We are used to being environmentally friendly at home, but what do you do when you go to college and want to be just as green there? You might worry that it will be hard to keep up the good habits you have at home, but it won’t be as hard as you think. In fact, you can probably do more at college than you can at home, which will help you save the planet and be a confident, independent person. Here are some things you can do at college to help the environment.

Take Electronic Notes

Using a computer instead of paper to take notes is a great idea. It’s good for the environment, and it’s much easier and faster than writing notes on paper. You won’t lose a laptop or mobile device like you might a notepad or scrap of paper, and you can even record your lectures so you can listen to them again whenever you want.

The world is becoming more and more digital. For example, you probably looked up your chosen college’s admissions requirements and filled out your application online. Using digital tools to help you in college and save the planet is a great idea.

Choose A Close Location

Commuting, even if you use public transport, can be bad for the environment. Certainly, driving will cause problems due to the emissions. Unless you have an electric car – which would be an expense most students can do without – you might be concerned about getting to and from college each day without impacting the environment.

If you choose student accommodation that’s close to your campus, you won’t have this worry. Not only will it be easier to get to your lectures (and you can sleep for longer), but it will mean you may not need to take any kind of transport at all if you are within walking distance. This is certainly something to consider if you want to be greener.

Don’t Use Plastic Bottles

Staying hydrated all day is important if you want to be as productive and engaged as possible. The best way to do this is to always have water with you. However, plastic water bottles are bad for the environment because they take hundreds of years to break down, and animals can get stuck in them or eat them and die. If you can, you should stay away from them.

Invest in a water bottle that can be filled up repeatedly so that you can still drink enough water. They cost more than regular drinks in bottles, but you can use them over and over again, and water from the tap is always free, so in the long run, it will be cheaper and better for the environment.

Don’t Buy So Much

We live in a consumer society, and you’ve most likely seen several advertisements reminding you that you need this or that in your life. The fact is that there are very few things you really need, even while attending college. Spend some time making a list of what is absolutely necessary and what would be good to have, and you’ll notice a big difference.

This will help you not purchase as much as you would usually, and the less people buy, the less likely it is that it would wind up in a landfill, harming the environment. If you find yourself in need of anything else while at college, consider borrowing first before buying.

Image Credits: Catherine Sheila