Treading Lightly
Treading Lightly

Top 10 Most Sustainable Schools

The Sierra Club came out with its yearly rankings of what they have determined are the top 10 most sustainable schools. Included in the list are schools like Santa Clara University’s neighbor Stanford, Duke, and UC Davis. Although none of them are SCU, it goes to show that schools across the nation are making an effort to become more sustainable.

UC Irvine made the list for their extracurricular environmental groups, its recycling rate of more than 70 percent of their trash, and hydration stations to reduce bottled-water waste. Yale is aiming to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 43 percent by 2020.

What the list doesn’t show is the hundreds, if not thousands, of schools that are hosting similar programs and aiming for the same goals. A great deal of innovation and movement toward more sustainable living comes out of colleges across the world.

To check out what other schools are doing and get some ideas for your own, see the full list.

Living Sustainably on a Budget: Recycled Planner

I live and die by my planner. When I lose it I am near hysterics and completely positive I am never going to be able to function again. Because I am overly attached to my planner, just any old planner won’t do. This year I was able to find a beautiful, handmade planner made out of 100 percent recycled paper.

One of my biggest complaints about most planners (besides poor layout and usability) is the overuse of plastic. I know that part of the reasoning is the plastic is durable, but it is also bad for the environment and just plain ugly.

Instead of digging through planners at an office supply store and hating every single one of them, I searched online at Etsy and found exactly what I was looking for. I love the minimalist design, the functionality, and the recycled materials.

Living sustainably on a budget: textbooks

I got my first textbook in the mail today. Nothing says your summer is almost over like the arrival of a textbook. I know it’s summer and one of the last things anyone wants to think about is school, but with a little planning you can save money and decrease your carbon footprint before next quarter or semester starts.

One of the most important parts of buying books for most college students is the price. We will do just about anything we can to make sure its as low as possible. And yet somehow people seem to forget to look for their books online instead of paying ridiculous prices through university bookstores.

Don’t know where to start? There are a ton of places online that offer used books (and don’t forget you can sell them back at the end of the year and get some money back : ) ) Amazon.com (my personal favorite. It’s easy to find something cheap, and Amazon will back you up if anything goes wrong with your order for any reason), textbooks.combuyusedtextbooks.comhalf.com, and cash4books all offer used books. You can also search your book by ISBN or title and edition in a search engine. If you do not mind being ripped off, you can also buy used through your university bookstore.

If you have an e-reader and don’t mind settling in to study with electronics, e-books are another great way to save on resources and cash. The only downside is that you cannot buy used or return them at the end of the course.

Planning ahead will not only save you money and the stress of finding the best deal possible, but it will also be incredibly sustainable instead of wasting the resources for a new book.

Green your dorm room: your sustainable home away from home

As students around the country move into their dorm rooms they are faced with what often feels like endless decisions on what they should buy and what they need. Price is often the most important factor in what everyone buys with most people believing the cheaper the better.

Project Green Dorm is an online guide that gives ideas and suggestions for what to buy. Although some of their suggestions can be expensive, the site offers great ideas that can be do-able on any budget. Project Green Dorm gives suggestions for bedroombath and bodycloset (clothing and organization), active clothing and equipment, E-gadgetscleaning suppliesstudy areabreak time, and DIY.
Image courtesy of Project Green Dorm
However, even though there are sustainable options that you can buy, the most sustainable is to use things you already have. When you are writing up your list if things you need for the next year, think about if you could buy them used or repurpose something you already have. But most importantly of all, ask yourself if you even need the item.
When I first moved in my freshmen year I had an endless list of things that I thought would make my life easier or my prison-like room more comfortable. But when I moved out at the end of the year it was shocking to see just how many things I had forgot I had or rarely used. You really will use and need less than you think.
Here are some quick things to remember as you shop and move in:
1. Avoid all objects that are intended to only last a year and then be thrown out.
2. Do everything you can to avoid plastic. Not only does it harm the environment in its creation and disposal, but it also breaks easily and looks tacky. Filling your room with plastic objects can make your room feel more like your storage unit than your home away from home.
3. Dorm rooms are tiny (some make prison cells look spacious). Consider if you really need something or not. I recommend packing all clothing, school supplies, bedding, and other items you know you for sure need, and buying things you are unsure about once you move in. Typically the last minute items for me include needing an extra storage device or container.
4. Bring things to put on your walls. Whether it’s pictures of friends or something that you kept in your room at home, filling your white walls with visually interesting items that you enjoy can make a big difference in making your room feel like home instead of prison. I recommend wrapping paper, pictures, posters, fabric, or anything else you can blue tape or tack to the wall (if you do not have a bulletin board in your room you can easily buy the little squares and make your own).

Smoothie Perfection: Frozen Bananas

I like my smoothies to be thick and cold, but when I use fresh fruit I have a really hard time getting the right temperature and consistency. As a way to add some chill and thicken my smoothies I have been adding in frozen bananas. I strongly believe these are the key to a perfect smoothie. They are also super easy to do.

1. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

2. Slice your bananas and arrange to make sure none of them are touching.

frozen bananas-how-to-freeze-bananas

3. Freeze for an hour or until your bananas are frozen all the way through.

frozen bananas-how-to-freeze-bananas

4. Use a spatula to get them off the sheet and into a freezer safe container of your choice.

Not Just a Pretty Face

“Not Just a Pretty Face: the Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry,” by Stacy Malkan, made me equal parts depressed and hopeful. The book goes into the history of how some of the biggest changes in cosmetics have been made as well as some of the major groups fighting for safer cosmetics.

Image courtesy of oandncollective.org
The sections on the cosmetic industry’s refusal to make changes for safer cosmetics highlighted the fact that these corporations really only care about one thing: money. I haven’t felt safe or like these companies were really looking out for my health for years, but this book really validated my suspicions. Malkan and one of her colleagues even went as far as to attend the cosmetic industry’s conferences and follow what their incredibly powerful industry group was saying about safer cosmetics and more regulations.
If you are using cosmetics out of your local drug store or you want to know what’s really in your bottle and behind the label, “Not Just a Pretty Face” is a quick, informative read that will change how you see your shampoo.

If you only use products that are safe enough to eat, then this book will remind you of the reasons you avoided these products and chemicals in the first place. It also encouraged me to keep telling my friends and family about these chemicals and the corporations that refuse to care about our safety.

Some of the best resources from the book:
CosmeticDatabase.org
ScoreCard.org
ResponsiblePurchasing.org
SafeCosmetics.org
LessToxicGuide.ca
BigGreenPurse.com
GreenLivingNow.com

Dorm living must haves: glasses and silverware

Outfitting a kitchen can be expensive, especially for college students. When I was planning to have a kitchen last year I imagined myself cooking multiple times per week and doing all sorts of intricate baking. I’m not really sure where this delusion came from given the fact that I had been in school for two years already and I knew how busy I usually am. This year I have a much better grasp on reality and what I will really need.

I don’t regret any of the things I bought at the beginning of school last year because I know when I am out of school I will use it all, but I do have a much better understanding of my necessities.

Two of the best purchases I made were also two of the cheapest. I took the time to find inexpensive glasses and silverware, and they ended up being even better than I anticipated. It seems like most college students live off of red cups or their slightly fancier reusable version. Instead I opted for canning jars, and they were seriously the best purchase. I have not stopped finding uses for my jars. They are great for leftovers, to bring a drink with me, use as a vase, and of course, drink out of.

inexpensive glasses and silverware

My other great buy was my silverware “set” off eBay. Even with six people eating most meals in our apartment, we never ran out of forks and rarely were hunting for spoons.

inexpensive glasses and silverware

Blueberry Protein Muffins

I love all baked goods, and muffins are no exception. I also get tired of eating the same thing over and over after a few weeks. I decided to make these muffins as a fun way to mix up my breakfast or a snack, and the recipe itself is a great building block to make all kinds of muffins to keep things interesting. These muffins also pack a punch with 8.2 grams of protein each.
Ingredients
1 cup sunflower seed butter (this is my substitution for my tree nut allergy. The recipe called for almond butter)
1 cup whole wheat flour (substitution for almond meal/flour)
3 eggs, whisked
1/2 cup raw honey
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Although I did not make them vegan or gluten free, it would be easy to do so.
Recipe:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Beat the eggs in a mixer
3. Prepare all of the other wet ingredients, including the honey and the coconut oil, both of which will need to be heated slightly to mix properly.

 

raw honey in a jar
Raw honey is often solid and needs to be gently heated in order to incorporate with the rest of the ingredients well.

 

raw-honey-measuring-cup-Blueberry-Protein-Muffins

The coconut oil also needs some coercing to go from a solid to a liquid.

coconut-oil-dish

 

4. Mix all of your wet ingredients together until well combined.

Blueberry Protein Muffins

5. Add your dry ingredients and beat until just combined. The less you stir, the more tender your muffins will be.
6. Gently fold your blueberries into the batter.

Blueberry Protein Muffins batter

 

Blueberry Protein Muffins batter
7. Scoop into your silicon cups.

 

Blueberry Protein Muffins uncooked batter
8. Bake 15-20 minutes.
9. Eat right out of the oven because you are impatient and they smell amazing.

 

Blueberry Protein Muffins

Recipe adapted from PaleOMG.