Photo Credit: Brandon Oram, Photo Editor
Lesley Brey
Staff Writer
Our climate is changing.
Through the collective actions of every human on earth, we are permanently af-fecting our planet. With mere decades left to attempt to slow the rate of this change, many people are feeling powerless. Certainly, the polluters most responsible for this destruction are large corporations, but that doesn’t mean that we as individuals can’t make a change.
While it is important to vote for politicians and laws that take climate change seriously, we can also make small changes in our day to day lives to live more sustainably. “Sustainability to me is having a harmonious relationship with both myself and our earth,” said Idaho State University freshman, Emma Watts.
Watts, like many freshmen, is living in a dorm this semester. While many of us may have practiced sustainability at home, once we arrive on campus we may be left scratching our heads about how to adjust. Luckily, it is not impossible to make the transition; there are several ways we can be environmentally friendly living at ISU. Here are five.
Eliminate Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastics are all around you, but you may not even notice they’re there. Plastic straws, cups, grocery bags and disposable utensils are all created with the intent to be thrown away after one use. The problem is that although this is why they were created, they aren’t designed to break down quickly. According to nrdc.org 300 million tons of plastic is produced globally each year, half of which is single-use, however, 91% of this plastic is not recycled at all. Ideally, it ends up in landfills, but an unfortunate amount winds up in streams, rivers and ultimately the ocean. Once there, it’s broken down by currents and the sun into harmful microplastics. To eliminate your use of single-use plastics try switching to a canvas grocery bag, using a set of reusable straws or simply turning down disposable silverware when offered.
Buy Clothing Second Hand
“My closet is mostly second-hand clothes, I really like thrifting because one, it’s kind of an adventure to find the clothes, two the items you find are really unique and three it’s cheap,” said Watts. You may have heard of the phrase “fast fashion” before; it refers to the lifecycle of many types of modern clothing. Items are dyed, sewn and distributed with little regard for the waste produced within these processes. Their construction is often subpar, meaning that items are usually meant to be worn by one person before being thrown away. Designing clothes that fall apart is a waste of resources, but it has become a popular way of keeping costs low while increasing demand. By purchasing clothes second hand you can decrease the demand for fast fashion.
Unplugging Electronics When Not in Use
“Energy vampires” sounds like it should be the name of some kind of underground punk band, but instead it refers to the energy consumed by devices when they are turned off. This may be a surprise, but seemingly inactive electronics like your TV are still pulling a charge even when the screen is blank. According to Directener-gy.com, the effect is most noticeable in de-vices that have remotes, as some part has to remain on to receive a signal. While this may seem unimportant for dorm dwellers who don’t have to pay for electricity, the thing to be aware of is that the more energy we use, the bigger our carbon footprint becomes.
Understandably, with all the gadgets that offer comfort in otherwise cramped dorms, this may be the most difficult thing to accomplish.
“I’ve probably got 10 different things plugged in at all times. I’ve got a microwave, T.V., refrigerator, game console, lamps, probably six different chargers, it’s a big problem,” says ISU sophomore, Zach Jewkes.
Conserve Water
Pocatello is a high mountain desert, with our water supply coming from a massive underground aquifer. The aquifer has experienced periods of drought on and off over the last couple of decades, which is tied to changes in annual precipitation. Due to this, residents need to watch the amount of water they’re consuming. Try to keep the tap off while brushing your teeth, wash only full loads of laundry and try to take shorter showers. According to Boston University’s sustainability website, shortening your shower by 2 minutes can save 10 gallons of water. Though while in college, cutting a shower short may mean showering in the cold; the dorms are infamous for the temperamental shower temperatures.
“The showers take forever to warm up. I’ve tried and it is not fun to take a cold shower early in the morning,” says ISU freshman, Alyssa Farnes.
Carpool
The ISU campus is pretty self-contained, however we still occasionally have to leave for groceries, fun or work. When preparing to embark on an off-campus excursion, consider riding with friends or biking to save gas and reduce emissions. Carpooling has long been understood to provide major benefits to cities by cutting down on noise and traffic congestion. If possible, plana night to go grocery shopping with friends once a week, and remember to bring those can-vas bags!
“I love car-pooling. I usually do it to save on gas, but it definitely helps when you have a lot of people traveling together,” said Jewkes.
Living sustainably is one way we can take back control and slow down climate change. Try out some of these suggestions and tell us how it goes. There are many other ways to get involved as well, such as joining the ISU Sustainability Club, and voting for candidates who prioritize climate concerns. Even in dark times, we have to stay focused knowing that we can create a better future.
“A sustainable practice is something that can be upheld, something that can keep going as long as it has resources that it can easily and efficiently reproduce,” said Farnes.
The resource we most often overlook is our determination and it will be instrumental in changing the world.
