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Environmentally sound
Getting what you want out of energy costs
By Sarah Klemm
While there’s plenty of controversy surrounding the global warming debate, it is generally agreed that cutting energy use and reducing carbon emissions a wise thing to do.
One of the great things about college is that, for the most part, we are all here to get an education. With an education, we can improve the way in which our society functions, and prepare for our role as the leaders of the future. Through experience, I’ve found there are plenty of vital areas our education does not cover, one of these being our influence on the environment.
According to the International Energy Agency, the United States consumed 3,720,342 gigawatt hours of electricity in 2005. That’s even more than the 1,992,505 GWh China consumed the same year, and they are more heavily populated than we are. While the energy we consume filters into many different places and uses, much of it is wasted.
While there’s plenty of controversy surrounding the global warming debate, it is generally agreed that cutting energy use and reducing carbon emissions a wise thing to do. And luckily, being the proverbial “leaders of tomorrow,” we have the means to reduce our carbon footprint in a relatively pain-free manner.
Whether living in the dorms, an apartment or at home, there are plenty of ways in which a college student can make eco-friendly choices. The only problem is that many of us aren’t aware of half the things we can do to help. Just looking back on my own habits last year, I cringe to think of how much electricity I consumed all because I didn’t know it was being wasted. So here are a few simple carbon-reducing strategies to help you avoid making the same mistakes I did:
Use hand dryers instead of paper towels when you wash your hands. You’ll not only cut back on the energy needed to produce paper towels, but you’ll also help prevent the spread of germs.
Keep a paper shopping bag in your room next to your regular garbage can, it will help encourage you to recycle paper and cardboard.
Use cloth bags to bring home your groceries. Not only are they better for the environment, they’re also easier on your back and less likely to spill or rip.
Few people know this unless they work at one, but some coffee shops offer discounts if you bring in your own mug, rather than using a new paper one every time you get a cup to go.
And finally, did you know that electronics plugged into the wall use up electricity even when they are turned off? So if a phone charger is plugged in with either a fully charged phone or no phone at all, it will still drain energy for nothing. By unplugging an item not in use, or getting a power strip and flipping it on and off, you can do a lot of saving.
Even if you don’t care about the environment, these can be good ideas to try out. Turning your power strips off, for example, can also help cut your monthly electric bills, and considering the state of our economy these days, every little bit helps.
Of course, these are only a few energy-saving ideas. The Internet provides plenty more resources. For example, the Web site http://www.carbonrally.com calculates how many tons of carbon you reduce as you participate in ‘challenges.’ So don’t take my word for it, you can see for yourself the impact simple choices can have.
Remember that we are the ones setting an example for future students like ourselves. College is supposed to help us prepare for that. By making positive changes now, we can help establish them in times to come.
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