From Guest Author Christopher Flores: 6 Ways That Colleges Can be More Eco-Friendly
Individuals, corporations, businesses and even colleges can all play a part in creating a more eco-friendly environment. With hundreds of different ways to reduce energy and waste, a college campus is a great place to put into place some new and environmentally-conscious measures. Here are six of the top ways that a college can be more eco-friendly.
1. Encourage Environmentally Friendly Transportation
In most college campuses, both students and teachers arrive by car regularly. While it might seem impossible to eliminate the use of gas-guzzling vehicles on a college campus, it is still possible to implement measures that encourage other forms of transport. Offer special parking privileges to those who carpool with three or more students in each vehicle. Or you might encourage students to take the bus or even walk to school if they live within walking distance.
2. Reduce Paper Consumption
Educational institutions are one of the biggest users of paper on the planet. Although it is not easy to get in the habit of using less paper, there are plenty of ways that you can encourage it. Post signs on all printers asking that users use both sides of the paper for their printing needs. Suggest to college employees that they email rather than fax documents if it is possible. Rather than printing out agendas or minutes for every single meeting, send an email to each attendee beforehand for them to look over.
3. Find New Uses for Waste
Not all waste from a college campus needs to go straight to the dump. Implement a system where food waste is separated from plastics and paper and use it for fertilizer in the college landscapes and flower beds. If there is more than can be used by the school itself, donate or sell the extra to local farmers.
4. Encourage Recycling Throughout Campus
Studies show that placing recycling bins throughout campuses encourages students and teachers alike to recycle their waste rather than throwing it all away. In offices and student study areas, have boxes where paper can be placed for recycling. In recreation areas and cafeterias, place recycling bins for plastic, glass bottles and aluminum cans.
5. Encourage Computer Use Whenever Possible
Suggest that incoming students have a laptop. This will allow them to use their computers to take notes in class rather than wasting paper. In addition, professors can send the class syllabus to each student by email rather than printing out hundreds or even thousands of copies each semester. Staff might benefit from tablet computers rather than piles of notebooks for teaching and research. Encourage professors to accept electronic copies of assignments and papers rather than requesting each student to print out their copy for grading.
6. Choose Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Although these light bulbs are marginally more expensive than traditional ones, they are brighter, use less energy to run and even last longer. Phase out traditional bulbs and rely exclusively on fluorescent ones to save money and reduce the energy consumed by the college campus as a whole.
By following each of these recommendations, a college campus can be significantly more eco-friendly. Although it takes time to make these changes habitual, even the smallest steps can really make a difference for your environment and our planet.
Christopher Flores fuels his passion for green living as a content contributor, writing about eco-friendly lifestyles. He is currently taking online classes from an urban planning school, in order to learn more about how he can help the environment on a larger scale.
