APARTMENT GUIDE 4
23
GREEN (CONTINUED FROM 22)
BY CLAYTON ASHLEY
cashley@kansan.com
Living green isn't just a great way to conserve resources and lessen pollution. It's one of the easiest ways to save money.
"The word 'conservation' is sometimes misunderstood to mean 'doing without,' and can conjure images of sitting in the dark and cold to cut down on energy use," said Jeff Severin, director of the KU Center for Sustainability, said. "There are many things a student on a budget can do to live more sustainably that will actually save them money."
Many University students have already started doing small things to help the environment and conserve resources.
"We use dish towels instead of paper towels." Miranda Lewis-Neff, Shawnee sophomore, said.
"I turn off anything I'm not using at the moment." Mackenzie Click.
Shawnee junior, said. "We also save and reuse grocery bags."
One of the best ways to save money and energy is to cut down on utilities. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can significantly lower monthly bills in an apartment or house by providing the same amount of light for one-sixth the wattage.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a single CFL will save more than $30 during its five-year lifetime, which is about eight times the lifespan of ordinary incandescent light bulbs.
"If you take them with you when you move, they'll probably still be working when you
graduate and move into your first home," Severin said.
Another quick way to cut down on utility bills is to kill a few vampires — though not the blood-sucking type. The Department of Energy defines "electricity vampires" as appliances that draw a small amount of electricity even when they are turned off or are in "standby" mode.
Some common energy-wasting appliances found in students' homes include LCD/plasma televisions, laptop computers, video game consoles and cell phone chargers. Many electronic devices draw a small charge even when turned off to power things, such as clocks, and to be able to detect a remote control, such as a television remote or video game controller. Other devices, such as cell phone chargers, are poorly designed, so they don't stop drawing electricity even when not in use.
WAYS TO SAVE
Buy compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).
According to the Department of Energy Web site, www.energy.gov, these vampires can make up to 10 percent of a homeowner's electricity bill. Unplugging these devices is the
- Wash clothing in cold water.
Use aluminum water bottles.
Unplug "vampire" appliances.
"I turn off anything I'm not using at the moment. We also save and reuse grocery bags."
Shop at used clothing and furniture stores.
most straightforward way to prevent energy waste, but using a surge protector with an on/off switch is an even simpler way. Surge protectors are designed to stop the flow of electricity when in "off" mode. That way, an energy-wasting television, video game console and cell phone charger can all be stopped with
MACKENZIE CLICK
Shawnee junior
one switch.
Saving on utilities also includes cutting down on water. According to the KU Center for Sustainability's Web site, www2. ku.edu/~sustain, some of the simplest water conservation techniques include turning the water off while brushing teeth and shaving, and taking short showers instead of baths.
"I have an aluminum water bottle so I don't have to buy bottled water."
Some students have already
found that cutting down on bottled water is a great way to save money and reduce waste.
KENDAL FORIO Lawrence junior
"I have an aluminum water bottle so I don't have to buy bottled water," Kendal Forio, Lawrence junior, said. A student who uses an aluminum water bottle that costs $10 instead of buying two bottles of water per week can save
nearly $100 per year and prevent more than a 100 plastic bottles from ending up in landfills.
People who live in apartments and want that bottled-water taste can use water filters. These products last for months before their filters need to be replaced, which can amount to hundreds of bottles of water for about $8 per filter.
According to the KU Center for Sustainability's Web site, one overlooked method of saving energy is using cold water to wash clothing. Students can save more than $60 per year by using special cold-water detergent and using less hot water, which can cost extra electricity or gas to heat.
According to the KU Center
Shopping at used clothing or furniture stores can also cut a student's expenses and can keep unnecessary waste out of landfills.
"Shop at used clothing stores to get good quality, gently used items instead of buying new," said Severin. "Really put some thought into your purchases and consider the long term impacts of your purchasing decisions."
— Edited by Susan Melgren
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