Every change you make, no matter how large or small, has an impact on our environment. Here are some small steps that can have a big effect.
ENERGY
- Walk, bike or take a bus instead of driving.
- Set your printer to double-sided default to save paper.
- Look into sharing a printer with your housemates to reduce energy usage.
- Use power strips and shut them off at night.
WASTE
- Use cloth napkins and dish towels instead of paper towels.
- Buy products with minimal packaging.
- Avoid disposable kitchen items like plastic utensils and paper plates.
- Carry an insulated mug for coffee to-go.
- Use single stream recycling bins.
- Know the difference between waste, recyclable, and compostable materials and dispose of them in the appropriate bins.
COMMUNITY
- Talk to friends and family about your sustainability efforts.
- Take a class that focuses on sustainability themes.
- Borrow items that you only use occasionally.
- Give away things you no longer need, instead of throwing them away.
FOOD
- Shop at local businesses.
- Eat in season and buy produce from local farmers.
- Cut down on food waste by sharing food and eating leftovers.
- Grow a garden.
- Consider going meatless on Mondays.
- Buy foods in bulk to cut down on packaging waste.
WATER
- Carry a reusable water bottle and use the many refill stations on campus.
- Always fill the dishwasher “to the brim” before running.
- Shorten your shower and turn the water off while you brush your teeth.
- Wash laundry loads in cold water. Most HE detergents clean just as well in cold.
- Don’t flush extra medications. Google safe ways to dispose of medications.
To have more impact on the U-M Community, become a Planet Blue Ambassador.