Thinking green is easy, just put your mind to it!


Thinking green is easy. The key is to be aware of what you do in your everyday life.
You have to think about what you consume and change your habits if you want to help yourself and the environment.
Keith Tait is the Director of Environment, Health, and Safety at SUNY Plattsburgh.
He is helping the college to think green and make students aware of what they do in their everyday lives.
“We all need to be aware of the things we do that effect the environment,” Tait said. “They are personal choices. We can have the choice or the government could start forcing us to make the right choice.”

Here are some things that Tait suggests to Think Green:
1. Transportation – We are a driving community and there are plenty of opportunities to carpool to school and work. We do have a small mass transit system, but it is limited. The community should think about helping each other and at the same time, helping the environment.
2. Powering down – Not many people think about the little things that suck up energy. Leaving lights on is one thing that people, especially college students, don’t think about. Just because there are energy saving light bulbs, doesn’t mean they should be left on. Computers are big energy hogs, when you are not home – shut the computer off – the screen saver isn’t an energy saver. Unplug cell phone and other battery chargers, even when they are not charging your phone, they are still consuming energy. Not only will you be helping the environment, you will notice a cut in your electrical bill.
3. Recycling – Most places you will find a recycling bin. There are even plastic bag recycling bins at most big stores (Walmart, Pet Smart, etc.) You just have to make the effort to separate the recycling items from the garbage. If you take your own garbage to the landfill, they offer recycling for most recyclable items – plastic, glass, batteries, metal, etc.
4. Food consumption – In the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, SUNY Plattsburgh started the trayless policy in all dining halls. This cut the food consumption by students and they weren’t even aware of it. Only get or prepare what you know you will eat.
5. Product consumption – Being aware of the products we use is a simple task. Buying products that are made from recycled or eco-friendly products. Products that are reusable, like coffee cups or plastic containers, are usually affordable and easy to find.
6. Clothing – Now there is nothing wrong with hand-me-downs. Most clothing found in thrift shops or places like the Salvation Army are fine, they may not be ‘In Style’ but it is clothing. The way society thinks about materialistic things today makes people spend money on clothing that they wouldn’t waste their money on otherwise.
Clothing is clothing no matter where it comes from.
7. Cars – Yes, it is great when you can afford a car that is eco-friendly. But for most people in America, used will have to do. Getting your child a used car as their first vehicle is a great idea, it is better that it will be used instead of rusting in a car lot then being sent to the crushers. It is money saving and it can be a learning experience for the young adult.

Just be aware of the things you do in your everyday life. It could help in more ways than just helping the environment, like saving you and your family money. These are simple tasks that you just have to do by thinking about what you are doing. Think Green!