Student Living shouldn’t stop you from following sustainability principles. Everyone should be considering how to live in a more sustainable way to help the future of the planet.
It can be challenging, and governments and large organisations throughout the globe have the greatest obligation to make the necessary changes to protect our future, lower carbon emissions, and lessen the devastating effects of climate change. Universities can also have influence in sustainable choices as well as your local council to wherever you may live.
There are some sustainability principles activities we could do in our daily lives to help us make a little contribution.
Carry a reusable drink cup
Approximately 2.5 billion disposable cups are discarded in the UK annually, which is unsustainable.
Investing in a reusable cup or flask that you bring to university each day is one way you can learn how to be more sustainable.
You can enjoy a hot coffee or a cup of tea whenever you desire one, or you can carry a water bottle along and refill it throughout the day.
Understand your water consumption
Water management is a hot issue, because as climate change becomes more pronounced and following the scorching summer with dryness we experienced in parts of the U, it’s only going to get hotter.
As a student, you could easily monitor how much water you consume. Over the span of one year living in a student accommodation, small changes like turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth or taking shorter showers will indeed have a significant impact.
Additionally, you’ll save money on energy costs, which is great!
Monitor your home’s energy use
This enables you to comprehend what you are able to and not, in order to decrease energy usage and is crucial for the environment as energy prices rise.
Be mindful to turn off all the lighting and electrical devices whenever you leave a room or go outside. You’d be surprised at the amount of power a machine on standby consumes.
Whenever the sun is out during the wintertime, keep your blinds and drapes open to warm the space and avoid putting on the heating.
Invest in a heating system that will help you control the temperature of the house and to be able to schedule when it is on. This will save some energy since it will not be on for the whole day and will be on only at the important times of day.
Use reusable bags
Carrier bags that have only been used one time and then discarded are all around us. By investing in bags you’ll use repeatedly, you can put an end to this.
Have a bag on hand to carry with you to the store, whether buying books, clothing, or anything else. By doing so, you will use less plastic and contribute in a little way to environmental protection.
In addition, you could aim to reuse everything you have that can be made into new or improved furnishings for your home, including bottles, containers, and upcycling techniques.
Consider your waste
No matter where you are—at home, at school, or elsewhere—always recycle your rubbish.
Make it a routine to recycle every day by taking the effort to discover recycling containers.
If you wish to get rid of large things and other material, take them to a nearby dump or ask the local council if they accept used furniture.
Whenever you can, donate your used clothing, books, as well as other stuff to charities.
You could easily carry out all of these actions to turn your rubbish into riches.
Minimise food waste
Similar to general waste, food wastage is a major issue. How frequently do you find yourself tossing out food that’s been sitting in your refrigerator or cabinets? Food is wasted, and you are wasting money. Anyone could operate more sustainably and minimise food waste in a number of ways, including:
Budget meals preparation – It’s critical to comprehend your spending power and to arrange your shopping properly. Make a weekly plan and occasionally cook in bulk, making smaller portions that help you control expenditures.
Contribute to food banks: Throughout the UK, there are currently food banks in each and every city and town. While it is unacceptable, we can take action to assist. Donate any excess food you have to food banks so that you can help those in need and reduce food waste.
Too Good to Go: An innovative software that connects you to nearby coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. The concept is that you can purchase a “magic bag” for a little portion of the price of an ordinary item. The items in the bag are items that might otherwise wind up as food waste.
That’s a wrap on how to be more sustainable. It’s not difficult to implement our recommendations, and you’ll end up saving some money in addition to helping the environment.
Implementing changes for the better, lowering your carbon footprint, while doing your part to improve the environment for the next generation are all things you can accomplish from your student accommodation and carry with you into adulthood.
Want some more ideas on helping the environment from your home? We got you. Contact us and a member of the team will help you.