Being green may not be on the minds of most students, especially those who are just starting out at their chosen university or college. However, being green is easier today than it ever has been before and by putting in a little bit of time and effort at the beginning of the year, you can help to save you and your dorm a tonne of money on bills, expenses and overall costs of living.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 unique ways you can transform your dorm into a green space, helping you in day to day life while consciously helping to lower your carbon footprint to contribute to saving the planet.
- Shop Locally
This is an easy aspect to complete. This may be the first time you’ve lived away from your parents. With this in mind, you won’t want to ship or transport all of your belongings, potentially across the entire country. When kitting out your dorm room, shop locally from local suppliers. Not only will this be a lot more affordable for you, or your parents, you also helping to contribute to local communities as well as reducing your carbon footprint.
- Buy Second-hand
It may be tempted to go out and splurge on a load of new belongings, especially since you’ve just received your first student loan payment. “There’s no harm in wanting to go out and get new things for the new chapter of your life, but why go and spend a fortune on brand new items? If you’re looking to go green while saving money, look on websites such as eBay, Gumtree or Craigslist”, – says Joann Gage, an Academic advisor at State of writing.
- Avoid Paper
The majority of students these days will have smartphones, tablets or laptops. Use them, and you won’t have to splash on spending more on stationery such as paper or notebooks. Also, very green!
- Reuse Plastic Bags
When you’re shopping for yourself or your dorm, reuse the plastic bags you get in your first shop. You may need extras or have to replace a couple down the line, but it’s simply a waste to keep chucking out the old ones and getting new ones.
- Reuse Water Bottles
According to statistics, there are 2 million water bottles sitting in US landfill sites. Why throw them away if they’re perfectly usable? Invest in a BPA-free water bottle and reuse it till your heart’s content! Glass or stainless steel is a better option!
- Look for Free Things!
Everybody likes a bargain, and it’s even better if it’s free! Whether you’re looking on Craigslist or Freecycle, there are always a tonne of free things you can have that can help you to create your own personal space or to fulfill a certain function, without having to spend a cent!
- Assess Your Fridge
One of the most eco-destructive and energy sapping appliances in any dorm room is the fridge. These are renowned for releasing harmful gasses into the air, especially if you opt for a cheap model. Best thing to do? William Turner, a Tutor at Essayroo shares his advice: “Get everybody together to put money into an eco-friendly fridge that can be used by anyone! Don’t forget to put your names on things!”
- Changing the Lightbulbs
When you first move into your dorm, change the current light bulbs with energy saving bulbs. Not only is this better for the environment, but it will also save you a ton of money on your electricity bills!
- Utilize Camping Techniques
When you go camping, whether it’s for a day or a week, you can fit everything you need into one handy rucksack, and everything goes swimmingly. Use the same techniques when you’re packing for college or university! This helps you save money but cutting down on unnecessary items while saving you money in the long term.
- Actively Seek a Green Dorm
More and more colleges and universities are offering green dorms as part of their campus regulations, specifically designed for students like you! “By seeking out a green dorm as part of your enrollment process, you’re already completing what you set out to do! It’s also a great way to meet like-minded people”, – comments Kathleen Spence, a College advisor at Ukwritings.
- Monitor Your Electricity
This is a really simple technique to adopt. When you leave a room, turn off the lights. When you’re done with your computer, turn it off. Practice this with every appliance in your dorm, and you’ll become instantly greener as well as saving money!
- Cut the Driving
If you drove up to your college or university, it can be tempting to keep your car and use it all the time, especially if pressured by dorm mates for lifts. Instead, try walking to wherever you need to go. Maybe start running as a great way to get fit? If you’re going a long distance, look into public transport costs. Again, this will help you go green as well as saving you money.
As you can see, it’s easy to go green by making a few subtle changes in your lifestyle here and there. With many of the considerations, not only will you be helping to save the planet, but you’ll also be also be saving money, helping you to spend more on things you love doing or new experiences in your new home town.
Author Bio: “Gloria Kopp is a digital marketer and a PR consultant from Manville. Now she works as a content manager at Boomessays service. Besides, she is a regular contributor to such websites as Engadget, Huffingtonpost, Academized, etc. Read her Studydemic posts.”
SkipTheBag
With school starting soon, this is a very timely post, I am going to share this with lots of friends and college students in my family.
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for sharing my post. It is very important that when kids go to college that they keep living green to stay healthy and get a good education. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Marla,
I always enjoy reading your tips . So many good ideas for being greener. I like the idea to change the light bulbs- simple but energy saving.
HI Judee,
I am so glad that you find my tips helpful and they help you live greener. It is simple things we do that can add up to major changes in our carbon footprint. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!