Saving The Planet (College Edition)

By Lev Novak

Green living doesn’t have to be stupid and eye-rolling, and it doesn’t have to be hard. You don’t need to plant a garden or have a compost pile. Sometimes, green living can be as easy as “doing better” across the board. So, you ready to do better? You down to save the world (and also some money?) You down to be a real-life captain planet?

I thought so. Everyone loves Captain Planet.

1. Re-Use

Re-using your stuff is the number-one way to be green. Don’t create new waste and don’t even recycle. Instead, use.

You know those things where people make beer-pong tables out of bottle-caps? That’s actually good for the environment. You turned some trash into a treasure, so you’re a good person. Bring that up at the frat party. “I’M GREEN BRO!” and watch everyone come to you for high-fives.

Similarly, keep cardboard boxes for re-use later- you’ll need them one of these days- and don’t be so quick to toss out old papers. You might need them lying around your room to look smart.

2. Minimize Initial Waste

A box of wine uses less wasted material than an individually-packaged 30-rack, and, again, it has more alcohol for the dollar. Isn’t it great how saving money and saving the world align?

Same thing goes with not buying individually packaged things. The more you buy in bulk the less material (paper and plastic) will be used (and wasted) in their packaging. Plus again this is cheaper to buy in bulk. We both know it. Heck, don’t even buy cereal; steal it in Tupperware from the cafeteria. Saved money and saved a tree. Look at you! You’re a hero!

The only “annoying” one I have is wash your dishes. Plastic silverware is good in a pinch (buy some now, actually, but just once- you’ll need the emergency forks/spoons at some point, I promise you) but don’t make it a habit. Sigh and wash your dishes, and just remember how the world is giving you a big ol’ hug as you do it.

3. Don’t Litter Cans

Beer cans around your house look bad and make you look like a jerk. Besides, nothing is as cool as taking in three giant recycling bags of cans and getting enough in coins to buy another thirty-rack of beer. Free beer while saving the world, plus the poetic beauty of knowing, as these cans do, that it’s the circleeeee of lifeeeeeee!

4. Have A Plant In Your House

I recommend a cactus since it’s super hard to kill. It’s cool decoration, and it’ll help remind you of nature, I guess? And maybe you can throw it at an enemy. That’s a lot of milage from one plant

5. Less Electricity

Less heat, less air conditioning. Wear sweaters or shorts when the weather counts on it. You’ll save money and you’ll also be tougher. In the winter, pretend it’s Game of Thrones (unless you’re in California, in which case, geez, suck it up) and in the summer, take the heat as a reminder that you might as well do something in this gorgeous weather.

Electricity sometimes makes your house into a comfy prison. Don’t pamper yourself. Go to the library if you want air conditioning- that’ll have the added bonus of getting you to the library for once, too.

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