Green Living Guide
Green living in the bedroom
- In the bedroom
- Bedding
Get close and cozy with some bamboo fibers. Bamboo bedding, which is widely sold, is a great choice because it is affordable, doesn’t require pesticides or a lot of water to grow and amazingly soft and silky. Don’t forget too that you can find free bedding at the Free Store and during the Big Swap. - Lightbulb
Use CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use a quarter of the energy that incandescent bulbs do and they last ten times longer! Also, remember to pull up your curtains and let as much natural light in as possible. And don’t forget to turn off the lights! - Laptops
Screen Savers, contrary to popular belief, don’t save any energy. Though closing your laptop or activating its sleep mode reduces its energy use up to 80%, if you don’t plan to use the computer for at least half an hour, it’s a good idea to turn it off completely. - Batteries and Plugs
Something we use every day but rarely think about are our chargers, for cell phones, computers, mp3 players. None of them have an off switch, so when they remain plugged into your wall, they’re leaking energy. When you’re not charging your electronics, unplug them to conserve energy. Many find that using a power strip is an easy way to manage your energy use; you can simply turn the strip off when not using the items plugged into it. This also eliminates the unsightly cord tangle problem. Another great innovation in the energy field: rechargeable batteries! These can be found at most hardware stores, but if you opt for the regular batteries, make sure to recycle them! You can deposit your used batteries at the Wilder desk as well as the front desk of Phillips Gymnasium. - The Printer
Whenever possible, use the library’s printers, or any other duplex printer, to print your work on both sides of the page. Not only does this give your papers that professional manuscript look, but it cuts the amount of paper used in half. Also, when printing flyers, posters, emails, or other non-formal one-sided documents, try to print on the backside of used pages, which can be found in paper recycling trays next to most library and school printers. Also, if you print from your room, please try to buy recycled paper! - The Fridge
Personal mini-fridges use up a lot of energy – not to mention their tendency to smell awful without careful rotation of left-overs! Try to use the community fridges in your building; doing so will save tons of energy, and you’ll have much more space in your room. If you’re looking in to buying your own fridge anyway, try to buy one that is Energystar certified (www.energystar.gov). Try not to store it too close to a window or heat source, as that will make the fridge have to work extra hard to cool its contents. If you find that you’re not using your fridge, unplug it! Just make sure to defrost it first, or it might grow mold or mildew (ew). As far as what you put in your fridge, check out the local and organic foods sold around town, particularly at the Oberlin Market and the farmers market that begins in early May, to support the farmers of Lorain County! - Trash and Recycling
Set up a mini recycling station in your room/home to collect paper, cardboard, paperboard, cans, bottles etc. All of your recyclables can go into the recycling bins found at the end of every hall in residence buildings, except for cardboard and paperboard. Paperboard (think cereal box or six-pack case) and cardboard must be flattened and taken out to corrugated cardboard dumpsters. For more information check out: www.oberlin.edu/recycle (the rockstars’ website). But remember: many things don’t need to be thrown away! Let that plastic fork from Dascomb live to stab another day! Fill up that water bottle with some tasty local cider! Use your mug!! Not only are the reusable Oberlin mugs the “it� accessory around campus, but the possession of this stylish item entitles you to discount coffee and tea at Decafe! - Clothes
One shoe, two shoes, blue shoes, free shoes! And much much more at the Free Store! This community closet is located in the basement of Asia House and is open Monday-Thursday 7-9pm and Saturday 1-3pm. Come shop! But don’t forget to use biodegradable laundry detergent when washing your (newly expanded) wardrobe. - Books
Some people spend $400 for textbooks and school supplies each semester. As if college wasn’t already too expensive! By going just a little bit out of your way, you can save nearly all of this money while helping support local businesses and student groups. For cheap books go to Mindfair, located in Ben Franklin’s, which buys and sells used books and tries to stay stocked with those found on student reading lists. For free and/or cheap school supplies check out the Recycled Products Coop. The RPC, located in Wilder 329, makes and purchases at-cost salvaged and/or sustainable office supplies, including beautiful student created planners. Check them out here.
Screen Savers, contrary to popular belief,
don’t save any energy. Though closing your laptop or activating its
sleep mode reduces its energy use up to 80%, if you don’t plan to
use the computer for at least half an hour, it’s a good idea to turn
it off completely.
Whenever possible, use the library’s
printers, or any other duplex printer, to print your work on both sides
of the page. Not only does this give your papers that professional
manuscript look, but it cuts the amount of paper used in half.
Also, when printing flyers, posters, emails, or other non-formal one-sided
documents, try to print on the backside of used pages, which can be
found in paper recycling trays next to most library and school printers.
Also, if you print from your room, please try to buy recycled paper!
Some people spend $400 for textbooks
and school supplies each semester. As if college wasn’t already too
expensive! By going just a little bit out of your way, you can
save nearly all of this money while helping support local businesses
and student groups. For cheap books go to Mindfair, located in
Ben Franklin’s, which buys and sells used books and tries to stay
stocked with those found on student reading lists. For free and/or
cheap school supplies check out the Recycled Products Coop. The RPC,
located in Wilder 329, makes and purchases at-cost salvaged and/or sustainable
office supplies, including beautiful student created planners.
Check them out here.
Something we use every day but rarely
think about are our chargers, for cell phones, computers, mp3 players.
None of them have an off switch, so when they remain plugged into your
wall, they’re leaking energy. When you’re not charging your
electronics, unplug them to conserve energy. Many find that using
a power strip is an easy way to manage your energy use; you can simply
turn the strip off when not using the items plugged into it. This also
eliminates the unsightly cord tangle problem. Another great innovation
in the energy field: rechargeable batteries! These can be found
at most hardware stores, but if you opt for the regular batteries, make
sure to recycle them! You can deposit your used batteries at the
Wilder desk as well as the front desk of Phillips Gymnasium.
Use CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use a quarter of the energy that incandescent bulbs do and they last ten times longer! Also, remember to pull up your curtains and let as much natural light in as possible. And don’t forget to turn off the lights!
Get close and cozy with some bamboo fibers.
Bamboo bedding, which is widely sold, is a great choice because it is
affordable, doesn’t require pesticides or a lot of water to grow and
amazingly soft and silky. Don’t forget too that you can find
free bedding at the Free Store and during the Big Swap.
Personal mini-fridges use up a lot of
energy – not to mention their tendency to smell awful without careful
rotation of left-overs! Try to use the community fridges in your
building; doing so will save tons of energy, and you’ll have much
more space in your room. If you’re looking in to buying your
own fridge anyway, try to buy one that is Energystar certified (www.energystar.gov). Try not to store it too close to a window
or heat source, as that will make the fridge have to work extra hard
to cool its contents. If you find that you’re not using your
fridge, unplug it! Just make sure to defrost it first, or it might
grow mold or mildew (ew). As far as what you put in your fridge,
check out the local and organic foods sold around town, particularly
at the Oberlin Market and the farmers market that begins in early May,
to support the farmers of Lorain County!
Set up a mini recycling station in your
room/home to collect paper, cardboard, paperboard, cans, bottles etc.
All of your recyclables can go into the recycling bins found at the
end of every hall in residence buildings, except for cardboard and paperboard.
Paperboard (think cereal box or six-pack case) and cardboard must be
flattened and taken out to corrugated cardboard dumpsters. For
more information check out: www.oberlin.edu/recycle (the rockstars’ website). But remember:
many things don’t need to be thrown away! Let that plastic fork
from Dascomb live to stab another day! Fill up that water bottle
with some tasty local cider! Use your mug!! Not only are
the reusable Oberlin mugs the
“it� accessory around campus, but the possession of this stylish
item entitles you to discount coffee and tea at Decafe!
One shoe, two shoes, blue shoes, free
shoes! And much much more at the Free Store! This community closet is
located in the basement of Asia House and is open Monday-Thursday 7-9pm
and Saturday 1-3pm. Come shop! But don’t forget to use biodegradable
laundry detergent when washing your (newly expanded) wardrobe.
Bathroom
1. Cleaning
There is no need to buy expensive chemical
sprays and scrubs when you can make your very own incredibly affordable
and environmentally safe cleaning supplies! There are many recipes online,
but below are some basics. If you are not into the homemade supplies,
at least make sure you are purchasing biodegradable cleaners.
All purpose cleaner:
Baking soda, vinegar, and water
Spray bottle
Put 1 pint of warm water into a spray
bottle. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of white
vinegar into the bottle. Screw the top on tightly and shake to
mix.
No-streak glass and window cleaner:
Vinegar and water
Spray bottle
Put 1/4 cup vinegar and 4 cups of water into a spray bottle. Screw on the top and shake.
WIPE WITH A CRUMPLED NEWSPAPER!
Tub and Toilet Scrub
Baking soda and Murphy Oil Soap
Recycled Shampoo Bottle
Put about 1/2 cup of baking soda into
the shampoo bottle. Add a few drops of oil soap and enough water to
make a paste. MAKE SURE THAT BOTTLE IS ONLY HALF FULL TO ALLOW FOR CHEMICAL
REACTION AND EXPANSION. Stir with a spoon. Spoon some of the paste
onto a sponge and scrub sink and tile. Rinse well with water.
2. Faucet
Turn off the water while brushing your
teeth! It is a good thing to do, plus one day it’ll save you money
on your water bills.
3. Shampoos and sundry goods
Shampoos, deodorants, body washes, and
lotions can contain chemicals
(sodium laureth sulfate ring any bells?) that
are not only harsh on your hair and skin, but get washed down the drain
daily and pollute our water, and cannot biodegrade. You can find
a list of product names certified by the organic trade association here, some of which can be found at the Oberlin Market
(fabulous!) Gibsons, Ben Franklin, IGA, and other nearby vendors.
Or if you’re feeling crafty, you can make your own GREAT smelling
and very effective product using some of the recipes found here and
all over the internet. Also, buying in bulk cuts down on the amount
of packaging (with chemicals adhering to its insides) thrown away.
4. Water use
Although a hot shower can be our best friend, it is important to keep them short, or at least to turn off the water whenever possible (while shaving, conditioning, etc.). According to the United States Geologic Survey, showers use 2 gallons of water per minute. That means that your 20 minute shower is using 40 gallons of water!
For more H20 statistics check out: