In honor of Earth Day, we recently held a contest asking you, our earth friendly readers, to share your tips for going green. We were shocked by all the amazing ideas you ladies shared with us so we thought we’d reduce, reuse and recycle them into a handy list for everyone to use.

If you’re looking for a way (or many ways!) to reduce your carbon footprint without making your life more difficult (or getting all tree huggy), here are a few easy ideas to get you started:

1. Walk. To class, up the stairs, to the grocery store….you’ll save gas and wasted electricity. Bonus: you’ll burn major calories.
2. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs. They are a tad more pricey, but they last FOREVER.
3. Instead of buying bottled water, invest in a cute, reusable bottle and a water filter for your fridge.
4. Unplug any electronics you’re not using – keeping them plugged in, even if they’re not on, still wastes electricity.
5. Bring your own mug to your favorite coffee shops – some places even give you a discount for being green!
6. Don’t throw out old clothes, furniture, or just stuff in general – donate it! Someone could always use what you have to give, and sharing it with someone else keeps it out of the landfills.
7. Use a recyclable shopping bag on your next run to the grocery store or even mall. In fact, keep one in your bag for any errands you might run on your way home or while you’re out.
8. Go for thrift stores! Vintage clothing means no new materials are being wasted. Plus, it’s affordable, fashionable, and one-of-a-kind.
9. Recycle newspapers, old books, or magazines to decorate notebooks, furniture, or make cool projects to spice up your dorm room.
10. Air dry your clothes! It saves a ton of electricity.
11. Instead of buying new sheets or dresses or comforters – try dyeing them to revamp their look!
12. Go paperless and pay your bills online.
13. Bike to class! Not only is it green, but it’s a great workout.

Oh, and don’t forget word-of-mouth! If you’re recycling, tell others and get them to join you. We all live on this earth and need to keep our planet and ourselves as healthy as can be. And when things are this easy, there’s no reason not to greenify your life.

With Earth Day happening tomorrow, we at CollegeCandy have been thinking a lot about our carbon footprint and the many ways we can reduce it. Since there are only a few of us up in here, it’s easy to make small changes that will have a big impact. Like reusing coffee cups and water bottles. And printing on both sides of the paper. And keeping the window closed when the heat or A/C is on.

See? Easy breezy.

But then we think about all our college ladies out there and the campuses you live on with thousands of other students. And all that waste. Between the electricity, food, water, and everything else college students use and toss, colleges waste a lot. Just think of all the lights that are constantly on in every building or the cafeteria food that doesn’t get eaten at the end of the day. There are so many wasted resources on college campuses and until recently, that was just the name of the game. But in the past few years tons of colleges have found ways to combat that, reduce their carbon footprint and be more earth friendly.

Here are just a few things your college might be doing to make Mother Nature proud!

1. Bye-bye, trays!
You might have noticed that your cafeteria is devoid of lunch trays. Annoying, right? I remember when my school did it; I was furious! How on earth am I supposed to carry all the plates, bowls, and drinks without a tray? And why would they take them away in the first place? Were they trying to make my life more difficult? Answer: no. Eliminating trays cuts down on two major sources of waste in colleges: the wasted food from all of us students taking way more than we needed and all the water it takes to wash the thousands of trays daily.

2. Go carbon neutrality!
More and more colleges are signing a comprehensive agreement to go ‘carbon neutral,’ which essentially means either A) not emitting greenhouse gases or B) offsetting their greenhouse emissions through tree-planting or buying “offsets” from companies that support alternative energy projects. Greenhouse gases are slowly chipping away at our atmosphere and it’s important that we slow down this process (or eventually stop it altogether). So if you notice more trees on your campus, you can rest easy knowing your school is doing what it can to be carbon neutral…while also giving you a lovely place to study in the fall and spring!

3. Reducing energy usage!
College campuses use a lot of electricity. Just think of all the things powered by electricity: building lights, the kitchens, the computer labs, and virtually everything else on campus. However, colleges are now trying to enact rules to shut down lights and computer labs after a certain time in order to minimize energy loss. While this might put a damper on those all-nighters some students pull, computer labs use a lot of electricity that could otherwise be saved during those late hours. And who knows? Maybe helping the planet will also do wonders on your study habits and GPA.

4. Recycling bins!
This seems obvious, right? Of course everyone should recycle! But now colleges are being more aggressive about it. Most college campuses now have more recycling bins than garbage bins. Plus, a lot of colleges are now differentiating between all the different types of materials you can recycle. For instance, my own college has separate bins for paper and bottles. And since these bins are virtually everywhere on campus, most students have no problem recycling because it’s almost easier to recycle than to track down a garbage bin.

5. Public Transportation!
A lot of students have their own cars on campus because it’s just so much easier to get around when you have a car. However, campuses are making it harder to bring your car, either by charging semester fees to keep it or allowing parking passes only to upperclassmen. I know this sounds terrible in theory, but using the bus means two things: one, you’re really cutting down on your own personal carbon footprint, and two, you’re saving money! Gas prices are ridiculous. Free bus rides are heavenly things on a college budget.

6. Green housing options!
I know on several campuses, including my own, there are now green housing options. Not all of the residence halls are green, but a lot of colleges are giving students the choice to live in a green environment. I bet you’re asking yourself what the cons are of living in a green building. And there really aren’t any! Yes, you have to recycle and take shorter showers, but it’s all things that add up to reducing your carbon waste and saving the environment around you. Plus, these green buildings are always super high-tech which means they’re pretty beautiful buildings. And they’re new! It’s a wonderful housing option, if you ask me.

7. Organic gardens!
Yes. College campuses are now growing their own food. Organically! For example, Yale University has a student-run organic garden that supplies food to the campus food services, the local community, and students and faculty. Go Yale!

8. Low-water-volume bathrooms!
You might not think of it, but showers and toilets use up a lot of water. (A 10-minute shower uses 25 gallons of water!) To minimize this water waste, almost all college campuses now utilize low-water-volume showerheads, faucets, and toilets in order to cut down on the amount of waste.

9. Sustainability 101!
Not only are universities making changes to reduce their carbon footprint now, but more and more schools are offering classes and entire programs dedicated to sustainability that will allow students to continue to have an impact in the future. And that’s the most important thing because there is so much we still need to do to reduce our negative impact on the planet and who better to lead that charge than those of us learning and preparing for the real world?

The following post is courtesy of our gal pals over at CollegeFashion.net. Check them out for all your fashion and beauty needs!

It’s undeniable: the eco-friendly fashion movement is growing stronger every day. From Harry Potter’s resident fashionista Emma Watson designing her own collection of magical duds for British brand People Tree to Seattle’s hosting of the first ever Eco-Chic Expo in April, sustainable style is spreading like wildfire. (Oops–bad metaphor for an eco-friendly fashion post?)

Whether you’re new to eco-fashion or just want some tips on greening your wardrobe, never fear: I’ve boiled down the basic lingo & facts you need to know into a quick, easy-to-understand guide. Read this, and you’ll be ready to embark on your first green shopping trip in no time!

Green Fashion Terms to Know Before You Shop:

Sustainable: A sustainable product has the ability to be produced (over & over & over again) without doing much harm to the environment.
Renew-ability: Renewable resources are derived from something living (plant, animal, ecosystem) that can regenerate.
Cruelty-free: Cruelty-free companies do not test on or use animals in their products.
Carbon Footprint: A carbon footprint is a measurement of the impact human activities have on the environment. In terms of fashion, a clothing’s carbon or ecological footprint is the impact the piece of clothing has had on the environment from start to finish.

Eco-Friendly Fabrics to Try:

Bamboo: Bamboo is one of nature’s most sustainable resources! Added bonus: It drapes super-nicely across the human bod.
Organic Cotton: Organic cotton is harvested using what are called “organic farming methods” and doesn’t require pesticides or herbicides to grow.  (On the other hand, regular cotton is usually permeated with chemicals!)
Hemp: Hemp doesn’t need pesticides, herbicides or fungicides to grow, so it’s a popular fabric used to make organic clothing. Plus, it’s very comfortable to wear.
Other Eco-Chic Fabrics: Soy, Eco-Spun (fabric made from soda bottles/cans!), SeaCell (a mix of seaweed and wood pulp fiber), Wool (in place of other furs).

Need some eco-fashion inspiration? Click here for earth friendly outfit ideas.

But they still deserve something this holiday, right?

Let me take the guess-work out of buying for the environmentalist in your life, with a few eco-friendly gifts that even Captain Planet could love.

But first, a few tips:

Tip #1: Look for products with sustainable materials and processes.  Items made from recycled materials (there are tons of these on Etsy!) are very environmentally friendly, as well as unique!
Tip #2: Consider where the product was made.  Items made in your area require less fuel to reach store shelves, and therefore have a smaller impact.  It’s also good to know whether an item is fair trade.
Tip #3: Redefine what constitutes a gift and give to a charity in your recipient’s name.  Use Charity Navigator to make a donation to an environmental organization your tree hugger supports.
Tip #4: Think about how you’re wrapping the gift.  Gift bags can be reused, or you can reuse newspaper for a free way to wrap your present.

And now for some fun gifts!

Items Under $15

Zak! Confetti Dinnerware - Zak! dinnerware is made of recycled melamine. For $15 you could buy a couple dishes that your tree hugger could use on take-out night instead of those harmful paper plates
Little Concrete Planter with Airplant – A perfect addition for your tree hugger’s home, even if they inhabit a tiny dorm room!
Eco Recycled Card Holder – A card holder for your ecoholic’s bus pass or library card made from a recycled billboard banner

Items Under $30

Filtered Stainless-Steel Water Bottle – This water bottle not only reduces the amount of plastic bottles being tossed, but it also has a filter built in! Who needs bottled water now?
Greensburg DVD Set – Co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, this series follows the ‘green’ rebuilding of Greensburg, Kansas following a devastating tornado. It’s fascinating!
Burt’s Bees Gift Set – Natural beauty products to pamper your little tree hugger without harming Mother Earth.

Items Under $50

Love to Ride Set – Perfect for your bike-riding environmentalist.  It has accessories made from recycled bike parts.
Butter Nail Polish Pack – Your ecoholic can still look good with natural nail products.
Peeled Snacks – Nourish your favorite tree hugger with a gift tin full of tasty organic treats

Items Under $75

Surge for iPhone Case – This device is seriously cool.  It is a hybrid solar charger, meaning it can charge your techie-tree-hugger’s iPhone in sunlight.  A green-addition to this energy saving gift?  A green iPhone app.

Garden Stacker - This indoor herb garden is perfect for the tree hugger that loves to cook.  Bonus: there are different gardens at various price points.

Cute veggie handler is always in season.

If you ask any environmentalist what you should eat to go green, they almost always will mention in-season produce.  I, like most of us, love the idea of eating fresh vegetables that haven’t been genetically modified to grow year round.

The only problem with eating in-season vegetables?  I have no freakin’ idea which vegetables are in season!  This holds especially during the colder months, when I, a California native, just assume that everything everywhere else is buried underneath a good 5 feet of snow.  In case you, like me, are utterly clueless when it comes to veggies, I have compiled a handy little guide to make the most educated choices when you’re at your neighborhood farmers market (because that’s obvi where you’re shopping, right??).

Why should I care? In season fruits and vegetables cure cancer.  Okay, not really, but they are still better for your health because they’re less likely to be doused in chemicals.  In-season crops are meant to grow during that time, meaning that they need less manmade help in order to thrive.  They’re also better for the environment because they’re less likely to be shipped from a faraway place that has the perfect growing climate for that crop.  Plus, they just taste better without all of that icky stuff all over it.

What do I need to know? Buying in season is great, but buying locally in season is best.  Head to your neighborhood farmer’s market and buy from the small, local farmers.  They’re less likely to spend money on genetically modified crops and pesticides that keep out of season plants alive, so it’s a greater guarantee that you’ll be putting your money towards those in-season crops.

How do I know which crops are in season? There are some great websites that can provide all of that information for you with the click of a mouse.  My favorite is Sustainable Table because it’s really easy and informative.  Just put in your state, select which month it is and, viola (!), it’s all done for you.

What if I’m just too lazy? Here are a list of crops that are generally in season during the winter months.  Keep in mind that these may or may not be in season in your region, so be sure to double check at Sustainable Table.  For quick reference, winter crops may include…

Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Onions
Leeks
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Radishes
Greens: Spinach, Arugula, Lettuce, Kale, Swiss Chard, Collard Greens
Turnips
Winter Squash
Apples (early winter only)

What if I hate those foods? Get over it!  I’m guessing that most of us haven’t tried most of the crops on that list.  So suck it up, get creative, and eat yummy food!  I promise, anything can taste good with a few spices and the right recipe.  Plus, adding variety to your diet can really improve your nutritional status.  So dig in and have fun!

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, right now. Everyone’s got something to share..

Biodegradable Trash Bags:
Did you know that those white plastic bags currently housing beer cans and so-dirty-and-covered-in-dust-bunnies-that-they-can’t-be-salvaged beer pong balls take a thousand years to biodegrade, if ever? Didn’t think so. Lord knows I’m not thinking about how long my trash bag will hang out with Mother Earth when I’m throwing up in it on a hungover Sunday morning.

Well now you can puke with a green conscience. Green Genius has come up with a line of garbage bags that are edible by microbes. The (green) geniuses realized that combining plastic with an additive that bonds organic nutrients to the plastic’s molecular structure miraculously turns the evil material into sugars, fatty acids, and amino acids while it sits in the landfill.

And in English that means one thing: these bags are better for Mama Earth.

iPod/iPhone gloves:
For all you iPhone/touch phone users, I know walking and texting/online shopping/scrolling through your music until you find something you actually like is addicting.  (I get it, but please, for the love of my un-scraped heels, watch where you’re going!) But with winter, well, here, no text is worth frostbite on that finger of yours. After all, after they amputate it texting will be a hell of a lot more difficult (even if your manicure is suddenly cheaper…). While tons of companies are now making gloves where you can peel bag the fingers to allow for phone manipulation, that’s not good enough for me. Thankfully, Tavo has created these gloves that have traction on the actual glove tips so that you can keep keep your hands inside the toasty gloves and text your bff about the totes awk encounter you just had w/ ur ex! They may not be as cute as those gray wool mittens you’ve been eying at Target, but, let’s be real, there’s nothing cute about missing fingers.

Gap Cozy Slipper Booties:
If there’s one thing you should know about this winter, it’s these. In approximately three weeks you will find me on my couch (assuming you know where I live…) watching every season of Gossip Girl (I’m so behind, I know!) in comfy sweats and these bad boys. And not leaving for DAYS. Once you’ve slipped into a pair, you’ll be more than happy I told you about them.

By just being a tad more conscious of your recycling options, you can make a huge difference with relatively minimal effort.  Here are some common products that you can recycle right in your home town!

Batteries – These babies are full of heavy metals and toxins that are of special concern to soil and water contamination, so be sure to recycle them!  Keep a box in your room so once those batteries from your remote control (or any other battery powered “appliances”…) burn out you can send them in to be recycled.  Batteryrecycling.com has a good program where you can send in pretty much any commercial battery for recycling, or you can check out any local recycling centers in your area to see if they offer this service.

Laptops – I don’t know about you, but I have definitely made my way through computers.  My most recent, Doris, has a cracked screen and a dead battery.  Who in their right mind would want to take her off my hands?  Gazelle.com, that’s who.  They offer laptop recycling services and even offer payment for some laptop models!  If poor little Doris can have a $30 value, just imagine what your old laptop can fetch!

Clothes – As college girls, I’m sure we’ve all become familiar with the beauty that is Goodwill.  There is no better excuse for buying new clothes than donating the old ones to a good cause.  But what about those that are just too threadbare to donate?  Surprisingly, you can donate them anyways!   Goodwill and the Salvation Army send out these clothes to “rag sorters” which recycle the fabrics themselves.  Another good option for running shoes in particular is Recycled Runners, a company specializing in recycling and donation of running shoes.  Hit up their website for donation info and sights in your area.

Glasses – Although we hate to admit it, most of us sport a pair of spectacles now and again.  Now I’m sure you look fabbb in your Polo readers, but what about those fug pink wire ones in hidden your closet from 6^th grade?  Believe it or not, thousands of people are without glasses when they really need them.  Donate them via New Eyes for the Needy or drop them off at your local LensCrafters to ensure that they are handed off to somebody who really needs them.

Medications – Even if your new birth control meds make you bitchy, never ever flush them down the toilet!  Pharmaceuticals can seep into our water supply, polluting local bodies of water and even our own drinking water!  Instead, find a local pharmacy with a “take back” program for any over-the-counter drugs, personal care products, and prescription drugs and spare the fishies your terrible PMS symptoms (joking!).

Anything else – If you can’t find a good place for it, just donate it or, better yet, put it on Craigslist!  Craigslist perfectly embodies the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”; no matter what you have you are bound to find someone else that has been dying to find it.  What’s more, they’ll even come pick up your junk and might even pay you for it!  I really can’t think of a lazier way to make money while exercising your eco-friendly side.

Even if your junk isn’t on this list, it can probably be recycled!  Check Earth911.com before you throw anything away – it’s a great resource for recycling info! It even has a search tool so that you can find a local drop-off site for all of your unwanted junk.  Happy recycling!!

Here are my favorite shopping tips to don’t just save the environment, but they can also save you money.

Read on, my fellow “Frugalista” (thank you, Target.)

Shop in stores.  Preferably ones you can walk or carpool to.  Retailers get their shipments in bulk, which decreases the amount of packaging material used to deliver the products.  When you shop online, shipping costs (and all that wasted paper and cardboard) can add up quickly, so spare yourself and hit the local mall (with your reusable tote!). Be sure to try on before you buy so you can avoid the extra gas needed to return something to the store.

Look for local labels.  Try to buy from companies that are based in the your state to cut down on energy needed for transportation.  If that’s not possible, look for brands that produce their products within the United States.  American Apparel, C&C Cailfornia, Splendid, J.Crew, Lucky Jeans, Joe’s Jeans, True Religion, Juicy Couture, 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, and Rock and Republic (just to name a few) all manufacture their clothing in the U.S.

Shop smart online.  If you’re going to shop online, be sure you do it in an ecologically responsible manner by using the following tips.

Buy in bulk. Wait until you have a large order before ordering online or combine with friends to save on the environmental and financial costs of shipping.

Ditch the rush order stress. Plan ahead so you don’t have to choose expedited shipping over standard shipping rates.  This also gives the Postal Service a chance to fill up their trucks with packages before shipping them out.  More packages = fewer cross-country trips = a happy planet.

Choose your delivery address wisely. Be sure to have your packages delivered to a convenient address.  If you have them delivered to your apartment, for example, be sure that your roommates will be around to pick it up for you.  If they aren’t available, leave a note on the door telling the postman that he can just leave the package on the doorstep without a signature.  This avoids the annoying and fuel-guzzling trips back and forth to the Post Office.

Switch to Paperless Statements. Once all your earth-friendly shopping is done, you’re going to have to pay that credit card bill. But make Mother Earth proud and do it all online. No more 5-page bills coming to you in the mail. No more wasted paper (and money!) on mailing that check back to the company. It’s the greenest way to pay.

You know that really annoying friend of yours who feels the incessant need to point out that they were the first to know about a now really popular band every. single. time. it comes on the radio?

As annoying as they are, there is something exciting about the knowing of a new band, new clothing brand, great sale, awesome book or recipe, and sharing it with the ones you love. And by ones you love, I mean the ones you go back and forth with right here on the CollegeCandy message boards.

So here’s the deal: every week, we will feature things that YOU think other CollegeCandy readers just have to know about. Anything at all. Nothing is off limits.

Guffly.com
We all are trying to be green: wear more green, eat more green, recycle more green, earn more green. But sometimes it’s hard because we don’t know where to look for the best products. And let’s face it – some of those eco-friendly fashions have been hit with the ugly stick one too many times. Not to mention the sometimes way-out-there price tags – I mean I could buy some Jimmy Choo’s for the price of some of these reusable forks, frocks and eco-friendly gym bags! But thankfully, Guffly has come to our rescue. Guffly is a one-product-per-day online store (perfect for those of us who get overwhelmed by too many fabu products at once!). They feature eco-friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. They have made it their jobs (literally!) to find only the most stylish eco-friendly and fair trade products out there.  Now you can actually do something good for the environment, feel good about yourself AND still look cute. Sign me up. 

Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds (Dark Chocolate Flavor) 100 Calorie Packs
When 4:00 rolls around, you will not want to be my friend if I don’t have a snack first. This is the honest truth. But it’s always so hard for me to find a snack that:
1)      Fulfills the cravings for both something sweet and crunchy/salty (something I believe all girls can relate to)
2)      Will actually keep me full until dinner (AKA has protein)
3)      Isn’t so high in calories that I will have to resort to a bag of lettuce for dinner
4)      Is damn good

Okay so I’m high maintenance when it comes to snacks. But I’ve found the answer and it’s the 100 calorie pack of Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds!  I am usually not a proponent of 100 cal packs; they are filled with chemicals, artificial sweeteners and empty carbs that do nothing but spike your blood sugar leaving you ravaged and ready to tear into any vending machine goody you can get your hands on. (Read: first stop, my thighs!)  But these little gems (or Emeralds, rather) are a delish, protein (with chocolate!) filled treat. Throw one in your purse so you won’t have an excuse to buy that pumpkin loaf on your way to the lib.

Glee
You may already know about Glee, but it’s so good in that cheesy I-can’t-believe-it-takes-me-to-my-happy-place-but-it-does kind of way that for those of you who don’t know (or watch) I just had to share. The music: amazingness. The eye-candy: heavenly. Everything about this show screams “Guilty Pleasure!” except I don’t feel guilty. Not even a smidgen. When Lea Michele hits those high notes  the inner “I wish I was a pop star” comes right up to the surface and, before I know it, I’m singing in my hairbrush and dancing to Journey or Celine in front of my window (until my neighbors notice). Too much? Trust me – watch it and you will be doing the same!

Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, right now. Well, not right now, but soon. Like, every Thursday.

I first learned about Freitag, a Swiss company, and its products while flipping through a magazine during a flight. What kept me reading the whole article instead of turning up the volume on my headphones to whatever random movie was playing on that mini screen 10 rows up was how they made their products. This wasn’t just another ho-hum ad for a travel bag; Freitag was born from something bigger.

The idea came about when graphic designer brothers Markus and Daniel Freitag wanted a durable and waterproof messenger bag to carry their belongings in. They traveled by bike and when it rained, their designs would get ruined. They were inspired by the colorful trucks that would drive past their apartment, so they made the very first Freitag bag out of a truck tarpaulin with a used car seatbelt as the strap and an old bicycle inner tube as the edging.

And there it was: an awesome looking bag that was practical and eco-friendly.

Since its first production in 1993, Freitag has expanded from messenger bags of various sizes to tote bags, duffle bags, wallets, and even soccer balls, as well as many other items. They continue to use the same recycled materials, making it a very eco-friendly company. If you are able to afford the price tag, which may be a bit steep, you will get a high quality and unique bag in return. Each product is made from tarpaulins of different colors and designs, so your bag will be the only one of its kind! With so many to choose from, there’s sure to be one you’ll love.

I’ve been wanting a Freitag bag since I read that article over a year ago. If only I could stop making all those trips to frozen yogurt shops and Forever 21 to save enough for one.