Learning how to live an eco lifestyle is an enlightening process that may take months to get the hang of. Learning how to be money-savvy while taking part of green living might take even longer than that. Part of an eco lifestyle is eating healthy, using green transportation when possible, participating in green efforts, and saving energy in any and every way possible.

Learning how to live an eco lifestyle is an enlightening process that may take months to get the hang of. Learning how to be money-savvy while taking part of green living might take even longer than that. Part of an eco lifestyle is eating healthy, using green transportation when possible, participating in green efforts, and saving energy in any and every way possible.

When many areas of the US have had record hot summers, it is hard to remember to be energy-savvy. Keeping the A/C down can some very cranky customers, but here are some ways in which to save energy while living an eco lifestyle and NOT want to pull your hair out.

1. Turn off the lights – your parents were not simply trying to get on your nerves when they told you this growing up. Turning off lights as you leave a room really helps conserve energy. Not only does this help extend the life of the light bulbs, but will decrease the typical 11% of a home’s energy bill that lighting consumes.
2. Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs – These light bulbs, more commonly known as CFLs use about 75% less energy than regular bulbs and have a longer lifespan.
3. Use Motion Sensors – Outdoor lamps and other lighting is a huge energy sucker when left on all night. Installing motion sensors will not only decrease the amount of energy used by these outdoor safety lights, but also may boost security and decrease the effect on wildlife that leaving lights on through the night might do.
4. Turn off your computer – A computer has become a needed appliance in today’s world, but is also one of the biggest energy suckers in your home. Before going to bed, turn off your computer and do not turn it on in the morning until you’re actually using it. This green living tip saves energy and money; according to the Department of Energy you’ll save an average of $90/year.
5. Laptop > Desktop – Laptops only us 15-25 watts of energy during regular use. Desktops use 150 watts on average. Laptops are more convenient in every way!

Dickinson College, a distinguished leader in global education and sustainability is offering students the opportunity to explore complex issues and increase their awareness on issues related to sustainability in a global setting. The program, Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East: Challenges in the Southern Arava, will be led by Dickinson experts and faculty from their abroad partner institutions including the University of Bremen in Germany, University of Yaoundé in Cameroon, and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Israel.

Dickinson College, a distinguished leader in global education and sustainability is offering students the opportunity to explore complex issues and increase their awareness on issues related to sustainability in a global setting. The program, Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East: Challenges in the Southern Arava, will be led by Dickinson experts and faculty from their abroad partner institutions including the University of Bremen in Germany, University of Yaoundé in Cameroon, and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Israel.

This four week, summer program is a combination of classroom lectures, field-based research and academic excursions which bring students face to face with social, economic and environmental issues facing the Middle East today.

The program will take place in the Negev desert, creating the perfect backdrop for understanding energy depletion and responsible water consumption. Topics of focus will include:

• Desert Ecology and Biodiversity
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Desert Geology and Geomorphology
• Archaeology of the Southern Negev
• Water Issues and Management
• Sustainable Development in Arid Environments
• Eco-Building and Organic Gardening
• Environmental Ethics and Justice
• Peace Building and Environmental Leadership

Our world today needs individuals with a passion for sustainability and a global knowledge of the workings of multiple economies and environmental issues. Dickinson College’s, Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East: Challenges in the Southern Arava Program, offers students the opportunity to understand the complexities of sustainability in the region.

For more information about the Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East program, click here.

Summer means school and campus life is on break, but that doesn’t mean your eco lifestyle efforts need to go on break as well. Staying active outside and using green living initiatives can help keep your environmental efforts alive and can show friends and family at home your passion for green living.

Summer means school and campus life is on break, but that doesn’t mean your eco lifestyle efforts need to go on break as well. Staying active outside and using green living initiatives can help keep your environmental efforts alive and can show friends and family at home your passion for green living.

Living an eco lifestyle does not simply mean recycling, but covers being outside and helping the environment as much as possible. During the summer months, finding a job that allows you to do that can be difficult. That’s why we put together a list of 5 summer jobs that keep you living an eco lifestyle while staying outside!

1.    Camp Counselor

• Not only does this job get you outside, but you also get the chance to travel and interact with children. There are hundreds of camps all over the country looking for counselors with a passion for the activities these camps provide. A camps focus can range from bible study to BMX camps; whatever you have a passion for, there is a camp that will allow you to show and teach your passion to others while enjoying the outdoors.

• Pay: This all depends on the camp you coach at. Pay is typically $175-400 a week, in addition (most of the time) to free room and board.

2.    Photographer

• Turn a hobby of yours into a money making summer job participating in something you love! There are countless websites that pay for photos as well as art galleries, tourist groups and individuals who will pay for quality photos. You can come up with your own site and sell your photos online, or use an organized website like www.istockphotos.com.

• Pay: You can charge whatever you want for your personal photos, but most website databases will pay you 20% of each sale.

3.    Landscape Architect/Gardener

• This can be as businesslike or casual as you want to make it. By putting up signs in your community you can offer services as simple as mowing the lawn and weeding flower beds, to creating and making walkways and fountains. Make sure you’ve had experience with architecture before doing the harder jobs.

• Pay: Depending on the type of service rendered, you can make anywhere between $10-100 an hour from this organic living job.

4.    Lifeguard

• This position needs prior training, but once you are Red Cross certified, you can turn a love of swimming into a summer job anywhere! The costs of a class ranges from $100-400 but the pay is usually much more than minimal wage so you make up that money in no time!

• Pay: Usually ranges around $9-15.

5.    Bike Courier

• Turn the biking skills you acquired on campus into an outdoor summer job. This kind of job is particularly popular in cities, specifically NYC and LA, but can be found in other areas too. Lots of pizza and sub places that deliver might like the idea of a more eco friendly way of delivering their product. You can also offer your services to apartment buildings for delivering groceries.

• Pay: Depends on the store. Many couriers work on tips.