Every year, 1000s of college young men and women move into the wonderful world called dorm living. Living in the dorm at college is among the biggest adjustments of college but it can be fun and exciting. During the college career, dorm room becomes the home of the college students. Green living is increasing for college students day by day and college is the best time for them to start practicing green living habits. Green living begins with planned shopping and carries on in the way students go about their daily lives. During college, it is not easy to continue the healthy Eco-friendly lifestyle but luckily there are plenty of awesome ways which help you to live a smart and environmentally conscious life in the dorms. In the following article, there are some tips for Eco-friendly dorm room.
Organic plants are among the healthiest eco-friendly ways to go green if you are living in a dorm room. Plants improve your health by making a better breathing environment. They filter the air by eliminating the pollutants & toxins which float in the air. They also add color, beauty & natural scents to the room. Simply get low-maintenance plants that don’t need much sunlight, water or attention to stay alive. Some good low-maintenance plants are snake plant, areca palm, pothos, English ivy, ponytail palm, aloe vera, peace lily, Boston fern, dwarf lemon tree and a rubber plant.
Fluorescent Light
Change out incandescent bulbs and switch over to compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or LED lights. These bulbs consume 75% less energy and last 10 to 15 times longer compared to regular bulbs. Therefore they are much more preferred. They provide the same soft, warm light which is ideal for studying under.
Combination Appliances
There is only limited space in the dorm room so you should use appliances that are combined together. Combination appliances such as refrigerator and freezer, 3-in-1 microwave, compact washer/dryer, television/DVD player, etc are eco-friendly appliances as well as space-savers. They also decrease the circuit overloads. Always go for Energy Star qualified appliances.
Reusable Water Bottle
Use reusable water bottles instead of plastic as they end up in the trash. You should use glass, stainless steel or aluminum reusable water bottles which are durable, easy to clean and BPA-free. You can take these water bottles anywhere as they also look stylish. By using reusable water bottles, you help to decrease the use of non-renewable resources that are needed to make these bottles.
Bedding
For your dorm room, always select all-natural organic bed sheets, blankets & pillows that are made without harmful pesticides and toxic chemicals. Organic bedding is made from the cotton, ramie, Hemp, jute, bamboo, soy silk, etc. Like regular sheets and comforters, organic bedding also contains all the aesthetics. Another benefit of using organic bedding is that it is 100% hypoallergenic.
Replace the artificial with the natural
Almost all things from hand soaps to laundry detergents which we use in our daily life contain toxic chemicals. So, use chemical-free cleaning products instead of chemical-based cleansers. Natural cleansers are free of chemicals as they are made from safe ingredients like vinegar, lemons, baking cornstarch, soda, etc.
Air Fresheners
Never use air fresheners as they are loaded with chemicals. These air fresheners release chemicals which produce a toxic living environment while mixed with ozone. Therefore, always opt for natural alternatives like baking soda to combat dorm-room odors.
Go used
Get used stuff rather than buying everything new. Visit thrift shops to buy furniture, wall art and clothes. These thrift stores are cost-effective and eco-friendly. You can also use old items to make new ones like old blankets or sheets to make pillow covers or even curtains.
Surge Protectors
Surge protectors let you to connect multiple devices at once. They also protect the electronic devices from voltage spikes. If you are not any of the devices, you have to click just 1 button on the control strip which will switch off all of the appliances. So you can conserve large amount of energy.
Buy locally
Always buy locally instead of shipping things from parents’ house to your dorm. This will help to save fuel and cost used for transportation. Also avoid buying items that are heavily packed.
Green Tips For Dorm Living
PlantsOrganic plants are among the healthiest eco-friendly ways to go green if you are living in a dorm room. Plants improve your health by making a better breathing environment. They filter the air by eliminating the pollutants & toxins which float in the air. They also add color, beauty & natural scents to the room. Simply get low-maintenance plants that don’t need much sunlight, water or attention to stay alive. Some good low-maintenance plants are snake plant, areca palm, pothos, English ivy, ponytail palm, aloe vera, peace lily, Boston fern, dwarf lemon tree and a rubber plant.
Fluorescent Light
Change out incandescent bulbs and switch over to compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or LED lights. These bulbs consume 75% less energy and last 10 to 15 times longer compared to regular bulbs. Therefore they are much more preferred. They provide the same soft, warm light which is ideal for studying under.
Combination Appliances
There is only limited space in the dorm room so you should use appliances that are combined together. Combination appliances such as refrigerator and freezer, 3-in-1 microwave, compact washer/dryer, television/DVD player, etc are eco-friendly appliances as well as space-savers. They also decrease the circuit overloads. Always go for Energy Star qualified appliances.
Reusable Water Bottle
Use reusable water bottles instead of plastic as they end up in the trash. You should use glass, stainless steel or aluminum reusable water bottles which are durable, easy to clean and BPA-free. You can take these water bottles anywhere as they also look stylish. By using reusable water bottles, you help to decrease the use of non-renewable resources that are needed to make these bottles.
Bedding
For your dorm room, always select all-natural organic bed sheets, blankets & pillows that are made without harmful pesticides and toxic chemicals. Organic bedding is made from the cotton, ramie, Hemp, jute, bamboo, soy silk, etc. Like regular sheets and comforters, organic bedding also contains all the aesthetics. Another benefit of using organic bedding is that it is 100% hypoallergenic.
Replace the artificial with the natural
Almost all things from hand soaps to laundry detergents which we use in our daily life contain toxic chemicals. So, use chemical-free cleaning products instead of chemical-based cleansers. Natural cleansers are free of chemicals as they are made from safe ingredients like vinegar, lemons, baking cornstarch, soda, etc.
Air Fresheners
Never use air fresheners as they are loaded with chemicals. These air fresheners release chemicals which produce a toxic living environment while mixed with ozone. Therefore, always opt for natural alternatives like baking soda to combat dorm-room odors.
Go used
Get used stuff rather than buying everything new. Visit thrift shops to buy furniture, wall art and clothes. These thrift stores are cost-effective and eco-friendly. You can also use old items to make new ones like old blankets or sheets to make pillow covers or even curtains.
Surge Protectors
Surge protectors let you to connect multiple devices at once. They also protect the electronic devices from voltage spikes. If you are not any of the devices, you have to click just 1 button on the control strip which will switch off all of the appliances. So you can conserve large amount of energy.
Buy locally
Always buy locally instead of shipping things from parents’ house to your dorm. This will help to save fuel and cost used for transportation. Also avoid buying items that are heavily packed.
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