Going Green Means Saving Green

Students’ energy-saving efforts help the environment—and save money

By NEZILE MTHEMBU

Going green is a term that is often used by the media and our society. As an African-American student attending an HBCU trying to make ends meet, I have been trying to find ways to become a part of the green initiative while I am trying to find the “green” to pay for my tuition

How can I “go green?”

“Going green,” can help cut boarding and living expenses on campus. Bennett College for Women spends about $360,000 a year in water and electricity expenses. The six residence halls alone consume more than $200,000 of electricity a year. The more it costs to run the school the more you pay in tuition.

Here’s how you can start saving energy and money:

Switch off your lights. According to Sierra Morton, the Vice President of Communication for Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), electricity and paper products were the items that consumed the most energy at Bennett. So SIFE members changed over 200 light bulbs on campus as part of their environmental sustainability project.

“We figured out that an easy and cheap way for college students to live an environmentally safe lifestyle would be to change all the light bulbs,” says Morton. “[The energy saving light bulbs] are more expensive than regular light bulbs but it saves you money in the long run.”

Unplug your cell phone charger. Leaving a cell phone charger plugged in when the phone is not charging still consumes energy. Also unplug your laptop and other items.

Stop the leaks. Make sure the water is not dripping when you finish brushing your teeth or bathing. When water is dripping we are still consuming energy.

You can “go green” while you are living on campus just by following these simple steps.