Every year thousands of incoming college freshmen begin a new phase of life and moving into campus housing for the first time! More and more colleges are making efforts to build eco-friendly dorms, whether it’s through energy-efficient appliances, recyclable cleaning supplies, or composting. Still, the choices student make still have the largest impact when it comes to day-to-day habits. Here are some easy ways to save nature’s resources and cut down on the electric bill – even if you’re not the one paying for it!
- Energy Star appliances. Fans use much less energy than central or window-AC units, but if you do need to get an AC unit, make sure you get an Energy Star model. Same with refrigerators and laptops, which are more efficient than desktop computers.
- Get a solar charger for your iPod, phone and laptop. How cool will you look? Solar chargers are a great way to keep your portable electronics running when you’re on the go and you need no electricity at all!
- Keep it local. Many college students want an “away from home” experience. Just don’t make it a “shipping tons of stuff all over the country” experience. If it’s your first year at school, try to obtain your furnishings locally when you get to school. If you’re a returning student, think about local storage – many schools offer storage options.
- Use the used. Check out great used sources of stuff, like local resale shops, Ebay Local, and Craigslist. You’ll be guaranteed to have a really unique room décor, and you’ll have money left over to throw wild parties (Um, we mean library study snacks).
- Cook it right. You may scoff at the microwave/toaster oven combo, but by combining these two cooking appliances with a cheap rice cooker, you’ve got nearly the perfect eco-kitchen. All three of these appliances boast high energy efficiencies relative to their big-kitchen counterparts.
- Paper, please. Sure, it’s not the most sexy of materials, but there are plenty of paper options for dorm décor that can be recycled when you out-grow them in a few years. Check out paper wall tiles from MioCulture, paper window treatments from Redi Shade, or make your own paper lampshades.
- Re-used doesn’t have to mean re-pulsive. Just because you got used stuff, doesn’t mean it has to be old and moldy. This is college. You’re supposed to be wild and experimental. So go crazy. Why not try sewing some cushion covers, or pillows for that old couch. Or invite some of your new friends over for a painting party on that old dresser and table. Unleash your inner crafter with great magazines like Make, or Readymade, or sites like Craft, or Inventibles.
- Bring in the green. Besides improving the air quality — and the overall smell — of a room, plants create a calming environment that’s perfect for hardworking students. The perfect dorm plants are tough enough to tolerate low light and water levels (just in case), and won’t grow too big for an already cramped room. These include mint, lavender, aloe, African violets, and cactii!
Photo and tips courtesy of Low Impact Living, Treehugger, and The Daily Green