5 Small Changes to Make Your Lifestyle More Sustainable
Beginning on October 2, Sustainability Week is hosting a variety of events that will address many elements of environmental sustainability including local food, transportation, climate change, energy, local diversity, waste, and more! In the spirit of Sustainability Week, here are the top 5 ways that you can become more sustainable:
- GIVE UP DISPOSABLE WATER BOTTLES
In 2010, Queen’s made the pledge to decrease and eventually terminate the sale of bottled water on Queen’s campus. Across campus, there are a variety of refill stations available to students. As students living on budget, a reusable water bottle will cut costs and is also a sustainable choice for the environment!
- REDUCE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY USE
Although it can seem like a daunting and expensive idea to turn your student house into a sustainable one, Greenovations makes it easy and affordable. Greenovations, a student run AMS service, provides free energy retrofits to students living in student housing. One of the services that they provide is offering energy saving light bulbs, putting in power saving sockets, and winterizing the windows of student homes. Not only will it help cut your utility bill in half, but its also environmentally friendly!
- OPT OUT OF JUNK MAIL
Receiving tons of junk mail can be both annoying, as well as create a significant amount of clutter in your student home. Besides this, junk mail is also an incredible environmental burden. For less of a fuss, and to do your part for the environment, you can opt out of receiving junk mail altogether.
- TRY GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS
Eco-friendly cleaning products provide a great alternative for many students living in student housing! In addition to its obvious benefits for the environment, these products also differ from standard products in regards to ingredients, biodegradability, and safety.
- EAT LOCAL
One easy change that you and your housemates can do to be more sustainable, it to try and eat more locally! Every Wednesday outside of the JDUC, The Farmer’s Market at Queen’s University brings local, and high quality food to the Queen’s community. In addition, the Sustainability office created a helpful local food guide with resources to help you integrate local produce into your diet. The Queen’s Local Food Guide can be found here.
Written by Rachel Corvinelli, ArtSci ’17, Marketing Deputy