Because what you do now effects the future, going green in college can influence how you live the rest of your life. Everything from recycling, to using a laptop, to breaking out a caulk gun can literally save tons of carbon emissions. To do it right, check out the below 52 ways to lower your carbon footprint in college.

Automotive Ways To Lower Your Carbon Footprint In College

Go beyond Hybrid driving to find out how to get the most out of your car and the least environmental impact.

1. RideShare : Check out this national site to find a car pool in your area. If you can’t find one, start one of your own. There are also pools for errands, airport, and even cross-country travel to lower carbon emissions even more.
2. Carpool World : Similar to the above, this site provides a free, worldwide carpool ride matching system. Search by company, community, or school. There are nearly 100,000 users and a commuting mode analysis for miles saved and carbon footprint.
3. Know Your Grade : Love both your car and the Earth by putting the correct grade of gasoline in your car. An incorrect grade can lead to higher emissions and poorer mileage. This article from Edmunds tells you more.
4. Change It Up : Maintain low carbon levels by keeping your car running better and longer. One of the best ways to do so is to change the oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. If you don’t feel like paying a dealership a load of money to do it, this guide from Castrol shows you how to do it yourself.
5. EcoDrive : Get tons of tips for how to adjusting your gas foot to reduce your carbon footprint. They include how to start, stop, and what speed to maintain. Videos are also included.


6. Inflate to Reduce Carbon : Just like sneakers protect feet, tires are what the car runs on. Poor inflation can lead to all sorts of problems like shorter tire life, poor mileage, and damage to the suspension. Keeping your tires inflated at the right PSI at all times is an easy and expensive way to maintain the life of your tires, car, and gas tank.
7. Cap It! : We never think about it until something goes wrong, but a gas cap is an essential part of keeping your car running properly. A missing, or even loose, gas cap can cost you hundreds of dollars in lost gas and pounds of lost carbon. If unsure if yours is working properly, have a mechanic look at it, and replace it right away if it doesn’t.
8. Driving Quiz : Now that you know more about automotive ways to lower your carbon footprint, take this quiz. Multiple choice questions are asked, and a virtual drive is offered to those who pass all three levels. You can even post your scores on the leader board.
9. Go Without : If you’re truly serious about lowering your carbon footprint, getting rid of your car altogether is worth a look. This book by Chris Balish shows you how to do just that. He tells you the true cost of ownership, economical and environmental alternatives, and over 100 real world tips for getting around.

Temperature Ways To Lower Your Carbon Footprint In College

Your dorm room or home can get cold or hot depending on what time of year it is, but staying on top of it can save loads of carbon emissions and a few bucks on top.

10. Thermostat Settings : It all begins and ends with the little lever that controls the temperature. MGE has a lot of interesting facts on how a slight adjustment can mean a much smaller footprint. There is also a fact and fiction section where many myths are explained.
11. Program It : According to Energy Star, properly using a programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways to save energy, money, and help fight global warming. The thermostat is programmed to turn off when you are away and come back on when you return. The average savings for a family in heating/cooling alone is $2,200 a year.
12. Install Yourself : Would you love to get a programmable thermostat, but can’t afford to pay someone to install it? Then check out this guide from This Old House. A short video and eleven step guide will show you how to do it yourself.
13. Close the Door : Whether your dorm room or bedroom door, closing can reduce the energy it takes to heat or cool the home or dorm. If you do have an entryway door, be sure it is functioning properly to keep the desired temperature both in and out. Planet Green even has tips for storm doors.
14. Use A Rug : This is especially useful if you have tile, wood, or other hard surfaces on your floor. It can help heat from escaping and keep your feet warm. The rugs on this site are 100% wool and designed to reduce carbon footprints.
15. Get Caulking : According to DuPont, sealing air leaks helps to enhance the performance of your insulation and may help to cut up to 20% of your energy bill. They even have a guide to show you how to do it. If you live in a dorm or apartment, you can ask the supervisor to check and fix any caulk that needs it. Doing it yourself is also easy and expensive with this simple guide from DuPont.
16. Use A Comforter : It’s no secret that it gets colder at night, and we are all tempted to reach for the heating switch. Reach less by using a comforter at night to keep the cold out and body heat in. This site has vegan comforters made from certified organic cotton and loads of similar products.
17. Bust Dust : If you notice an inordinate amount of dust in your home, it may be due to improper air filters. An easy fix, you can request the building super to change them or find them at any home improvement store. Energy Star has more an even a guide on when to get your air ducts cleaned.

Tech Ways To Lower Your Carbon Footprint In College

Because college students have more technology than ever to choose from, do it right by keeping carbon emissions low with these tips.

18. High Speed For Low Footprint : If you have high speed internet, you are already doing something to lower carbon emissions. According to this article, extensive use of broadband technology could reduce carbon emissions by 27 million tons by 2015. Other interesting facts are included as well.
19. Use A Laptop : Students who have a laptop can save up to 90% more energy than those using a desktop unit. When possible, use this instead. Computing.net also has an interesting guide for using your laptop as a television to lower carbon emissions even more.
20. Save Power and the Planet : With a few simple tweaks to your computer’s settings, you can lower your carbon footprint. This free guide from Brighthub shows you how to configure sleep, power, and more. Both Windows and Mac are included.
21. Don’t Forget The Laptop : Friedbeef Tech shows you 15 easy ways to extend the life of your laptop battery. They include defrag, dim, RAM, and more. They even offer two bonus tips.
22. Browse Right : According to Lifehacker, which browser you choose can effect the life of your laptop’s battery by up to 44 minutes. The best browser was IE8, while the worst was Safari 4. Other useful tips are included.
23. Recycle Right : When getting rid of that old piece of technology, don’t just trash it. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has more information on how to keep toxins from technology out of the environment. There is also a recycling guide with more.
24. Purchase Wise : When buying a new piece of technology, keep its carbon footprint in mind. The Electronics Takeback Coalition has a free “How to Buy Better Computers” available as a PDF. There are also guidelines and much more on the site.
25. Refill : Don’t throw away or even recycle those used printer cartridges. Instead, go to a store that can refill your cartridges, like Cartridge World. It costs less and has a lower carbon footprint than any other method of purchasing printer ink.
26. Green Your Host : According to Stanford University, energy consumed by data centers doubled from 2000 to 2005. With demand expected to continue growing, getting a green host for everything from your blog to your website can help lower carbon footprints. Over 20 hosts are shown, along with their pro’s.
27. Linux For Lower Carbon Footprint : According to this report from CNN, switching from a Windows to Linux can slash computer-generated e-waste levels by 50%. The study concluded that Windows users had to change their computer sooner, generating the waste. Linux was the choice for a hardware refresh period of six to eight years.

Meal Ways To Lower Your Carbon Footprint In College

College meals may begin and end at the dorm cafeteria, but you can still find other ways to lower your carbon footprint at meal times below.

28. Read The Label : When buying groceries, be sure you know how to read the labels to ensure a low carbon footprint. This guide from the FDA shows you how. It includes information on serving size, calories, nutrients, and more.
29. Be Sure Its Organic : Just because it says “organic” on the label, doesn’t mean it truly is. Look for the USDA Organic Seal for products that have been approved by it. The National Organic Program site has more on certification and organics.
30. Go Local : Know where and how your food is grown by visiting a local farmer or merchant. Local Harvest has an interactive site to find what is closest to you. They include farmers’ markets, family farms, and even a catalog.
31. Switch to Fair Trade : These coffee growers use sustainable, green methods to grow lower emission coffee. Grounds for Change has a comprehensive wholesale coffee program for independent coffeehouses, as well as a Coffee Fundraiser for organizations. You can even join their Coffee of the Month Club.
32. Preserve It : Don’t let that produce go bad and add to your carbon footprint. Visit Planet Green for tips on how to preserve a variety of foods naturally. They include tomatoes, walnuts, peppers, and more.
33. Try Vegan : Cutting out meat and dairy can also cut out carbon. Visit this award winning blog to get tons of recipes for everything from breakfast to midnight snacks. A recent entry showed how to make a quick pasta alfredo.
34. Skip The Dairy : Because cows, farms, and more can also add to carbon emissions, try a dairy free diet. This site has many tips including substitutes, dining out, and grocery shopping. There is even a Dairy Free Challenge for those who have doubts.
35. Grow It Yourself : A dorm room may not seem like much, but a window and a few feet of space is all that is required. That is, according to a student in Baltimore. Using his dorm room, a few crates, and some lights, he was able to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and beans.

Common Sense Ways To Lower Your Carbon Footprint In College

We’ve all heard them before, but the below can actually help you in reducing your carbon college footprint, often without leaving your room.

36. Plant A Tree : An obvious choice, it can be a great way to reduce carbon and leave a mark on the environment. The Arbor Day Foundation has tons of tools and guides to help you. You can also get ten free trees with a membership or visit their tree store.
37. Use Green Energy : Because most college students aren’t able to afford solar panels, they can choose a company that provides green energy. This site has a table that summarizes utility green pricing programs by state. Simply choose your state for a list of green power markets.
38. Baby Steps : The Green Living Blog gives short, useful tips on cutting the carbon footprint one tiny step at a time. It includes tips for those living in a home or renting. There are also human interest pieces on the subject.
39. Fix Leaky Faucets : Because one tiny drip can waste hundreds of gallons of water, get it fixed. EcoGeek shows you how. In this short video, you can learn how to repair an outdoor faucet in minutes.
40. Turn Japanese : A good idea because the citizens of Japan have a substantially lower carbon footprint than those of the rest of the modernized world. In this blog, a family of three from New York shows you the Japanese way for reducing your impact. A recent entry was entitled One Cup, One Life.
41. Reuse Bags : For grocery shopping and more, those little plastic or paper bags can add up. Visit Planet Green to get loads of tips on how to use them, maintain appearance, and more. They even show you how to make 13 different bags of your own.
42. Carbon Offsets : Learn how to reduce the carbon footprints of others with the help of this site. It is maintained by the Stockholm Environment Institute and provides analysis of the most influential offset programs and activities. Three sections are divided into policy, consumer, and aviation information.

Fun Ways To Lower Your Carbon Footprint In College

Reducing your carbon footprint doesn’t have to be a chore. Use the below to make it fun and even avoid the more boring parts of life.

43. The Fun Theory : Part of Volkswagen, the site is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for themselves or the environment. Stop by to take a look at such fun projects as the Connect Four Beer Crate, Used Paper Snow Globe, and many more. You can also get more information on winning the Fun Theory Award.
44. Smart Energy Analyzer : Know how to save energy by knowing how much you are wasting. Get a free and easy energy calculator from PG&E here. At the conclusion, they will give you specific ways to save energy and lower your carbon footprint.
45. Get Rid of Junk Mail : Because getting it is never fun, lower your carbon footprint by opting out of it. This guide from Ecofuture has many useful tips and guides. There is also help with getting rid of spam and telemarketers.
46. Go Secondhand : Buying used items can not only be fun, it can save you tons of money while reducing carbon emissions. Useful for everything from technology to clothes. A must visit site for secondhand shopping is Craigslist.
47. Freecycle : Why pay for something when you can borrow it for free? The site is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. Join the over 6 million members to loan, give, and receive items.
48. Bike More : Not just useful for getting around campus, biking can save gas while improving your health. Visit this site to get more information on many popular bicycle routes, maps, and trails.
49. Never Buy Cleaning Supplies : Not because you don’t plan on cleaning, but because Planet Green shows you how to make your own. They are all natural, toxin free, and need no transportation. Eight recipes include laundry soap, tub scrub, all purpose cleaner, and more.
50. Hack Your Lamp : EcoGeek reveals a new desk lamp that is powered by a simple phone jack. Because there is a small amount of power running through phone lines, they can power simple devices. And this lamp sells for only six dollars.
51. Fly Nonstop : Because most of a plane’s fuel is used during take off and touch down, non stop flights are the best for lowering your carbon footprint. Whenever shopping a site like Expedia or others, make sure the nonstop only box is checked.
52. Carbon Footprint Calculator : Provided by “The Guardian,” this calculator has many interesting features. It compares impact from home, travel, food, and more. The results are then compared to the US, UK, and China average, along with the target.

With the help of these 52 ways to lower your carbon footprint in college, you can get to zero impact in no time. You may even be carbon beneficial. An added bonus is all the cash you can save on gas, first hand items, energy, and more.

Source from http://surgicaltechnicianschools.org/?page_id=75

Tags: Carbon Footprint, Eco Driving, Green Energy, Organic, recycling, Reuse, Thermostat