We all know the benefits of being greener. Global warming, sustainability and being environmentally friendly are not just fads — they’re here to stay. As Earth Day on April 22 quickly approaches, we can all make a difference. Although old habits die hard, it is inevitably up to us to change the way we live now for a brighter future.
Students can make greener choices on campus everyday; there’s a green alternative to almost everything. Turning off the lights is a great place to start. When rooms without anyone in them are brightly lit by lamps and televisions that are left on, energy is being wasted. The last person to leave the room should turn them all off. Energy efficient light bulbs are also a great green alternative. Another tip is to either adjust your thermostat closer to what the temperature is outside. By doing so, you will greatly conserve energy, while also saving money.
“A lot of students don’t realize what their utility bills means,” said Mara Eisenstein, director of marketing and special programs at the Illinois Green Business Association. By turning down your thermostat by just one degree in the winter, you can save on your utility bill. “Saving money and saving energy goes hand in hand.”
Recycling is a major way to help preserve the earth’s resources and make sure that we can reuse our already-produced materials. The blue bins that read “Feed The Thing” on the side are new to Champaign since Dec. 2010, as part of the city’s recycling program. The bins were provided by the city to every onsite residential building with five or more units. By having these new, non-sort recycling bins, it is easier than ever for students in Champaign to recycle. Recycling reduces the amount of solid waste going to landfills.
“We can all try to implement greener practices to make a lighter impact on the environment,” Eisenstein said. “There is always a greener option in everything we do; it’s up to us to find out what that option is.”
Having a reusable water bottle or eco-cup is a better choice than drinking from disposable water bottles. Eco-cups can come in either a hot beverage or cold beverage option. There is an option for everyone. They come in all different sizes and colors and even Starbucks and Espresso Royale have these reusable options.
Another greener choice students can make is to shop at businesses with green initiatives. Two weeks ago, the Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA) and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) put on ‘Go Green on Green Street!’ an all-day event to raise community awareness about green lifestyle choices and encourage businesses and students to make a green pledge.
“Our mission at the IGBA is to help businesses realize the economic and environmental benefits of going green,” Eisenstein said. “We were also founded on the mission to educate consumers and businesses that sustainability can be both environmentally beneficial and profitable.”
The IGBA discovered the green business programs in California and wanted to adopt their own version right here in Illinois. They had to overcome many obstacles in order to implement the program here. The two programs are very similar, but some things needed to be changed to accommodate Illinois laws. For example, it is illegal to hand a customer a plastic bag in California, while that is not the case in Illinois.
The IGBA currently has 30 businesses in the program. Most are in Champaign County, four are in Bloomington-Normal and the latest addition is in Quincy. There are nine different areas they assess and want the businesses to take the program to heart. Currently there are eight certified green businesses that have completed the program.
“No two businesses are going to have the exact same certification,” Eisenstein said. “Our green business program has a lot of flexibility…If a business has the option of changing something to a greener option, they (can) choose to implement it, or if for some reason they don’t want to do that green practice, they just choose something else.”
So as the world keeps spinning, students have a choice to be greener. The three co-founders of the Illinois Green Business Association are continually working on new ideas to make greener options easier for consumers and businesses. They are empowering people to make a change.
If you would like to get involved or would like to refer a business in your community to join the IGBA’s program, please send an email to info@illinoisgba.com.