Earth Day is always a refreshing time to remind ourselves of our love and gratitude for this planet. The best way we can celebrate is to evaluate ways in which we can change our way of living to reduce our impact on this Earth. As college students, it can be hard to think of ways to reduce our carbon footprint because we are broke and just trying to survive as it is. Here are a few ways I’ve found to allow myself to reduce my carbon footprint while maintaining a lifestyle compatible with school.
Heating/Cooling: AC and heating are huge contributors to energy usage. I do my best to utilize the cool nights and warm days. Meaning I will keep my windows open with no air overnight until about 9 am where it starts heating up. I’ll keep my windows closed and use a fan to circulate the cooler air within the apartment. This not only reduces your carbon footprint, it will also reduce your utility bill!
Lights: Even from childhood, I was always raised to turn a light off before leaving the room. I feel although it’s such a simple task it can really make a difference, especially when you’re out of the house for long periods of time (i.e., at class). Again, this not only reduces your carbon footprint but can save you a few dollars on your electricity bill.
Laundry: If you’re like me, then you go through at least 3 outfits a day. Making sure to maximize laundry loads can really cut down on water and electricity usage.
Thrift: Staying away from fast fashion is also a great way to cut down on your carbon footprint. It is really easy to get sucked into the newest fashion trends that will eventually just get phased out with the next trend. Thrifting is a money saver and an Earth saver!
Minimize plastics: Sometimes, it’s really hard to stay away from prepackaged food, especially as a college student. However, being really mindful of packaging or ordering with plastic utensils can cut down on waste.
Take public transit/walk more: I live in an off-campus apartment down the street from my university. It is very tempting to drive to school, especially when the walk is about 15 minutes. However, opting to walk that distance or to take the school bus can greatly cut down on emissions.