Living Green at University - Comments

Cutting back on meat is also a great way to minimise your carbon footprint and your living expenses because buying meat regularly is quite expensive. Especially if you have access to a fully functional kitchen, there's no excuse for not learning how to cook a handful of easy recipes and eating greener. A lot of college students end up surviving on canned beans, ramen noodles and take out, but basic cooking is very easy and preparing meals together is a great way to make friends.

This is such a smart article. I agree with everything you said.

I do have some added tips though. Some college students create their own websites to be used exclusively for those attending their university, and the sites act as a medium for them to sell textbooks, offer rides for car pooling, post ads for selling furniture, etc to other students cheaper than the bookstore sells and more than what the bookstore would buy the books back for. It's a win-win situation. Those involved in each exchange would meet up at a public place like the school library, and there would be no waiting or shipping charges. The website at my school is starting to expand for other colleges in the area, but it originated where I go to school.

Also, when you're a freshman, there should be plenty of opportunities during orientation and the first weekend/weeks of school for you to get free stuff. I got a free water bottle at a local store during my orientation, and my freshman weekend I got another one plus sun glasses, a drawstring bag, and a small key chain flashlight. All for no money. I recommend using these water bottles and buying a Brita filter that can be filled in the floor's sink and stored in the mini-fridge.