Going Green in College

Colleges are providing students with exciting academic and social experiences. Students at times become entrapped with the thrill and forget about the smaller things in life. At a large college such as Ohio State University, the number of commuters is high. Assuming 10,000 students or 25% of the college's undergraduate population drives each day, this means 145,000,000 pounds of CO2 in the air each year. While students often spend their time confined studying at the library or out with friends, their emissions footprint still remains high. Students wanting to help the environment can do so by following some of the ideas below.

Shut Off the Computer

Leaving a computer on 24/7 increases carbon emissions significantly. When the computer is in standby, it's still consuming electricity. A computer running four hours, and turned off completely the remainder of the day, will reduce carbon emissions by 83%.

Use a Nalgene Water Bottle

Information from MSNBC estimates 40 million bottles each day go into the trash or become litter. Companies such as Nalgene now make water bottles students can reuse for a long period of time. The bottle is easy for traveling with, and effortless to clean.

Buy E-Books

Downloading textbooks eliminates using the resources to make a hardcopy. Using an electronic textbook eliminates all waste associated with having a hardcopy. On the downside however, people often report sore eyes after reading. In turn, taking breaks can often prevent such issues.

Use Mass Transit

The larger colleges offer mass transit systems taking students to Wal-Mart and other important locations. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average driver emits 14,500 pounds of CO2 each year. Using mass transit helps in lowering CO2 emissions dramatically. A student still not willing to use the mass transit can still help the environment by allowing other students to carpool with him.

Recycle Bottles and Newspapers

Many colleges are going green by having recycle bins in the dorms. Reserve a small place in the dorm room for newspapers. At the end of the week, walk down the hall to the recycle bins and recycle the newspaper.

Turn Off the Lights

While it might sound simple, students often forget to turn off the lights when they are not in the room. Turning off the lights in the dorm room will lower unnecessary energy consumption.

Consume Less

Consuming fewer items means lowering waste and inputs. Borrowing items from other students is a great way to practice conservation, without lowering one's standard of living. A student needing a camera to take pictures of a concert can borrow a camera from a friend, instead of buying one.

Conclusion

Students can go green without impacting their studies and social lives. The steps are simple, and with a little effort, going green can be done. Some tips such as not having a car and borrowing items, can result in a student having a greener wallet. In the end, both the student and the environment benefit.

Sources:

"Average Annual Emissions and Fuel Consumption for Passanger Cars and Light Trucks." EPA
Miguel Llanos "Plastic Bottles Pile Up as Mountains of Waste." MSNBC
"51 Things We Can Do to Save the Environment." TIME Magazine