There are plenty of things that universities have been doing, but there are also items that individual students can do to make a green campus thrive and support having an eco-lifestyle. Here are 10 environmentally friendly ideas for dorm rooms, apartments and campus life in general to make your campus a more eco friendly campus.

Universities around the country are doing everything they can to become a green campus. From the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ campaign to using naturally fueled buses, being an eco friendly campus is not only the “in” thing, but the smart thing.

There are plenty of things that universities have been doing, but there are also items that individual students can do to make a green campus thrive and support having an eco-lifestyle. Here are 10 environmentally friendly ideas for dorm rooms, apartments, classrooms and campus life in general to make your campus a more eco-friendly campus.

1.    Recycle everything, especially paper!
The amount of paper a college student goes through per semester is insane; between class notes, scrap copies, term papers, student newspapers, graphs and pictures printed out plus countless other random items add up. We know that these things can’t be avoided, but the way you handle the use of all the paper can really help create a better green campus. Look for recycling bins by garbage bins, dorms, restaurants and classrooms.

2.    Use your printer wisely
Teachers usually don’t mind if they read papers that are printed using both sides of the paper. This is a huge way to save on paper. Also, to save ink, use the low quality settings on items that don’t need to look too nice or that are just text. Lastly, think about what you’re printing out. If you can show someone the website on a screen, do it. You don’t need to print it out.

3.    Limit the use of disposable cups and plates
Whether you’re in a dorm or moving into your first off-campus apartment, the temptation to buy disposable cups and plates is huge. However, this not only is bad for the environment, but it’s bad for your student finances as well. Buy cheaper plastic plates and cups; one package usually has four sets which are generally enough for one set of roommates. Wash these by hand or throw them in the dish washer if you have one (and remember to only run the washer when it is full to save water).

4.    Limit the use of paper napkins
We’re not telling you to eat cleaner, but we’re telling you to not overdo it. Generally, a lot of fast food and take out is eaten by college students, which means a lot of napkins get grabbed on the way out. Limit the amount you grab!

5.    Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
This is a good bit of advice for those college students who are paying their own electric bills. These bulbs might be slightly more expensive than regular ones, but will decrease your energy intake, last longer and ultimately save you money. These are good for dorms as well. Lamp light is a lot more pleasant and environmentally efficient than overhead dorm lighting.

6.    Walk, bike, and limit the use of your car
Most campuses, especially those that are trying to become a more eco friendly campus, have pretty good public transit. On top of that, almost all universities are pedestrian friendly. Walking or biking will not only help make your campus a green university, but will help you avoid the freshman (or sophomore, or junior) walkers. If you must drive, try to find others who need to as well, and carpool to save emissions.

7.    Buy green
Buy recycled goods as much as possible. Paper, cleaning products and water are products that can be purchased as a recycled good. They’re slightly more expensive than the normal products, but it’s worth it to make a green campus.

8.    Use refillable binders instead of notebooks
This is a simple way to save waste. Whenever the semester is done you can take out your notes, staple and save, then use the binder for the next semester. If you really want to take an extra step to make your campus greener, use your laptop to take notes at class.

9.    Carry a water bottle
Not only will this save the environment by decreasing the amount of plastic waste on your campus, but will also help keep you hydrated and your metabolism high. A water bottle can be refilled at any water fountain and can easily be drank in class or while riding a bike.

10.    Buy used clothing
Usually thought of as something to do to save money, it is also good for the environment! Recycling clothes minimizes the use of resources to make clothing and puts a dent in the problem of worldwide sweatshops.

This is the time of year where universities are bombarded with high school juniors and seniors looking into the universities they want to apply to or have already been accepted to. Parents and students alike come prepared with tons of questions to ask campus representatives. One question that previous representatives haven’t had to prepare was the sustainability question: Is your campus a green campus?

This is the time of year where universities are bombarded with high school juniors and seniors looking into the universities they want to apply to or have already been accepted to. Parents and students alike come prepared with tons of questions to ask campus representatives. One question that previous representatives haven’t had to prepare was the sustainability question: Is your campus a green campus?
The leaders of tomorrow have realized they’re inheriting a world that needs a major facelift in the environmental department. In fact, according to a 2006 MTV/CBS poll, most Americans aged 13-24 think environmental degradation will be the biggest challenge their generation will face. A huge chunk of that population is now looking into a collegiate career. Being an eco friendly campus has developed from a mere afterthought to a very important aspect in recruiting students.

The green campuses that are taking hold of this trend have recognized there is a difference between having recycling bins outside classrooms and a full-fledged sustainability campus initiative.

What are some tips that colleges have learned from readings and studies? When looking for an eco friendly campus, take these into consideration…

• Both the visible and non-visible evidence that a campus is a green campus is essential, but not necessarily equal. Studies have shown potential students look for visual proof of an eco friendly campus. However, it is just as important to highlight the invisible green efforts produced by the school like carbon footprint reduction measures.
• Digging below the surface of what is seen at a campus visitation is important – colleges have educated their staff to know all the environmental issues their school has prevented or been a part of, so make sure to ask them!

Here are some questions to ask representatives about how green their campus is. The following questions were put together by the research of the Rocky Mountain Institute, a group who recently published the book “Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives”.

• Has the college signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment?
• Are they completing or have they completed a carbon inventory?
• Have they developed an actionable sustainability plan?
• Does the school have any achievements or recognizable qualities for environmental commitment?

Remember, if the campus reps for the green campus initiatives don’t know the answers to those questions, ask someone else! Making sure your university is a green university will not only help your generation take what they were given and turn it into something better, but make a mark for future generations to enjoy Mother Earth.

Dorms are one area on campus that consumes an incredible amount of energy. Many students do not take the initiative to decrease their energy use. For those students who do care, this allows for the opportunity to make huge improvements in terms of energy use and costs at your school.  Here are some ideas that can help you convert your dorm to an eco-friendly living space.

Dorms are one area on campus that consumes an incredible amount of energy. Many students do not take the initiative to decrease their energy use. For those students who do care, this allows for the opportunity to make huge improvements in terms of energy use and costs at your school.  Here are some ideas that can help you convert your dorm to an eco-friendly living space.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Energy efficient lights may be initially more expensive than traditional light bulbs but they have a much longer life and use less electricity while providing the same amount of light. Since there are so many lights in dorm buildings making the switch to energy efficient lights will make a noticeable difference in energy usage costs as well as decrease maintenance spending due to less frequent replacement. Another small change that can help make your campus more eco-friendly is simply putting a sign by each light in common areas of dorms with a variant phrase of “turn me-off.”

Recycling Bins in the Hallway

Each room as well as hall should have recycling containers clearly labeled for paper products and plastic/glass products. Building-wide recycling for objects like batteries, ink cartridges, and cell phones would also help to decrease waste. Many students still use plastic water bottles due to their convenience—having visible recycling bins will help to increase their recycling habits. Small changes like this will make a large difference in the amount of recycling.

Low Pressure Shower Heads

Making the change to low pressure shower heads may take an initial investment, however they present a large money saving opportunity. At Doane College one dorm made the switch to low pressure shower heads and saved $6,000 a year. It was such a success that the school is taking steps to install them in all of the dorms. These shower heads were tested and rated by students who barely noticed a difference in water pressure. These shower heads save water and decrease costs.

Hall/Dorm Energy Use Tracking System

Another innovative idea from Doane College was to install an energy tracking system in one of their dorms that had a running clock of the amount of energy used by each hall. These numbers were then emailed to the dean on a daily basis. The idea behind this “energy clock” was to decrease student energy use through increased awareness. Other small change that incorporates this same idea is to put energy statistics by elevators or common area TVs. Some examples are:

• • Recycling one soda can provides enough energy to run a television set for three hours
  • For every two floors that you take the stairs you are saving the amount of energy needed to charge your cell phone

These are simple statistics that relate relevant things in a student’s life and may get them thinking about their choices, leading to green decisions.

Limit the Temperature Control Range System

One easy way you can cut down the amount of energy consumed by a dorm building is limiting the range of temperature settings on air control systems. Limit these systems to 68-74 so that students can be comfortable while still staying within reason. During the coldest months in the winter this range could be lowered by 2-4 degrees. This prevents students from cranking the heat to 76 degrees when it is in the teens outside as well as from cooling a room to the mid 60s when it is 90 degrees outside. This will save money for the university over time as well as allow students to be comfortable in their dorms and still maintain some control of the temperature. It is a win-win situation for the school, students, and the environment.

If you are already involved with green initiatives on your campus these may be just a few more changes you can implement on campus. If you are having trouble with funding green projects on your campus a great idea is charging a “green fee” that would be incorporated in each student’s tuition. This could range from $10-25 and be used strictly to fund green projects such as new shower heads or energy efficient lighting. Propose this idea to your SGA board or dean. When added to tuition the amount is negligible but when aggregated across the student body can help make a positive impact on the environment and a large step towards making your school a green campus.

Traveling by bike is one of the healthiest ways to get around a campus. Many universities that pride themselves on being a green campus promote the use of bikes. Not only do they help decrease emissions of cars or buses, but they help with the personal health of the rider. Nokia has come up with another incentive to bike around campus. While biking, charge your phone!

Traveling by bike is one of the healthiest ways to get around a campus. Many universities that pride themselves on being a green campus promote the use of bikes. Not only do they help decrease emissions of cars or buses, but they help with the personal health of the rider. Nokia has come up with another incentive to bike around campus. While biking, charge your phone!

Nokia has turned to the eco-friendly campus market and has created a cell phone charger that powers up from pedaling a bike. The faster you ride, the more juice flows to your phone. The chargers can be attached to any bicycle and only work with Nokia phones that use a 2mm power jack. The charger connects to the middle part of the handlebars of any bike, and takes the energy and green electricity of the front wheel to the charger.

The $18 wonder is not the first of its kind, but it is definitely the cheapest, which makes it the most accessible to college students trying to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. Although the charger is currently being marketed to developing countries with limited access to electricity, the advantages of the phone in bike-friendly countries of Europe and green campuses in the US hold real potential.

“We are targeting the initial rollout in the developing markets, but we do, of course, see the potential outside of these countries,” said Nokia spokesman Leo McKay.

The installation process of the charger is simple:

• Attach one bracket (provided with the kit) to the middle area of the handlebars
• Attach the cell phone holder and charger to the bracket
• Use the other bracket to secure the small electric generator to the bikes fork
• Place your phone in the holder and bike away

Nokia, the world’s leader in cell phone production, said this new product will provide “free and environmentally friendly electricity for mobile phones” and will likely be welcomed in areas of the world where bicycles are a transportation staple. Although the US is not one of those known areas, students in green campuses around the country would benefit from this eco-friendly development.

With the added sense of environmental awareness, The Princeton Review, a program dedicated to helping students succeed by giving them information on tests, college prep and college statistics, has added a list to the countless amounts of information they have on colleges; The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges.

The Princeton Review took surveys of parents, students and college employees and found out in 2009 having an eco friendly campus and living an eco-lifestyle was important to 66% of high school-age college applicants. Students today feel the urge to learn more about environmental issues and to make their college a green campus.  Rachel Gutter, director for the Center for Green Schools at the Green Building Council said students realize the environmental problems they are inheriting and feel empowered to make a change.

The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges covers all the aforementioned aspects as well as countless others in its detailed report. The ranking is on a 60-99 scale; the colleges receiving above 80 being profiled in the report. The rankings were based on the green universities ability to excel in the following factors:

•    Ability to provide students a healthy and sustainable quality of life
•    Ability to prepare students for green jobs and responsible green citizenship
•    How well the school used environmentally responsible policies

Colleges around the country are heeding the call of their eco friendly students and creating aspects of their college to turn it into a green university. Universities have the largest number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings, outnumbering any other industry. Turning into a green campus includes recycling programs, green buildings, natural fuel for green transportation and serving natural foods at campus diners.

The green campuses that flourished the most under the Princeton Review’s guide received a score of 99 and are as follows:

1.    Arizona State University (Tempe, Az)
2.    Bates College (Lewiston, Maine)
3.    The College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, Maine)
4.    Colorado College (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
5.    Dickenson College (Carlisle, Pa)
6.    The Evergreen State College (Olympia, Wash)
7.    Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Ga)
8.    Harvard College (Cambridge, Mass)
9.    Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vt)
10.    Northeastern University (Boston, Mass)

The full 200-page report is available online at the Princeton Review site. Each review has the same categories so as to make the report fair. A sampling of the different data fields are as follows:

•    Percentage of food budget spent on local/organic food
•    Available transportation alternatives
•    New construction must be LEED certified or comparable third-party rating system
•    Waste diversion rate
•    School provides guidance on green jobs
•    Percentage of school grounds maintained organically
•    Percentage of school energy from renewable resources