Back-to-School Eco Dorm School Supplies

This year "back- to- school" has a different connotation when it comes to college dorms. We are in a new "renaissance" with the "eco -dorms." Schools around the world have been taking a green approach to campus life with saving energy through renewable energy, recycled building materials and composting facilities. College life is changing and changing for the good! This year back-to-school can teach your college student back to basics by purchasing eco-friendly supplies.

Environmentally friendly Shopping List for Back-to-School

Power Strips - One lesson to your student is to add power strips to your back-to-school supply list. You will teach your college student about how power strips will stop idle current which will not only save you money, but conserves energy. In addition, it does provide limited protection for your computer and appliances. You can pick up power strips in places like Home Depot, Lowes, Office Max, and even the grocery store.

Vegetable Based and Concentrated Cleaners - There are eco friendly green products like Seven Generation or Green Works. Green Works I have found to be the cheapest and just as effective as Seventh Generation. In fact, the best deal is at a BJ's, Sam's, or Costco. Otherwise, you can find them in your grocery store. The back to school lesson to your student is that concentrated solutions use less packaging and require less energy to transport, than detergents. When you use plant based ingredients you avoid spending your dollars on fossil fuels.

Linens and Towels made of Bamboo, Hemp, or Organic Cotton - You can find these products at stores like Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Macy's, Gaiam.com, or Pottery Barn. The back to school lesson to your student is by purchasing organic products, you are supporting a cleaner environment; unlike cotton which uses 25% of the world's insecticides every year.

A bike - Now, it may be hard to encourage your student to use a bike rather than their gas guzzling car; however, the back to school lesson they will learn here for the environment is of course obvious - less energy. And of course, by saving gas will give them extra spending money.

Desk Lamp with fluorescent Bulbs - Especially when it comes to teenagers, leaving light bulbs on seems to be their national past time. Even if most dorms have overhead lighting, you can purchase a desk lamp that has fluorescent lighting. The back to school lesson here for them is to tell them that they can save about 70% of energy with compact fluorescent blubs and put more spending money in their pocket.

Low Flow Shower Heads - The back to school lesson for your college student is they will save the environment about 40% of water per use.

For some back to school ideas for your college student regarding decorating their dorm in an Eco way, check out the Gaiam Life Website by clicking "here."

Tell your back to school college student that going green is really all about changing a life style. Although, challenging at first, once you start it, you won't want to stop once you understand the impact of your individual contribution can make. Best of all, show them by example - be an eco-conscientious parent.

Source: Sierra Club