Green Lifestyle
Little choices you make every day, often without even thinking about them, affect the health of our campus and our planet. Keep these three words in mind (and in order): Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Consume Less
Consider a used product in lieu of a new item. Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, the Rescue Mission, Goodwill and the Salvation Army Store. Extending the life of a product reduces demand on both natural resources and energy.
If you must buy new, look for a product which contains recycled material. Recycled content consumes no natural resources and generally requires less energy to produce.
Don’t buy products designed for a single use. Whether it’s a disposable item like a cup or fork, or water in a bottle not designed to be refilled, single-use products and packaging create a huge portion of the waste stream.
Use Less Electricity
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Use a smart power strip for your electronics and chargers. Smart power strips only supply electricity to devices actively in use. If you don’t have a smart power strip, use a regular one but turn it off when your electronics are fully charged, when you’re not actually using your devices and when you leave for the day.
Purchase Energy Star equipment and use the power-saving settings. This applies to appliances, electronics, building products, lighting, water heaters, and more.
Measure your impact by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website at: epa.gov/energy/measure-impact-your-energy-use-environment.
Use Less Water
Take shorter showers, ideally for no more than five minutes. Don’t let the water run as you brush your teeth or shave.
Be More Efficient
In the summer, keep your window shades and drapes closed during the day and open in the evening. Keep furniture away from heaters and air conditioning ducts. Furniture can block the flow of heat or cooling.
Buy Local and Donate
For information and links to buying local please visit: syracusefirst.org
Throughout the year, clean out your wardrobe and identify items that you no longer use or need. Donate items to local consignment shops, stores, and organizations such as Cluttered Closet, In My Father’s Kitchen, Fashion Exchange, and 3fifteen.