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For an Environmentally-Friendly Dorm Room

Here are 8 easy things you can do each day to help the environment and reduce your energy consumption.

• Turn off your lights when you leave your room!
  Roughly a quarter of the total electricity generated in the U.S.–$37 billion worth–is used for lighting. That's more electricity than the continents of South America and Africa, combined, use for all purposes.
  
  
• BYOB! That is: Bring your own (canvas) bag to go shopping, instead of using the paper or plastic store ones.
  More than 40% of waste in U.S. landfills is comprised of paper products. And, although about 5% of plastic is recycled, grocery or shopping bags usually end up in the garbage.
  
  
• Shut your windows and door when the heat or air-conditioner is on.
  Did you know that the amount of heat lost through a quarter-inch crack along a 3-foot door costs more than 20 gallons of fuel oil to reproduce? Not only is this a waste of money, but it adds to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
  
  
• Use both sides of paper before you recycle it by printing notes, outlines, or drafts on the backside.
  Many colleges and universities now have campus-wide recycling which has helped to save trees and produce biofuels from old paper fibers that can be used to generate cleaner energy. However, we are still too quick to toss sheets with only a few lines on them.
  
  
• Turn off your computer when you're in class and at the end of the day!
  It's a myth that leaving your monitor constantly running is better for it than turning your computer on and off. By leaving the machine on around the clock, you waste electricity, suck in dust and make yourself more vulnerable to power surges.
  
  
• Donate old items to a local homeless shelter or through your Hillel as an act of recycling.
  "RRR" (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) isn't limited to just packaging; it also includes what's in it! By donating old clothes, toys, books, etc. instead of just throwing them away, you are cutting down on waste as well as doing a good deed.
  
  
• Skip a car or bus trip and walk, bike, or skate to class.
  Transportation, specifically in automobiles, is responsible for about a third of American greenhouse gas emissions. What's worse, while the trend is to buy large SUVs or 8-passenger vans, we spend the majority of our time driving alone.
  
  
• Bring a portable mug to the dining hall, coffee shops, etc. to use instead of disposable paper or Styrofoam. (You may even get a discount!)
  Think about the average number of disposable plates, cups, and cutlery you go through in a week at school. Just by carrying around a travel mug (which can feature your school, a favorite sports team, etc.) you can probably reduce it by half!

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