It can be hard to make big decisions about your household when you live in campus housing. Whether you are trying to decorate, live sustainably, or even just rearrange furniture, it can be hard when the stuff and the room aren't technically yours. And while more and more universities are making their buildings "green friendly," you may feel like there is more for you to do. Lucky for you, there is! Here are a few ways you can help to save the world, right from your dorm room!
Use a power strip for all your electronics.
We use so many electronics in our dorm rooms, from mini fridges to computers, coffee makers and fans. All of our gadgets use up a good amount of electricity if we aren't careful. By plugging them all into a power strip that you can turn off when you leave, you can save a lot of energy.
Go paperless!
For some classwork, this may be impossible, but you can still try! Take notes on your computer, bookmark articles instead of printing them out, ask professors if you can email papers to them instead of handing in hard copies. If you can't get around using paper, try using scrap paper.
Use reusable shopping bags.
If you are on a meal plan, you typically won't be doing that much grocery shopping. However, I totally understand the need to have a few snacks laying around. Take your reusable shopping bags with you. They are bigger and sturdier than plastic bags, so you can carry more things and they won't rip, which is beneficial if you are walking or taking the bus. And when you do grocery shopping, be mindful of buying things with minimal packaging.
Buy a reusable water bottle.
Do not buy bottled water! You most likely have drinking fountains at every turn on your campus, where you can fill up a water bottle for free. By doing so, you cut down on your plastic consumption and save so much money!
RECYCLE!
Residence Halls are doing a lot better with this, making sure most rooms have a recycling bin, or at least a place to take your recycling in the building. Take this opportunity and be sure to recycle every thing you can. It can be so easy to just toss things in the trash, but it isn't that much harder to hold on to it until you find a recycling bin.
Get a rug for your room.
Rugs keep your room warmer in the winter, meaning you won't have to crank up the thermostat as much. Get a nice comfy sweater and some thick socks, and you'll be as snug as a bug on your new rug. An easy way to maintain your room temp!
Take shorter showers.
If you live in a dorm setting where you share bathrooms, you may want to get in and out as fast as possible anyways. Taking shorter showers can reduce the amount of the water you use greatly. Ideally, you should try and keep it under five minutes. Consider turning off the water between rinses.
Bike, walk, or use public transportation.
Many students don't have their car on campus anyways, but for those that do, consider taking the bus places instead of driving. College towns tend to be more bike friendly, so biking around campus could be a fairly easy alternative!
VOTE!
Regardless of how you feel about politics, voting cannot be an option! Vote for your local government, as well as high officials. The people you elect make the rules on sustainability and it is important that you make your voice heard!
Take fewer napkins.
There is little you can do to cut down on excess waste in dining courts, but by taking less napkins, you do your part. Consider using only one napkin and one plate. It is less to throw away or ultimately wash. Only take what you can eat, so that you are not contributing to the waste.
It may feel like there isn't much you can do when you live in campus housing, but there is actually so much you can do to help save the earth! It may seem little but anything at all is a step in the right direction. And remember, if anyone ever tells you the little things your doing won't make a difference, remind them that it is mindsets like that which keep us from getting anything done. Now, go forth and save the world!
