The STU campus is fully embracing our green (and gold) nature this week! On Monday, March 23rd, Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party of Canada is speaking in Kinsella at 7:00 PM.
Then, on Saturday it’s Earth Hour so remember to turn off your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. In honour of these sustainable events this week, here are some ways to green up your college life!
1. Walk it off
As university students, this one is pretty easy for us. Many of us don’t have a car, but luckily Fredericton is small enough to lace up your sneakers and walk wherever you need to go. Also, all STU students have a bus pass included in tuition so if you haven’t mastered public transit, this is your chance to start!
2. Bring your own bottle
Carrying around a reusable water bottle is the single easiest way to be green. With water fountains at every corner of campus, you’re saving a ton of money if you resist buying a $3 plastic water bottle from the caf. If you are a caffeine addict like I am, invest in a funky thermos to hold your coffee or tea.
3. Unplug when you are done charging!
We’ve all done it: charged our phones and left the charger stuck in the wall for next time. But leaving a charger plugged into an electrical outlet (even if you aren’t charging anything) sucks electricity into it, where it is wasted. So remember to unplug your chargers, coffee makers, hairdryers, or any other unnecessary plug.
4. Bring your own bag
Whether you are picking up groceries with the roomies or indulging in some retail therapy, bring a big reusable bag to carry your goodies. To help you remember, throw a couple reusable bags into your backseat or in the bottom of your backpack so you’ll always have some with you.
5. Play kitchen!
Cooking your own food is way less wasteful than ordering in every night. If you are a meat-eater, get a little adventurous and try Meatless Mondays. If you are in residence, invest in some real utensils so you never need to use the disposable forks and knifes.
6. Step away from the hairdryer!
With the weather warming up, take a break from blowdrying, straightening, or curling your hair. Not only are beach-like waves always in, but using that much heat on your hair is damaging. So, save some electricity and air-dry your hair.
7. Buy your stuff local and gently used
The Fredericton Boyce Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday. It’s a great place to support local farmers and artisans. Whether you grab a bag of apples for a quick weekday breakfast, some honey for your tea, or eye up a handmade necklace your bestie would love, buying local supports our community. When you can’t buy local, try buying used! Swap used textbooks with upperclassmen. Go thrift shopping for dorm supplies or some new additions to your wardrobe. Macklemore recommends it – and you can’t argue with him!