Student life is difficult, with all of the new experiences, school work and overall just finding balance, keeping a sustainable home and life isn't easy. Although, there are little things to do and keep in mind to really make a difference for the environment and your ecological footprint. Finding the perfect balance between staying on a budget and doing what you can to be environmentally conscious does not have to be impossible!

Turn Off the Lights!

One of the easiest ways to save energy is by keeping lights off when you are not in the room. Student life is full of business and stress so why not conserve energy in the laziest way possible? There are many different types of lights such as LED and incandescent and while some are better then others for the environment, it is crucial to keep them off when they're not in use. Flip the switch and help make a difference!

Focus on Eating Less Meat

Did you know that factory farming is at fault for 45% of factory farming emissions. The less meat you consume, the less animals are being factory farmed. Even the smallest numbers make a difference! Most student cafes on campuses as well as cafeterias have vegetarian and vegan options for students! Removing meat from your diet even for two days a week can make such a large impact on the environment and on your health!

Compost

Composting comes with a large amount of benefits, although it seems like a lot of extra house work, it is worth it for the Earth’s health. Composting not only improves the soil's health but also lowers greenhouse gas emissions by a ton! There are so many ways to compost and all you need is a backyard. Whether you decide to begin composting on bare soil or in a large container, this simple task will create amazing benefits for the environment.

Menstrual Cups!

Although it may seem icky, menstrual cups are so amazing for the environment as they allow less waste to be used. Those who have a period every month know how expensive and how much of a hassle it is to consistently have to buy pads and tampons, although a great solution for this is menstrual cups. They do so much for the environment by producing less waste and using less water!

Put Up Some LED Lights

Most students have some sort of LED lights in their dorms, whether they are signs or strips. What most don't know is how beneficial these are to the environment compared to the average type of bulb. With a longer lifespan comes less carbon emissions! LED lights make a room pop with different color options, they don't use heat, they are energy efficient and inexpensive, perfect for a student!

Thrift Thrift Thrift!

Thrift shopping is a huge trend right now, although, what is really important about it is its amazing environmental benefits! By keeping clothing out of landfills and reducing clothing production, thrift shopping is an amazing way to lower your carbon footprint. Thrift shopping is often less expensive and is perfect for students on a budget because we all know how crazy tuition can get. Overall, buying clothing second hand rather than buying from big companies makes all the difference!

Reuse, Reduce and Recycle!

We’ve all been learning about the three R’s since grade school, although sometimes a reminder on why reusing, reducing and recycling are so important for the environment and sustainability. By saving landfill space, reducing energy use as well as the amount of greenhouse gasses being produced, recycling makes an enormous impact on the Earth. There are so many ways to follow the three R’s including many from this list!

Order Your Groceries for Delivery

Pollution from vehicles is one of the Earth’s biggest air quality compromisers and ordering for delivery can help! Online grocery services bring multiple peoples groceries to them from one vehicle and one trip, in other words, one person is driving their car versus tens of people driving. Plus, you can use the extra time to get other chores done, or some studying. This has great impacts on the environment and gas emissions, like carpooling but for groceries!

Switch to Eco- Friendly and Vegan Products

Making the switch to eco-friendly and vegan products may seem extremely expensive and unrealistic for a student, although there are brands tailored to natural products without the high cost. Brands like The Ordinary and Burts Bee s are great examples of brands that have ingredients that work while staying natural.

Make a Mini Garden!

Making a mini garden is a great way to lessen your grocery bill, help the environment and makes for a great place to compost! By growing your own produce, you are helping to clean the air, release oxygen, lessen factory farming numbers and overall help the Earth by giving back to it. A mini garden can fit in your backyard, on your patio or even in a sunny spot inside your home, it is also a great tool to use in order to compost!

With all of these tips you are sure to be well on your way to environmental sustainability as a student. There are so many ways to incorporate these mechanisms into your everyday life and it will make an enormous impact towards not only the environment's health but yours as well.

In order to maintain an eco-friendly and conscious lifestyle, it takes a little more work than not, but it is worth it. So many students are consistently producing waste and overall not focusing on how they are impacting the environment, by spreading awareness and sharing, a difference can be made.

How To Balance Environmental Sustainability and Budgeting as a Student