What can I do to be “greener” at UD?

• Cut back on printing and save paper, and always print double sided. Read documents electronically when possible. Limit the number of drafts printed for each project. Ask professors if you can turn in work electronically and explain that this saves resources.
• Walk or bike when making short trips, especially within the neighborhoods, and to Brown Street destinations. Cars are the least efficient in the first few minutes they are on, so short trips are much more polluting per mile than long ones.
• Use reusable plates and silverware rather than getting food to-go. The new Composting program is underway in KU, VWK and Marycrest. If you must eat on the run, bring your take out containers back for composting.
• Purchase a reusable mug at KU, VWK or Marycrest and get discounted drinks all year.
• Buy 2 power strips. Put everything that doesn’t need to be on constantly on one strip, like cell phone chargers. Put everything that needs constant power on the other, like your alarm clock. When leaving your room, turn off the non-essential strip. When leaving for a weekend or holiday break, turn off both.
• Recycle! Check the label on commingle bins for what to recycle and keep trash out. Keep your mixed recyclables separate from trash in your dorm room using the bins provided. Keep trash out of the Commingle bin on your floor.
• Be aware! Close windows to stop winter heat loss, and alert Facilities to problems with thermostats or leaking faucets. Put in work orders at the Facilities website.
• Get in the habit of turning lights off when you leave any room. Classrooms, living rooms, conference rooms and bathrooms, all rooms should be powered down when unoccupied.
• Layer up! Dressing appropriate to the season and the weather can help save energy by reducing the need to condition campus buildings. If it’s snowing outside, put on an extra few layers that you can shed if it’s too warm inside. Always have an extra layer you can add or subtract as necessary.
• Ask for help. If your dorm room is 90 degrees, Facilities Management wants to hear about it. Don’t just open a window- put in a work order.
• Be conscious of consumption. Do you really need a 10th pair of shoes? Are you replacing your cell phone just because a new model came out? Americans over-consume just about every imaginable resource, so cut back where ever you can.
• Have an idea? Contact the Sustainability Manager!