GREEN FEVER
Tips to being eco-friendly all while keeping the green where it belongs - in your wallet

Story by Sarah Nusinow // Photography by Abigail S. Fisher

An alliterative ad campaign has been embedded into everyone’s minds as they’ve grown up: reduce, reuse and recycle.  Now, turning off the lights when you aren’t in the room and separating plastic from paper for Monday morning pick-up are only the first two ingredients in the eco-friendly pie. 

In school, students were always told how these little words had a bigger impact than they knew, and today, it is blatantly clear just what those teachers meant.  The three R’s are becoming the topic-of-choice for trendy magazines and they’re making headlines on the front pages of newspapers. Last year’s buzzword? Green.

The trendy aspects of being completely green require a bank account that would make most college student’s jaws. And the thought of having that much financial flexibility, much less stability, is just that — a thought. You may think the three R’s are about as far you’re going to get when it comes to being green, but you may be wrong. 

“In my experience the ‘expense’ is in time; it does take time to be green and it takes thought,” says Robert Heath, professor of biological sciences. “It’s not a ‘no-brainer;’ you have to keep asking yourself how best to do something.”

“Being green” has morphed into something much more than what it meant a decade ago. From pumping vegetable oil instead of gasoline to Nike’s Trash Talk shoes made completely from recycled material — reduce, reuse and recycle has come a long way. For college students, it can mean cheap, cost-effective ways to show support for the new “it” trend that really does affect the future.

DIY Style

Revamp your wardrobe by updating your favorite outfits, not buying new ones. The winter jacket that has faithfully kept you warm for two winters is starting to look outdated, but parting ways isn’t necessary to stay stylish. Head to a nearby fabric store and buy new buttons (in different colors, shapes or sizes than your old ones), some thread and a needle. Remove the old buttons and hand-sew the new buttons on. This will make your coat seem fresh and new. If the jacket is belted, buy fabric or a thick ribbon and simply tie it around for an instant updated look.

DIY Home Décor

Magazines are great coffee table accessories, but why not use them to build the coffee table itself or to create stools? Because many glossy magazines aren’t as recyclable as newspapers, this is a great way to keep them out of landfills and keep your wallet full of cash.
First, find a thick piece of cardboard that will be used for the bottom. Then, grab a stack of magazines (about 20 or 25) and bundle them horizontally and vertically with a thick piece of twine, which you can buy at craft or hardware stores. Repeat this process until you have four stacks. Place two stacks on top of each other and bundle them into one.  Then place these two separate stacks side-by-side on the cardboard and bundle this all together.  Now they’re ready to give guests a place to sit, prop up their feet and set their drinks.

Technology

Unplug it, turn it off and let it rest!  When you’re gone for the day at work or asleep at night, turn off your computer or at least put it in sleep mode.  Reports show that this will save electricity up to 80 percent.  If you use the dishwasher instead of hand cleaning all those dirty pots and pans, don’t use the pre-wash cycle or even hand-rinse them. Just scrape off leftover food — this will save about 20 gallons of water a day. 

Food

Buy in bulk. If a cracker with peanut butter is your favorite snack, shop for both of these items at a grocery store that sells wholesale foods or foods in bulk. It will be cheaper in the long run and last longer, too. Not only are you saving money, but you’re saving trash as well. Though, both of these items come in recyclable plastic and cardboard, some foods do not — the less trash accumulated, the better.

Sarah Nusinow is senior magazine journalism major. This is her first time writing for The Burr.