Sustainability in the Halls
Tips for sustainability in the Residence Halls
While living on campus, there are many ways to continue sustainable living. Here are a few tips:
Energy
and
Water Consumption
- Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs in Lamps, turn off lights when not in use and utilize natural light as much as possible
- Buy Energy Star certified electronics
- Keep window closed when Heat or AC is on
- Take public transportation, walk, or bike to class
- Plug appliances into power strip but turn off when not in use, unplug all chargers when not in use
- Use a drying rack to dry clothes and use the cold water setting on the washer
- Set computer to power saving mode
- Take shorter showers
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
Food and Consumption
- Eat local, seasonal, or organic foods and reduce the amount of meat you eat
- Avoid bottled water and use a reusable bottle as much as possible
- Use reusable shopping totes when grocery shopping
- Utilize reusable containers, coffee mugs, and utensils
- Use green products for cleaning, school supplies, etc…
Waste and Recycling
- Recycle all recyclable products in the appropriate locations
- Donate all used clothes / unwanted items to Goodwill or other charitable organizations
- Use scraps of paper as much as possible, print on recycled paper and set printer to double sided settings
- Reuse school supplies and notebooks as much as possible
Ways to Get Involved
THE GREEN
HOUSE:
Live in the Green House through the LiveLehigh program. This residential community is available to upper class students and serves as a place for environmentally minded students to live together. More information can be found here: http://www.lehigh.edu/~inlife/livemission.shtml
THE ECO-REP
PROGRAM:
Become an eco-rep for your hall. The eco-reps program is a peer-education program that promotes sustainable practices in residence halls. For more information, please visit their website: https://sites.google.com/site/lehighuniversityecoreps/
THE GREEN
ROOM CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:
Have your room green certified. Take the following online assessment to determine your level of sustainable living. If your practices meet the requirements, you will receive a Green Room Certificate to place on your door. Participants are regularly entered to win some great prizes for their efforts!
