Create greener habits
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.- Turn off your computer when you are not using it.
- Change your incandescent light bulb to a compact fluorescent bulb, which uses only 2/3 the energy, or an LED bulb.
- Reduce office paper use by changing the margins on your Microsoft word settings. Click here to learn how.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
- Assess your ecological footprint. Ecological footprints are incredibly complex to quantify; however, estimating an ecological footprint can shed light on areas that have the greatest impact and help focus environmental efforts. To see an estimate of your ecological footprint, take an ecological footprint quiz.
- Close the loop: Consider buying materials that have a high recycled content.
- Unplug your appliances when not in use. Five percent of annual electricity consumption is due to appliances that are turned off but still have that little glowing light. It's called a "phantom load." That phantom load sucks up 25% of the energy used annually by your TV. [Learn more]
- Take the bus to downtown instead of driving. Skidmore has its own bus stop right in front of Case College Center. [learn more]
- Take a walk. One gallon of gasoline releases about 19 lbs of CO2. By riding a bike or walking, you will burn about 35 calories per mile on a bike or 100 calories per mile walking.
- Use a reusable bag instead of a plastic or paper bag. According to the EPA, 380 billion plastic bags are consumed by the U.S. each year. [Learn more]
- Support local farmers. Skidmore has a farmers market that comes to campus every Friday during the academic year. Also, there is the Saratoga Farmers Market. [Learn more]
- Be conscious of your decisions and think about your actions. We can all "green our habits" and make a difference.
