OFFICE FOR
SUSTAINABILITY PREPARING FOR THE MOVE • Encourage your student to plan ahead and think minimalist. This will save them time, space and effort. It also lightens their load and your carbon footprint. • Ask your student to connect with their roommate to find out which items they can share to avoid duplicates and to avoid bringing unnecessary items such as a printer. Students are given printing funds to use at the printers located throughout campus. • Check with Residence Life to understand what is provided for your student and make sure they check out the list of prohibited items in residence halls. • Set your student up to take advantage of our more sustainable methods of transportation. • Walking or biking is the best way to get around campus. We have bike racks located outside of all campus buildings and three bike repair stations around campus available for student use. Consider having your student bring a cover as the humidity and winter weather can take a toll on the metal parts. • The Amtrak station is only 3.5 miles from campus! If you have a stop near home, consider having your student use it to go home for visits and breaks. This means less traveling for you and train time is great for studying. • There is an electrical vehicle charging station located in the parking garage near the Ferguson Center for the Arts. • When stocking up on residence hall supplies, seek more sustainable alternatives. • Purchase laundry detergent strips that come in slim packages to save space and reduce effort compared to hauling traditional jugs of detergent from bedroom to laundry room. They also lower waste and have a significantly lower carbon footprint. • Use drying balls as alternatives to dryer sheets and add a few drops of essential oils if your student prefers a scent. This reduces waste and cuts down on exposure to to some potentially harmful compounds that are commonly found in dryer sheets. • Purchase a mesh laundry bag to wash undergarments, socks and other clothing items in. These will help your Captain to not lose items in the washing machines as well as decrease the microplastics released during the process. • Switch to space saving and package-free hygiene products such as shampoo and conditioner bars, reusable makeup remover pads, and toothpaste tablets. • Follow the rule of borrowing, swapping or thrifting before purchasing new. Encourage your student to look for student social media pages that have trades for important items such as books and decor.
58
