Clarkson Integrator

Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Michael E. Ach/Newsday/MCT Stony Brook University senior Michelle Pizer recommends aluminum water bottles and canvas totes for all college students in Stony Brook, New York, July 30, 2008.

Though today's college students are more aware of the environment than their parents were at that age, creating an eco-friendly dorm may be a challenge given the space limitations of the average room. That's why shopping for green alternatives to the extensive list of accessories and supplies they will need can be a practical way to protect the Earth and their home away from home at the same time.

Before you shop, check with the school to see if it has recommendations and suggestions for green options, says Amy Provenzano, executive director of environmental stewardship at Stony Brook University. "Then look for items made out of recycled content, like cotton, hemp, bamboo and cork, and try to stay away from plastics. You can get substitutes for all kinds of items, like hangers and rugs," she says. "Go more organic for bedding and towels, like 100 percent cotton. They cost more and don't always come in the extra long twin for dorm rooms, but you can opt for an organic pillow, at least."

REUSE, RECYCLE

Don't assume you can only buy new, says Jessica Jensen, chief executive of Low Impact Living, a green home improvement site. "Students can decorate their dorms with items purchased from Goodwill, vintage shops and (the online classified site) Craigslist. And many schools have recycling programs whereby items kids didn't take home with them last year are available to students for this school year, like chairs and appliances."

YOUR NEW WAY OF LIVING: GREEN EVERYTHING

Keep energy saving in mind when you buy products that use electricity. For instance, while most rooms have overhead lighting, if you get a desk lamp, provide your child with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Brian Kenny, resident hall director for Adelphi University in Garden City, N.J., recommends shopping for appliances with the Energy Star label, including the student's computer, monitor, TV and refrigerator.

But students also can opt for communal appliances, says Michael LaFemina, 23, a representative of Students for a Greener Hofstra, an organization at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. "You don't have to bring a microwave and refrigerator, as these are usually available in the common area. So are TVs and DVD players," he says. "It's all about using less energy. And if you do have your own appliances, keep them on power save mode."

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