This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Kenyon chapter.
Happy Earth Day! Last year, I collected 30 easy ways for college students to take care of our home. This year, I decided to expand: there are countless ways to be kind to our planet, but here are 75 more. I hope these suggestions help guide you toward more sustainable living!
1. Avoid buying things that come in aerosol cans.
2. Buy organic or all-natural cleaning products.
3. Better yet, learn how to make your own.
4. Use rags with cleaner instead of wipes.
5. Really, choose cloth over plastic whenever you can.
6. Don’t use cosmetics that contain microbeads (they’ve been outlawed in several states).
7. Try using all-natural and sustainable beauty products.
8. If you can’t commit to using exclusively sustainable and all-natural beauty products, avoid toxic ingredients.
9. Try eco-friendly feminine hygiene products such as period panties, menstrual cups, and chlorine-free tampons.
10. Invest in a travel mug. You know it’s better for the environment, and most coffee shops will put your to-go beverage in your travel mug (some will even give you a discount).
11. Replace your desk lamp’s bulb with an LED or CFL bulb.
12. Turn off the lights in the bathroom when you leave. However, do not do this if there is someone on the toilet or in the shower. They generally do not appreciate this.
13. Unplug things that you’re not using. Twinkly lights, coffee makers, mini fridges (when you’re on break or nothing is in it)––unplugging idle devices saves energy.
14. RECYCLE. This may seem obvious, but lots of people forget to recycle and throw paper in the trash––every sheet makes a difference!
15. On a similar note, make sure you know what’s recyclable. Many beauty products have tiny recycling symbols on the back, and it’s always worth it to check!
16. Likewise, not everything needs to be recycled. Some places like Goodwill and the Kidney Foundation. You can also bring to the doctor’s office for the waiting room.
17. Cut down on dryer usage. For every 3 loads of wash, try to put only one or two in the dryer. This uses less power, and clothes air-dry pretty quickly!
18. Instead of leaving the heat on when you go to sleep, put a view extra blankets on your bed.
19. Likewise, open the window at night instead of cranking the air conditioning.
20. Reuse plastic bags. If the cashier at the grocery store bags with plastic, keep them in your car or dorm to put garbage in.
21. Even better, use reusable grocery bags and canvas totes when you’re shopping.
22. Wrap creatively. Instead of buying wrapping paper or tissue paper and a gift bag, wrap a gift with the cartoons section of the newspaper.
23. Turn the water off when you’re brushing your teeth or washing your face.
24. Take a shorter, cooler shower. This is better for the environment and your skin.
25. Wash whatever you can in cold water.
26. Use rechargeable batteries for remotes, flashlights, speakers, etc.
27. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
28. If you’re driving, schedule errands back-to-back to save gas.
29. When you travel, look into doing so in an eco-friendly manner.
30. Carpool whenever you can.
31. Better yet, ride your bike.
32. Walking also works.
33. Take advantage of leftovers. Eat them the next day, or use them in omelettes and quiches.
34. If meat is a part of your diet, make an effort to eat a little less of it.
35. Buy bigger jugs of milk and other beverages to save plastic.
36. Compost if you can.
37. Stop wasting napkins. If you take too many napkins at the dining hall, keep them in your bag to use as tissues or in your room in case of spills rather than throwing them out.
38. On a similar note, don’t use more paper towels, tissues, or toilet paper than you need. You know how much you need, and it isn’t half of the roll or box.
39. Invest in reusable eating utensils rather than buying boxes of plastic ones for your dorm.
40. Repurpose, donate, or give away old clothes and books instead of throwing them out.
41. Avoid fast fashion like the plague.
42. Consider purchasing some of your clothing and other items, such as bikes and books, secondhand.
43. If you won’t need something for long, consider borrowing instead of buying.
44. Buy a filtration pitcher (like this Britta one that I use) and a reusable water bottle instead of buying water in plastic bottles.
45. Use a piece of uncooked spaghetti to stir your coffee instead of a plastic straw.
46. By recyclable K-Cups or send Nespresso pods back to the manufacturer.
47. If you can’t find those, replace the K-Cups for your Keurig with one of these. They’re significantly better for the environment and they’re more cost-efficient.
48. Cut back on coffee. Read about the environmental impact of our coffee addictions here.
49. Don’t buy a new one until you’re totally finished with the old one. This applies to everything.
50. Use both sides of the piece of paper that you’re writing on, and don’t start writing on a new one until it’s filled up.
51. Likewise, print double-sided. Bonus points if you use a slightly smaller font and spacing than normal (note: you probably shouldn’t shrink the writing if you’re giving this to a professor).
52. Find a way to safely recycle, donate, or resell your old electronics.
53. Be smart about your desk supplies by using a staple-less stapler and keeping track of your pens so you don’t have to buy new ones constantly.
54. Buy a plant. If you already have a plant, buy another plant.
55. File your taxes electronically to save paper.
56. Pick up any trash you see.
57. Recycle the beer cans you see lying around.
58. Cut down your screen time to save power.
59. Make an effort to shop local.
60. If you’re shopping locally for food, buy organic.
61. Take an environmental science class to educate yourself about the earth.
62. Once you’ve done that, educate others.
63. Make sure the windows are closed when you’re trying to stay warm.
64. Buy energy efficient appliances.
65. Fix things that are broken rather than replacing them.
66. Find out your college or community’s rules on planting trees, and make an effort to plant them.
67. Look into the different ways you can protect endangered wildlife.
68.Sharing is caring. If you can share it with your roommates or housemates, do it––less is more.
69. Switch to digital newspaper and magazines to save paper.
70. If you can convince yourself, do the same with books.
71. Work towards the tree-free home.
72. Make an effort to eliminate junk mail.
73. Use duffle and tote bags when you’re moving instead of buying cardboard boxes.
74. Make sure your apartment or dorm is insulated and that nothing is leaking––if there’s an issue, fix it or find someone who can.
75. No matter what you do, remain aware of your carbon footprint.
Let me know if you use any of these ideas. Above all, I wish you a happy Earth Day!
XOXO,
Crazy Plant Lady