Every Day Sustainable Living

For many Wellesley students, taking an ES course or participating in student orgs, amidst of all other work and activities, is often not a viable option regardless of how much they are willing to live sustainably. But sustainable living can also start from making changes in everyday life, by buying less, using less, and disposing less. Here are some ways to start:

1. Recycle

2. Share, barter, and use second-handed

3. No disposables, use reusables
Use your own reusable bags when grocery shopping.
Bring your own mug/thermos for coffee, tea, and other drinks instead of using disposable cups.
Carry your own reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water.

4. Save electricity
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Plug home electronics into power strips that can be turned off when not in use.
Or unplug electronic devices (especially mini fridges) when not in use.
Air-dry clothes on drying racks or clotheslines instead of using the dryer.

5. Save water
Turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving.
Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full; you can save up to 1,000 gallons a month doing this.
Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.

6. Have only as much as need be
When you eat in the dining hall, just take as much food as you can finish.
When you go to grocery shopping, make a list of items you need.

7. Use less paper
Print only when necessary and print on both sides of the paper.
Reuse paper on the backside.
Unsubscribe from “junk mail.” Don’t let paper be wasted on mail that you do not want anyway. Just call the customer service number printed on the catalog or advertisement and ask to be removed from the mailing list.

8. Look for greener or environmentally-friendly products
Using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries.
Avoid plastic when possible. Glass and metal are cleaner to recycle and have longer recycle lives than plastic.
Buy recycled paper products such as paper, toilet paper and paper towels.
Switch to biodegradable/organic soaps shampoos and toothpastes.