Sustainable Living!
If someone asked you to tell them what sustainability meant, would you be able to? I had the opportunity to do an in-depth study on sustainability last summer while studying abroad! Sustainable living means living within the resources of the planet without damaging the environment now or in the future. The University of North Texas is extremely involved in the growing “going green” movement. Part of UNT’s mission, found on the ‘About’ tab on the UNT homepage, is to “build on it legacy of conservation and environmentalism, where we teach green, research green, and are green in everything we do.” We offer more than 50 courses with a sustainable focus, the campus has a strong recycling program and we are assembling new infrastructure and buildings to meet the highest green building standards! In this way, “UNT creates an enriched and sustainable future for our students, state, nation and world.”
Are you a part of the Green movement? Below are ten ways college students can live more lightly on the earth, while saving money. Info found at www.worldwatch.org
1. Save money to save energy.
- If you live in off-campus housing, set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
- Unplug appliances when you're not using them will help you reduce electric overages.
- Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine wash clothes goes to heating the water.
2. Save water to save money.
- Take shorter showers to reduce water use in your apartment. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).
a. Walk, bike, or ride the bus to school. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
4. Eat smart.
- If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
- Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.
- Skip the bottled water.
- Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work. A couple years ago, UNT adopted the BYOB (Bring your own bottle) mission. All new UNT students are given a “green” water bottle during orientation.
- Think before you buy.
- Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
- Borrow instead of buying.
- Borrow from Willis Library or check out a movie from Chilton Hall instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
- Buy smart.
- Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
- Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
- Keep electronics out of the trash.
- Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
- Make your own cleaning supplies.
- The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
Global climate change concerns are becoming a major social issue, let’s be more aware of how our daily choices affect the environment! Also, don’t forget to visit www.sustainable.unt.edu to find out how to be a part of the UNT green movement!
