1.
Turn off the lights when you leave the room. This may seem simple, but it saves a lot of energy. Another way to save some power is to plug all of your appliances into a power strip so you can easily turn them all off at once.
2.
Turn off your computer completely at night, instead of just closing the lid and allowing it to “hibernate”. This too saves a lot of energy.
3.
Recycle. Those bins you see around campus aren’t just for decoration. Capital provides bins to recycle plastic, aluminum, and paper and there are recycling dumpsters available for each residence hall or area. And make sure you are not throwing away your old cell phones, batteries, ink cartridges, or light bulbs. Those can be recycled separately. Some places, like Office Max, even offer programs for exchanging an old ink cartridge for money. Win-win!
4.
Walk, don’t drive. Capital is a small campus, which comes as an advantage to those of us who are not early birds. Leave your car in its prime parking spot and walk to class.
5.
Get involved on campus. Want to make a change to the current environmental atmosphere at Capital? There are several organizations with environmental goals available to join, such as the Environmental Service Organization and Student Government. In addition, there are events around campus that the Capital community is encouraged to get involved in, such as the Pi Phi Epsilon Green Week in the spring.
6.
Get thrifty. Looking for new way to spice up your wardrobe? Instead of spending all the money you’re saving for Spring Break, save a few dollars and still get that cute top at the local thrift store. Conveniently, there is a thrift store located just five minutes from Capital on Alum Creek Drive. Then you can save those few extra dollars for your cruise or treating yourself to a delicious smoothie at the Cru Brew.
7.
Buy local foods. Transportation of foods from where it grows to your plate takes more power and energy than you might expect. Buying locally grown foods helps support businesses close to us and cuts down on costs. During the growing season, the Bexley farmer’s market takes place in the Commons parking lot every Thursday. It’s a great convenient place to buy local.
8.
Wash laundry in cold water, not hot. Certain laundry detergents are made to wash clothes in cold water. Washing your clothes in cold water helps save energy in heating water and still keeps your clothes fresh and bright.
9.
Educate yourself. One of the most important steps in becoming environmentally friendly is to find out all that you can about the steps you can take to better serve the environment. The more you know, the more you can do.
10.
Educate others. Another important part of helping to change is educating others about the information you learn. Spread the word to affect change.
