Every year thousands of college freshmen move away from home and get introduced to the wonderful world that is dorm living. It wasn’t too long ago that I entered that world for the first time. I had just finished driving with my mother in a car for 3 hours, circling the campus to find a decent parking spot and then lugging tons of boxes up two flights of stairs. All I wanted to do was to get my stuff out of the car and into my dorm room so I could pass out from exhaustion and stress. But when I walked into my small, prison-like dorm room with its concrete walls and shabby desk and dresser, all that I could think about was how in the world I was going to make this my new home. And where was I going to put all my stuff?

Care About Conserving

The answer to both of these questions, which I didn’t find out until after my first year, came in the form of a single word: conserve.

To conserve is to use something carefully and sparingly to avoid it being wasted. If I had known about the importance of conservation when I first entered dorm life then I would have had a more eco-friendly living space and less clutter to deal with.

You can apply the word ‘conserve’ to all aspects of your dorm life, from knowing where to throw away late-night junk food packages to remembering to unplug your stereo before you go to sleep. If you just apply some basic steps to your daily routine then you can have an eco-friendly dorm room that you actually look forward to going to after your classes.

Below are a few ways that I’ve discovered to ‘green’ a dorm room and to make it feel like an eco-friendly home away from home. It’s all about conserving what you have and avoiding all the extra things you don’t need!

Be a user

You were always taught not to use other people for selfish motives. But nothing was ever said about not using the things of other people. What I mean is that when you get to college you don’t need to go on an all-day shopping spree to get brand new items for your room. That’s just more junk for you to throw away later. Being in a college town there are bound to be thrift stores near you. Thrift and resale stores are great treasure troves for money-tight college students, and sites such as eBay and Craigslist also offer countless items for you to decorate your room. Why pay full price for something when you can get it slightly used for less?

Cool it down

Most dorm buildings do not have air conditioning systems in them because many were built before AC even existed! You might be lucky enough to have an AC unit in your window, or you might befall the fate I had and get stuck with only the slight breeze from an open window to cool you down. If you do have AC you should never keep it on all the time. Turn it on long enough to cool down your room and then shut it off when you sleep. For those students without AC, opt for an energy-saving fan or open windows. You can also spend more time outside studying and enjoying the fresh air.

Appliance reliance

Even though you may think that you won’t be able to survive without a microwave or refrigerator, it can be done. These two appliances use a lot of extra energy, especially the fridge, which is left on all of the time. Use your dorm’s community fridge and other appliances to save energy. But if you must have a fridge, choose a compact one that is low-energy certified.

Plastic over paper

It’s always a good idea to keep some form of plastic kitchenware in your room. Get a few bowls, plates, cups and utensils that you can rewash after they’re used. That way you won’t accumulate trash with paper products, and you’ll save money by not having to buy dishes as often.

Strip down to the basics

I know that in college I couldn’t live without my computer, stereo, television and other random electronic devices. I had to bring at least two power strips so everything had its own plug. What I didn’t know is that power strips still use energy even when the items plugged into them are off. One thing you can do to conserve energy is to unplug your power strip whenever it’s not being used. You can think of it as an added fire safety precaution as well!

The right light way

You’ll most likely bring a desk or standing lamp to help illuminate your new room. Many of the lamps use halogen light bulbs, and these generate hundreds of watts of electricity. The best type of light bulb to get is a compact fluorescent bulb, which is just as bright and lasts extra long.

Choose organic cotton

As you snuggle into your bed after a long and time-consuming week of classes, don’t you want your sheets to be soft and pesticide-free? And doesn’t the same go for your towels and any other linens you may be using? If so, then you should always choose items made of organic cotton because they are easy to wash, are very comfortable and they are free of any harmful chemicals.

Remember that the path to a greener dorm room and a happier semester lies in the way you conserve energy, your extra space and the campus environment. You’ll learn, just like I did, that less is more, and that every little step you make towards conservation is a huge step for the preservation of the environment.