There are a few effective ways that students can use to become more eco-friendly without having to make major changes in their lifestyles. Doing your best to reduce your carbon footprint will positively affect your budget and help you save a few bucks along the way.
Most students have a lot on their plate. At the end of the day, you need to save money. However, convenience matters a lot. It can be difficult to be eco-friendly as a student. But it is doable. Whether you are committed to positively affecting your environment for decades or you want to explore the benefits of sustainability, this is the ideal time to go green. Here are our top tips on living in an eco-friendly student home.
1.Avoid single-use plastic
Buying a bottle of water now and then can seem convenient. However, it adds up quickly. You don’t need a fancy bottle. Anything that can be refilled will get the job done. Form the habit of filling up your water bottle when you stop in your apartment or dorm. And always keep the bottle in your backpack. If you have to buy a plastic water bottle, always remember to toss it in the recycle bin.
2.Control your heating
If you can control the heating in your room or flat, you need to ensure that you are smart about your consumption. You don’t have to heat your room if you’ll be out all day or for a couple of hours. And the same applies to air conditioning. Whenever possible, use extra blankets in bed when you are at home.
3.Use less water
According to assignment help, most students enjoy taking super long showers and leave their taps running. This can negatively affect your finances especially if the water bills are usually included in your rent. Extra-long showers are enjoyable. However, they are not good for the environment. And neither is leaving the tap running after brushing your teeth. Whenever you can, avoid high water consumption.
4.Get thrifty
Thrift shopping is not just about saving money. It’s good for the environment too. Research studies have shown that close to 60 percent of clothing is thrown away during the year of purchase. Visit the thrift shops around your college near closing time. You’ll increase your chances of finding high quality and durable clothes and shoes at a low price.
5.Go for veggies
As assignment writing services reports, meatless Mondays are one of the best ways to save money, boost your nutrition, and do your part to save the environment. Taking a single day off from eating meat might not seem like much. But over time, it will make a huge difference. Skipping meat once a day adds up to 520 days in a decade. This is enough to lift the huge burden off mother earth. There are lots of meatless recipes that you can try out to achieve this goal.
6.Invest in high-quality school supplies
Your choice of school supplies shows what matters to you. Spending your money on products that are durable and made from recycled materials will make your environment sustainable. Go for eco-friendly study materials instead of those that are standard and non-recyclable. Also, remember to take notes on a computer whenever you can to cut down on paper consumption.
7.Unplug electronics
When you come home to your apartment, plugging in your laptop and phone is as natural as taking off your jacket or shoes. You need to form the habit of plugging your equipment only when it’s necessary. You don’t need to charge your electronics all the time thanks to the modern batteries that many devices have today. Most importantly, don’t leave chargers and appliances plugged into the wall after use. Appliances and energy consume energy on standby.
8.Avoid food wastage
If you are new to cooking, it can be hard to figure out how much you should prepare. You need to avoid food wasting by cooking the right amounts and storing leftovers for you to consume the following day instead of throwing them away. You also need to prepare food in large amounts and store them in your refrigerator to save time and energy in the long run.
Bonus Tip: Wash your clothes in cold water
According to Energy Star, up to 90 percent of the energy used by a washing machine goes to heating water. Therefore, switch off the heating and use your machine with cold water. You will not only reduce emissions but also keep your clothes in great condition for a long since hot water reduces the quality of the fabric and make your clothes less colorful. Unless you want to do away with stubborn stains, you don’t have to run your machine on the hot water setting. If the cold setting doesn’t do a good job, go for the warm setting.
Conclusion
You can positively impact the environment as a college student. What you do today will not only shape your behaviors in the future but those of your friends too. By using these simple tips, you will form eco-friendly habits that will save future generations.
Author Bio:
Arthur Evans is a highly skilled freelance writer and proofreader from the UK. Being interested in everyday development, he writes various blog posts and discovers new aspects of human existence every day. Feel free to contact him via Twitter.
