Tag: Tips

Sustainability Tips for the Summer

Whether you’re graduating or just going home for the summer, here are some tips for living sustainably while you enjoy the sunny weather.

Stay Connected!

The NYU Office of Sustainability continues to plan exciting projects and events throughout the summer. Keep up to date on NYU’s sustainability initiatives and opportunities by signing up for our newsletter. 

Make conscious consumer choices.

Summertime is usually filled with long-awaited vacations, and you might be tempted to shop for a whole new wardrobe to celebrate. If you’re purchasing new summer attire, consider gently used and thrifted options or look at where your items were produced, under what conditions, and how far they had to travel to get to your door. Not only do used goods help the environment, but they can also help your wallet as they are usually much more cost-effective than new products. 

Get your green thumb out!

Even as we approach June, It’s not too late to start a garden! Try to grow your own produce this summer instead of taking trips to the grocery store and buying packaged goods. You can plant cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and many more yummy vegetables that taste even better when grown in your own backyard or window sill garden. 

If growing produce is a little intimidating, try your hand at helping a house plant grow. With longer days and warmer weather, there are tons of nurseries bursting with different plants to choose from.

Explore ways to advance your favorite environmental causes. 

Scope out an organization that helps you clean up your neighborhood or city, helps plant trees, or builds community gardens. Attend community board meetings, get involved with local environmental activists, and reach out to your elected officials. 

Want to advance sustainability but not sure where to start? You can start off by using our Climate Venn and Student Sustainability Guide as resources for figuring out how you can contribute to making the world a little greener.

Still missing something you need? Move-in tips to reduce waste

Every year, over 11,000 NYU students move into residence halls all across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Lined up in front of the halls on move-in day, there are not only grinning students, but also mini fridges, microwaves, fans, and lamps, just to name a few. Students and their families haul these new items up to their rooms in preparation for the year ahead.

Yet, several months later when the rooms are cleared, where does all of this equipment end up? While sometimes put in storage or donated, most items end up in the landfill after the school year comes to a close. 

Tips for Reducing Your Waste During Move-In:

  • Rent Second-Hand Items:  After observing the amount of waste that accumulates from residence halls, NYU entrepreneur Patrick Varuzza wanted to help students reduce their carbon footprint and support a circular economy. He founded Hubbub, a platform allowing students to rent dorm/apartment essentials and have the items delivered directly to their residence. Their inventory ranges from microwaves to coffee machines to vacuums. Since they pick it up at the end of the academic year there is no waste!
  • Purchase Reusables: Ensure that you have a reusable water bottle, coffee mug, utensils, and bags once you move into your residence. Plastic packaging waste quickly accumulates and NYU no longer gives out single-use water bottles in efforts to reduce our environmental impact. 
  • Fight Food Insecurity with the Student Pantry: The College Student Pantry at SAFH in East Village addresses food insecurity among students by providing them with free food and meals. By making an appointment, you receive 3-days worth of groceries. There will be a Welcome Event on Wednesday, Sept 7th 4pm-7pm for free groceries, cooking demos, and student care kits.
  • Borrow Books: NYU Libraries outlines how you can borrow books, videos, and audio from NYU, Consortium, and Non-NYU libraries. Facebook Marketplace, the Strand, and other used book stores also offer affordable reading materials. By borrowing or purchasing secondhand, you give books more uses and eliminate waste. 
  • Borrow & Swap Items with Friends: Students can both dispose of items they no longer want and attain new supplies by exchanging with others. As upperclassmen move into new residences, they might be looking to give away some items so ask around. It’s easy to swap books, clothes, equipment, and other everyday essentials.
  • Familiarize Yourself with Waste Bins: NYU has landfill and mixed recycling bins on every floor with composting bins in dining halls. Each hall also has a bin to collect textiles typically located near the laundry room. By correctly sorting your waste, you help reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills. 
  • Use Donation Services Throughout the Year: Check out the DonateNYC portal for a comprehensive resource on where to donate all of your items including clothes, furniture, food, bedding, books, and household items. By donating throughout the year, you reduce the number of items you need to discard when move-out comes around. 
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Green Cleaning

Many ingredients in conventional cleaning products may pose environmental and health risks. This guide will help you easily identify sustainable and effective alternatives!

hand wearing dishwasher glove scrubbing dirt of a table with water, lemon, and baking sodaBetter Commercial Products

  • Look for reputable certification labels – Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) comprehensive guide on greener cleaning products. Look for “Safer Choice” and “Design for the Environment” certification labels created by the EPA to identify products made with ingredients that are safer for you and the environment. There are other third-party certifications with various goals and standards. The EPA provides a full list of recommendations in regards to private sector standards and eco-labels.
  • Use your products to the last drop – Don’t throw a product away until it’s fully empty. Store bottles upside down to get every drop. If you’re at the start of your green cleaning journey, use up what you have left and switch over to sustainable alternatives as you run out. 

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