Published in cooperation with energievergelijken.nl
Changing the world starts with you, and it starts today
In case you missed the memo: sustainable living isn’t just for hippies and hipsters anymore. Slimming down your ecological footprint is becoming the new norm, especially for students. Are you looking to bring a little more green in your life? It can seem daunting at first, but nothing to worry about. Like with everything in life, when you break a project down in smaller steps, it suddenly becomes manageable. The next couple of tips are perfect for every student embarking on a sustainable journey. Chances are that this is even going to save you money, from discounts at Starbucks because you brought your own mug to a lower energy bill thanks to an energy compare search.
Green on the GO
One of the easiest changes you can make is to switch out disposable plastic bottles and cups for better alternatives. Bringing a plastic water bottle to one of your lectures is becoming more and more of a no-go. There are a ton of great options for reusable water bottles, such as glass bottles with a straw and minimalist aluminium bottles. The same goes for coffee cups. Did you know that you get a discount at Starbucks when you bring your own mug or tumbler?
Green on your plate
In this case, you can take green quite literally: swapping out animal products for veggies is a fantastic way to shrink your ecological footprint considerably. Since it’s also really healthy for you, this is a no-brainer. It takes a lot fewer resources to grow some plant compared to raising chickens, for example. You don’t have to go full vegan or vegetarian to get the benefits of this approach. Even opting for one vegetarian meal per week is going to help our planet. If you can’t live without your meat at dinner time, look for ways to consume less dairy. Almond or soy milk is a great alternative to cow’s milk in your daily cappuccino, for example.
Green at home
As a student, you’re probably renting instead of owning your home. This might seem like the perfect excuse not to implement any sustainable changes at home, but that’s not completely true. Even if you can’t get your landlord to install solar panels on the roof, there are things you can do yourself to make your home a little more green. One easy first step is to recycle your trash. Separate paper, plastic, glass and compostable waste. Since energy is a large part of your ecological footprint, it’s definitely worth it to compare your energy contract to other options. Use one of the energy compare tools online to help identify which companies offer green gas and green electricity.
