Going Green Ideas for College Students

Going green means being able to contribute to environmental awareness and making small changes that make a positive impact on Mother Earth. There are several things that the college student can do to promote a green or eco-friendly lifestyle.

One aspect of living and contributing to a green lifestyle is reducing one's carbon footprint. This means adding less waste on earth, leaving things as untouched as possible and utilizing more items that have been or can be reused. One goal of most eco-friendly students is to recycle. Recycling can be utilized in many ways and lays the groundwork for implementing green ideas into everyday life.

Clothing - A great way to go green in college is to recycle clothing. All of those expensive slightly worn Hollister and Abercrombie Jeans can be traded in for cold hard cash. Choose a consignment store that pays cash on the spot for gently used designer clothing. For t-shirts and accessories that don't sell-sell at an online auction site. Just be sure to used recycled shipping materials when sending the items. Giving the clothes and items away by donating to a charity is another eco-friendly idea as opposed to throwing the items away.

Buying used clothes is also a great way to go green and help those items from being compacted and placed in the landfill. Jeans, sweaters, undergarments, coats, shoes and even hair accessories can all be purchased inexpensively at thrift stores, college garage sales, clothing swaps and consignment shops.

Food - When it comes to food, many struggling college students find it hard to stretch their dollars. There are ways to really save on food that will prevent it from getting thrown away. Visiting bakeries and specialty eateries in the early morning hours or late at night may be a surprising way to get a meal and some free gourmet food. This doesn't necessarily mean dumpster diving, but a lot of trendy bakeries and even fruit markets throw out day old produce, donuts and bread that is perfectly fine to eat-to make room for new items. It may take a little savvy research but it is a great way to get good eats for free.

Keep on the lookout for store specials and closeout deals. This could be on non-perishable items and canned goods that have an extended shelf life such as soups and canned vegetables. Search on sites like the Student Health Services website at Minnesota State University for simple recipes to make on the cheap!

Don't forget to make a small investment in a trendy eco-friendly aluminum water bottle. The SIGG water bottles are fashionable and they help mother earth by eliminating plastic bottles inside the landfills.

Transportation - For college students who must drive back and forth to work, home or school, driving can't be avoided. Try carpooling and finding others who also commute. This will save gas money and also promote fewer emissions over time.

Biking and walking are still some of the most eco-friendly means of transportation on the planet. Bikes can be found plentiful at resale shops, garage sales and online through local swaps.

Books - Books are a big expense for most college students. There are cheaper alternatives. Rather than buying, ask if the college book store rents out college text books. There may be a deposit but the student will likely be reimbursed for most if not all of the cost of the book.

Renting books online at sites like chegg.com is also a very economical route. The cost is significantly lower than renting through the school and the books are accepted back as long as they are in good condition. Both are good eco-friendly choices that promote reusing paper products and bindings.

Dorm Room Decorating - Decorating a dorm room on a green budget can be fun. Skip the pricey department store shelves and use refurbished items. Beds, desks, small appliances and furniture can all be found at second hand stores. A low VOC spray paint can be used to match up decorating accents such as bed frames, side tables and picture frames. Take some black and white pictures of family and pets from home and place into the frames for instant wall art. Buy comforters, dressers, linens and even desk lamps at garage sales to cut costs.

Awareness and Volunteering - One of the most important things a green college student can do is create awareness of going green. This means join a green living group or establish one for students to attend on campus. Volunteering regularly to help clean up the campus and promote recycling is a small step to leading a greener lifestyle.