Sometimes, on a college campus, it can be tricky to be environmentally conscious; however, with these seven tips, you can easily make an impact, even if it’s just a small one!
1. Carry a reusable water bottle
I know those Life Water bottles in Slayter are pretty, but buying new water bottles every day is not so environmentally conscious. Instead, carry around a reusable water bottle. There are so many different types to choose from that you will definitely find one you like! You can even personalize it to make it your own with stickers. Not only are reusable water bottles better for the environment, they’re also trendy staple as well.
2. Compost
Composting is relatively easy at Denison when you eat in Huffman or Curtis on a regular basis. They have compost bins available in both dining halls, and signs that show what you can and cannot put into them. However, I’ve noticed that some students don’t make an effort to compost and throw things in the garbage, or throw everything into the compost despite the fact that it cannot be composted. Since that ruins the compost, it defeats the whole purpose of composting, which is to cut down on waste and emissions from landfills. Basically, we as Denison students, should start to compost correctly so that we can actually make a difference this way. Learn more about what can and cannot be composted here!
3. Shorter showers
This one is pretty self explanatory, but it’s an important one that even I ignore sometimes in favor of that long, hot shower. However, it’s easy to cut down your shower time, and shorter showers allow for more time for the important stuff, like studying, or watching Netflix and procrastinating that essay. My method is simple—wet your hair and your body, and then turn off the shower. Lather in your shampoo and conditioner, put on your face wash, shave if that’s something you do, and then use your favorite scented body wash. Then, turn the shower back on and rinse everything off. It’s an easy one to do, and a good place to start if you’re not sure how to be sustainable!
4. Eat a vegetarian meal
While I know asking people to not eat meat is not the most popular request, eating less meat (not no meat) is actually really beneficial for the environment. Eating meat causes some real environmental problems, such as deforestation and methane emissions, among others. By eating less meat, our society won’t need as much livestock, which will cut down on these problems. Vegetarian food is also really good, so that’s a plus.
5. Use LED light bulbs
When your desk lamp light bulb finally goes out after those long hours of studying during finals week, consider buying an LED bulb instead! While yes, LED bulbs are more expensive than your typical light bulb, they are much more energy efficient and they last far longer than the competition! So while you’re paying more upfront, you’re saving pocket change and the environment at the same time!
6. Buy eco-friendly makeup products
Makeup and beauty products can actually be really bad for you and the environment, so buying eco-friendly products is an easy way to feel both beautiful and conscious! One way to make sure you’re buying good products is to read the labels. My personal favorite brand is e.l.f. because they’re cheap and they don’t test on animals!
7. Use a diva cup
Diva cups are far more environmentally friendly than disposable tampons and pads, and anyone who menstruates knows how much those cost, and the sheer amount you go through, throughout the years. Personally, I haven’t tried the diva cup yet, but I’m hoping too soon because of this article! Disposing of so many pads and tampons isn’t good for the environment, so using a diva cup is one great way to be environmentally conscious while going through the unfortunate situation that is menstruation.
Sometimes I forget to do some of these things too. We’re all human, and sometimes we throw away a cardboard box in the garbage instead of the recycling bin because we’re lazy. It’s important to know that we can change our habits so that we can make a difference, so as Dr. Seuss once said, “unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”