Do you have an energy savings tip to add to this list?

Students

There are ways that students can consciously participate in helping the environment. Here are some ways to think green while living in a residence hall.

• Turn off your computer when you aren’t using it or set it to low power sleep mode rather than using a screensaver.
• Unplug appliances when not in use to avoid phantom load, which can sometimes eat up more energy than when the appliance is actually being used!
• When you leave for break, unplug your fridge and let it defrost, but be sure to keep the door open so that mold doesn’t start to grow.
• Cut down on the appliances you bring to school. Your residence hall kitchen has a microwave and refrigerator. Your residence hall basement has a television, some even equipped with VCR’s and DVD players. Use your computer to play music. Rather than plugging in an alarm clock; use your cell phone to wake up.
• If you need to have appliances, buy EPA-certified EnergyStar products, which are energy efficient. There are a lot of options, such as TVs, microwaves, and fans.
• Keep the lights off when not in use. Shut off lights in common areas, such as restrooms and residence hall basement areas, when no one is around.
• Use natural lighting whenever possible. Go outside and enjoy the sun!
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in your desk lamps and other lights.
• Avoid decorative lighting that uses electricity unnecessarily.
• Don’t open windows or prop doors in the winter to let heat escape outside.
• Use hot water sparingly. It takes more energy to heat water than to cool it. Wash your laundry on cold settings and take cooler, shorter showers.

• Eat organic or local foods. Organic foods are produced naturally, without the harmful chemicals or gene-altering hormones. Eating local foods reduces the carbon footprint of the food by decreasing transportation pollution and shipping waste. Chartwells offers certain foods in Debot that come directly from Stevens Point area Altenberg farms, such as fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese, and yogurt. Also check out the Homegrown Cafe in the DUC, the Food for Thought Cafe in the LRC, and the CPS Cafe for local and organic options.
• Drink Fair Trade coffee, which is certified organic and shade grown, meaning it is produced using environmentally-friendly practices. The Food for Thought Cafe in the LRC is a good place to find Fair Trade coffee.
• Reduce food waste - go tray-less. By doing so, people typically take less food, which reduces waste and your waist! Eat healthy portions. You can always return for more later, which means your food will be hot.
• Bring your own mug. Reduce disposable paper cups going into landfills. UWSP reusable mugs can be purchased in the University Store or Debot C-Store. Nalgene water bottles can be purchased at Outdoor EdVentures.

• Don’t print unless it is necessary. Edit your papers online and utilize D2L.
• If you must print, print on both sides of the paper. This reduces paper waste by 50%! Also use both sides of the paper when you are taking notes in class.
• Print only the pages that you need. Go to the print preview option and type in the page numbers that you would like. If your document did not print, ask for help rather than putting in another print request.
• Use scrap paper to print drafts or unofficial copies. If something has printed wrong, reuse the reverse side.
• Rent or swap text books. Text rental is a program unique to UWSP. Text Rental will also buy back certain books at the end of the semester, so keep your books in good condition and earn some extra cash!
• Use hand driers in restrooms rather than paper toweling.

• Buy EnergyStar appliances. They are engineered to perform better for the environment.
• Buy local and organic foods and products. Less pollution and waste is produced when products are transported from a shorter distance. Organic materials don’t use chemicals and toxins that are harmful to the environment.
• Buy recycled products, such as paper and office supplies, and products that can be easily recycled.
• Reduce the amount of disposable products you purchase. Also be careful not to buy products with excessive amounts of packaging materials.
• Use biodegradable soaps and detergents.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Buy recycled furniture from thrift shops, garage sales, or the campus surplus store located at 601 Division Street.

• Walk whenever possible. Every part of campus can be easily accessed on foot. UWSP is also conveniently located near a wide variety of food venues and entertainment, as well as the main downtown area.
• Use alternative means of transportation, such as biking, rollerblading, or skateboarding. Save gas, save money and get some exercise. SGA has a bike rental program right on campus.
• Utilize your UWSP U-Pass. Ride the bus. The Stevens Point Transit system has many buses that are centered around the UWSP campus and its students. SGA worked hard to pass legislation so that students could ride the bus for free with UWSP ID, so take advantage of it!
• Did you know that UWSP offers a free cab service that can be accessed anywhere on campus? Campus cab is a great student resource that operates between 6:00 pm and 1:00 am and will take you anywhere within 5 miles of campus! Just call Protective Services at 346-3456 and request a pick-up!
• Don’t bring cars to campus. Find a buddy to carpool with. Ask a friend’s parent for a ride when they come to pick up your friend. Be creative.

• Utilize the many recycling receptacles located around campus. When you see a bin, use it!
• Don’t litter. “Don’t be a Dirty Dawg, Keep your Campus Clean!”
• Recycle. Every residence has recycling chutes in the common area or T-Section of each floor. This feature is very unique to UWSP. The chutes are a part of UWSP’s award-winning recycling program that has been around for years!
• Did you know that UWSP recycles items such as ink cartridges and batteries? Stop down at the front desk in your residence hall and drop them off to be recycled!
• Shop at thrift stores, garage sales, or the campus surplus store located at 601 Division Street. Purchasing second-hand items reduces waste in the landfill and cuts down on demand for new products to be produced.

• Take shorter showers. For every minute in the shower, 3-7 gallons of water are used. By reducing your 15-minute shower to 7 minutes, you save 25 or more gallons of water!
• Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth or shaving. By doing this simple act, you can save up to 5 gallons of water every time you shave or brush!
• Don’t flush the toilet unnecessarily or use it to discard trash. Every flush uses up to 5 gallons of water.
• Turn off faucets that are dripping and report leaks.
• Only do full loads of laundry.

The information from the student section is based on articles from numerous other colleges and universities. To view this information and to find out more, please see these Sustainable Living Guides.