Did you know that the average college student produces 640 pounds of solid waste each year, including 500 disposable cups and 320 pounds of paper?  Or that North Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour?  I’ve got a choice expletive for those statistics, but will settle with a G-rated “well gosh!”

With summer officially upon us, I’ve been looking for ways to cut down on my carbon footprint while still maximizing my fun.  Truthfully, I was expecting an uphill battle in achieving Green Goddess status, but to my surprise it’s not all that hard to live in peace with Mother Nature.

I’ve set up a bag for my recyclables right next to my trash can, I’ve cut 5 minutes out of my morning showers and I even started reusing Ziploc bags – easy breezy. And this week, I’m tackling something even bigger: the summer BBQ. I’m pretty sure my weekly Sunday Funday BBQs with my friends contribute about 90% of the plastic cups being tossed into dumpsters each year. Not to mention all the plastic bottles, paper plates and – gah! – who knows what’s in those hot dog remnants?

So I’ve made it my goal to to bring the summer BBQ and this fine planet together harmoniously this summer with The “Green” Barbecue. Fear not, loyal readers.  I’ve seen the (CFL) light and I’m here to share the essentials for an enlightened cookout. Read More »

"I take 10 minute showers! I'm killing the planet!"

For the past few months I’ve been talking your ear off about why the earth is in trouble and how you can go green to save our environment.  And while it’s great to do whatever you can to protect the planet, there is such a thing as caring a little too much. According to the New York Times, there has been an increasing amount of people that report anxiety and stress because they feel like they are never as green as they would like to be.  And, believe it or not, such anxious thoughts about the environment can have negative impacts on your emotional state, your health, and your relationships.

How do you know if you’re just a concerned citizen or full-blown green stress case?  Read on for the answer and for ways to manage if you’re glowing green just a little too brightly.

Are you green stressed? There’s a huge difference between being concerned and being down right obsessed.  Before you go any further, ask yourself a few questions:  Are you happy with your efforts to help the environment?  Do you feel like you’re doing enough to go green?  Are you willing to give up your green efforts to preserve some of your favorite activities?  If you answered yes to all of these questions, then congrats!  You are helping in a way that is both healthy for the environment and healthy for your well-being.

Didn’t pass the test? Then you may have some anxiety issues related to going green. With all of the information out there, it’s hard to feel like you’re ever doing enough to counteract the rest of the world’s indifference.  Before you start ripping your hair out, realize that this is more of a psychological issue than an environmental issue.  An obsession with going green is just the same as an obsession with losing weight or making money – you never feel like you’re doing enough. Read More »

I’m all for being green and helping to save the planet in our my own way. I always recycle empties and I even reuse old print-outs for taking notes in class. But there are some things out there that take things a bit too far. And by “too far,” I mean, “totally gross me out and make me want to vomit in my mouth a little.”

Surely, the planet can be saved without going to these lengths:

1.  Recycled Animal Poo Products – One company collects elephant dung, washes it, and uses it to make pretty recycled-paper stationery.  Another makes “poopourri” in the same sort of way from sheep poo.  Interesting idea, but icky.  I don’t care if it’s washed and sanitized, I don’t want my apartment smellin’ like sheep poo.  Plus, what would someone think if you sent your birthday invites on poo paper?

2.  Reusable Toilet Wipes - Exactly what it sounds like.  Basically, they are cloth wipes that you use when you go to the bathroom… and then wash and reuse.  But where do you put them before you have a chance to get home to wash them? And how do you explain to house guests that you don’t have TP, but they can feel free to wipe themselves with that little napkin next to the toilet? And how would you TP your neighbor’s house for Halloween? So many questions, not to mention the gross-out factor of washing those things with your sheets and towels. Read More »

I’ll be honest: I’m a bitch. I have no problem telling it like it is, talking about someone behind his/her back or telling secrets about people I hate. This is why people fight to stay on my good side.

Which is why people are so surprised when they find out about my passion for animals. I cry when those commercials for animal shelters come on the TV, I have to look away from movies or TV shows when an animal gets injured and I wanted to personally kill Michael Vick when it was discovered he was running that evil dog fighting ring.

It is weird, I know, but I can’t help but feel for creatures who don’t have a voice to defend themselves. Yes, even if they have the teeth or claws to do so.

Like sharks. (Yes, I am being completely serious!) Sharks are most often thought of as predators, but lately off the coast of Florida they have become victims. In the past year more and more sharks have been found murdered in the water. There is no excuse for harming another life – especially an innocent one – and it is up to us to protect every creature on this planet.

Please take a moment to sign the attached petition and protect the sharks and our planet’s wildlife.

As with most large movements in history, young people nationwide are leading the way in the fight towards a more planet-conscious future.

College students from coast to coast are studying ways to reduce waste, toxic emissions and other harmful habits and creating more efficient and earth friendly alternatives. Others are simply making better choices; turning off lights, recycling old notebooks and using cold water for their monthly trips to the laundry room.

Some very conscientious students at various schools are even taking it a step further by living and breathing the Green lifestyle in Green Co-Ops.

Most people think of Co-Ops as Hippie Houses full of free love, pot and rarely-used showers. This new brand of Co-Op, popping up on campuses every day, may have some similar features (like pot, I’m sure), but is a far cry from the original. Read More »

You don’t have to be an extremist to be environmentally friendly. There are a bunch of little changes you can make in your life that will not only help you to be kind to this planet, but these things will also save you money in the end.

Saving money is good; it’s really good. In fact, if you help save the planet enough, you can destroy your body with all of the alcohol you’ll be able to suddenly afford.

• UTILIZE CAR POOLS. Why drive separately? Work out car pooling whenever you can. Gas is way too expensive these days not to.

• CLOTHING/HOME GOOD EXCHANGE PARTIES. Get your girls together and swap the clothes and other things you no longer use.

• DON’T BE AFRAID OF TAP WATER. Even though bottle water is sooo cool, your tap water might not be bad for you — contrary to popular beliefs. If you start drinking your tap water, you’ll save money and reduce your plastic waste.

• HANG DRY YOUR CLOTHING. Sure, it’s sort of a pain in the ass, but you can save all of those dryer quarters for something else. Like arcades. Which are awesome. Read More »

It happens every year. School ends, your lease runs its course and its time to pack up all your sh*t and move out. In doing so, you discover things you haven’t seen since the day you moved in: that old camera (filed with embarrassing photos from that frat party during welcome week), the cell phone you dropped in the toilet and all those empty printer cartridges from finals first semester.

You consider selling everything on Craigslist… or you could just toss that crap in a hefty bag and leave it for the management company to tow away to the nearest landfill. You’d choose number two, didn’t you? Well, Al Gore would be quite upset with you, Captain Contaminator.

Read More »

If I had to choose two things that I am totally obsessed with right now they would be handbags and recycling. The former is a given. And, lately, as our earth begins to head down an ugly and hot path, the latter has become a huge part of me. Come visit me at my house and you will find me either 1) shopping for bags online or 2) separating my paper and plastics.

When I was sitting home tonight doing some online bag shopping (after taking my empty Diet Coke bottles out to the recycling center, of course), I came across a designer who takes my two favorite things in life and blends them together beautifully. May I present to you my new fashion idol:

Ashley Watson

A Fine Arts student from Canada, Watson has added an element of conservation to her line of innovative and unique bags. Unlike her fellow designers, Ashley takes old leather jackets to craft her line of handbags, wallets and beautiful accessories. Each bag is designed by Ashley, handmade and completely unique; no two Ashley Watson bags look the same. Read More »

Lately, it seems everywhere you turn people are turning green. Not nausea induced green (though that may be true if you are enjoying a nice long Welcome Week and hangovers abound), but earth-friendly green.

Whether it be celebrities like Leo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt or the aisles upon aisles of green products at stores around the country, saving the planet isn’t just for tree-huggers anymore.

And as you hear about all the celebs buying Hybrid cars and cities banning bottled water due to the excessive amounts of waste they create, you have to stop and wonder what your impact on the planet is.

Most likely: it isn’t good. Read More »