brands like this! If you’re going to give companies your support, you should look for products that are responsible in their production and also, if possible, products that aren’t tested on animals because not supporting animal testing can end it for good. An example of a good brand to buy to help make a difference is Method. Method is all about safe ingredients, safe packaging, safe manufacturing, and just overall being 100% mindful of the environment. They recently released a new soap, which comes in a bottle made from a blend of recovered ocean plastic and post-consumer recycled plastic. If you aren’t sure how exactly to decipher if you agree with the brand you’re purchasing, check out this site to familiarize yourself with environmentally responsible brand seals. There are a lot more green-friendly options than you think!

3. Buy two trash cans!!!

Too many of us don’t do the easiest thing we can to help the environment, which is RECYCLE!!! DoSomething.org shared that, “The EPA estimates that 75% of the American waste stream is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it.” But why? Laziness should not be more important than our Earth. Recently I realized my roommates and I were using our two trashcans for a mix of trash and recycling and I asked myself why we would ever not recycle when it is so easy and available for us to do so. Now we have labeled both bins so that we can actively recycle, and I can confirm that it’s a super easy habit to get in.

4. Use Quizlet

Quizlet is just one of the many ways you can stop wasting so much paper!! Go electronic with your studies. Although some teachers don’t allow it yet, it’s no doubt that school has become way more technologically oriented. Try to get in the habit of taking notes on your computer instead of going through tons of notebooks. It’s also easier to share/save your notes this way. And instead of making hundreds of flashcards to study and then throwing them out the second after your test, use a site like Quizlet and save paper (and also money).

5. Turn off the faucet

Do you ever think about the amount of water you waste by keeping the sink running while brushing your teeth? According to an article from The Huffington Post, running the tap while brushing your teeth can waste up to 4 gallons of water. That’s 4 gallons of water gone, that could have been saved simply just by taking the two seconds to turn the faucet handle. In addition, according to Living Green and Saving Energy, “Using an average number of 2.5 gallons per minute from the typical shower head, reducing your shower length by 4 minutes per day would save (assuming you shower every day) 3,650 gallons per year.” If you learn to be more conscious of your water use, this easy change will save you tons of water, money, and time.

6. Flip the switch

Although for some reason it’s easier said than done for some, always remember to turn the lights off when you leave the room! You may think you’ll come back into the room in a minute, but distractions can come up causing you to forget about the light for hours. The easy solution is to just turn it off. If you make it routine, it will make a huge difference in your energy consumption just by simply flipping a switch. Additionally, you can also switch out your bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFLs) or LED bulbs. They can last up to five times longer and are a lot brighter than regular light bulbs so you won’t need to turn on as many lights, thus saving more energy. Not only will you save electricity when you turn off lights, and save money overall, but it will be a constant reminder for you to be an energy saver in other ways.

I think the biggest problem is that people care, but not enough to do something about it. But making a difference doesn’t have to be life-altering! It can be as easy as making the conscious decision to find a recycling bin for your plastic water bottle or quickly hitting the light switch on your way out. It really isn’t as hard as you think to go green, and you’ll be doing your home a huge favor. I hope that this article can be the reason someone else like me decides to make the easy, yet necessary change!!