Tips for a Green College Lifestyle

Green living is starting to become rather popular. Everywhere you turn, there seems to be an ad about energy saving light bulbs, recycling, or green materials. Because it's becoming rather easy to switch over to a green lifestyle, being in college does not mean that you cannot begin a green lifestyle of your own, even without breaking the bank. Here are ten tips to help you on your green living journey.

Switch to CFL light bulbs. Can you believe one simple act, such as changing a light bulb can help save hundreds in electricity bills and energy outputs? So, change a light bulb and help change the world, even if the only bulb you change happens to be your desk lamp, you're still contributing to protecting what little resources our planet has left.

Save recyclable items, and then actually recycle them. It's amazing how much waste a single person puts out. Throw two or more people into a room, or an apartment and the waste output is literally phenomenal. So, instead of throwing every single thing away. Save what you can recycle. Most places recycle common items such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and paper. Don't forget paper can be old class work, newspapers, and magazines. Don't throw that piece of scrap paper away. Use it until you can't use it anymore and toss it into a recycling bin. My suitemates and I save our recyclables and toss them into the appropriate bins on our way to classes. How long does this take? Seconds, as the bins are on our way. Try it; you'll be surprised how much money on trash bags you save; and on runs to the dumpster.

Reuse what you can. Recycling is great, but why recycle every item you use, when some of those items can be reused, at least several times before being tossed in the recycling bin? Plastic water bottles are a great example. Refill it several times, and then recycle it. Don't use a towel once and then wash it. Use it several times before tossing it in the wash. Old clothes can be cut up and made it other clothes, purses, bags, or even cleaning cloths. Get creative with what you have.

Earth.

Credit: United States Government

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