Ryan ChartrandCal Poly students had time to think of how they can make their world a better place during Earth Day on Sunday.
“Conservation begins in our own backyards,” said professor Douglas Piirto, head of the natural resources management department. “It begins with you and I as we make decisions on how we live.”
Here are a few ideas of how to make a difference on an individual level. They all can be accomplished by a college student, and without spending a great deal of money.
First of all, try changing to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They are a special kind of bulb that use a quarter of the electricity of a regular lightbulb and last much longer. These swirled bulbs cost a bit more initially, but pay off in the end.
Switch to tap instead of bottled water that creates a large amount of waste through its packaging and distribution. A reusable water filter and pitcher combo that can be put in the refrigerator gives the same taste. In general, also look for products with less packaging when you shop.
“We all need to become more informed consumers,” Piirto said. “We have to understand where (the products we use) come from.”
Turn off appliances and electronics when they are not being used. According to an article on improving our environment in Time magazine, 75 percent of the electricity used in American households comes from electronics running while not directly in use.
For example, the average desktop computer uses between 60 and 250 watts of electricity a day. Turning that computer off between uses saves a great deal of energy and money.
Save some trees the easy way by paying bills online. Most utility companies now offer this option to their clients, and it is a quick way to cut back on paper usage. Also, when going to the grocery store B.Y.O.B. Bring your own shopping bag made of cloth that can be reused each time.
“We will always need forest products,” Piirto said. “It’s about understanding that we as consumers have needs but that we can mediate them in terms of what and how much we use.”
Save money by keeping up with simple car maintenance. Things such as properly inflating tires, changing a dirty air filter, or simply getting a tune-up can all increase gas mileage.
But Piirto said he hopes that students act responsibly when they do maintenance like an oil change. Trying to save a few dollars is never a good reason to dump used motor oil into a drain.
Just using the traditional methods that have been pushed for years is always a smart bet. Recycle bottles, cans and paper and chose to walk or ride a bike instead of driving.
“Try to live a responsible life; if you consume it then dispose of it in a responsible manner,” Piirto said.
Finally, there are lots of other creative and different ways to help. For example, Patagonia, an outdoor clothing maker, is collecting their used clothes to recycle them. They estimate that recycling the polyester from these fleece-like clothes will save 76 percent of the energy used to make them.
“Students can seek out on our own campus a whole host of courses on conservation,” Piirto said.
Since Cal Poly has a fully accredited natural resources management program which has been approved by the Society of American Foresters, Piirto suggested students look there first.
“Let’s be open-minded, seek answers and debate issues with respect for others,” Piirto said. “Ask the right questions so you can make the right decisions.”