5 Tips to Green Your College Dorm Room or Apartment

I wrote this article back in college well over 10 years ago for The Daily Cougar, The University of Houston's on campus newspaper. When decluttering my office space recently I came across this article again and I thought I would share because I think all of these eco dorm room tips still stand true. I did tweak just a few things like the brands of certain items.

Living a green and sustainable life is something that a lot of people want to do, but do not know where to begin. College is costing students more money every year, and you think, “How could I possibly make green changes in my life without breaking the bank?” There are actually plenty of small things you can do whether you are living the dorm life or live off campus. Let’s start with a few simple inexpensive things you can do:

1. Donate. People tend to collect stuff as time goes on. Being green usually means less is more. Go through what you have and if you haven’t used it in the past 6 months donate it to a local shelter or thrift store. You can take it to places like The Women’s Home, Goodwill or Salvation Army. 
2. Hand wash. Whether it is dishes or clothes, hand washing can be a very eco-friendly thing if it is done correctly. It will save energy and water, but you can not be constantly running the water the whole time you are washing. Also, hang dry your clothes after you have washed them. This does not necessarily have to be done outside; you can also hang dry clothes by putting them underneath a fan. 
3. Go paperless. Many companies are giving you the option to go paperless. This means everything is done electronically instead of receiving paper bills. You can also read most newspapers online now. If you do choose to receive paper bills see if the company has an eco option where they use recycled paper.
4. Use eco cleaners. They do the same job as any other household cleaner just without all the extra harmful chemicals. There is a variety to choose from, Seventh Generation, Branch Basics, Mrs. Meyer’s and Method are just a few of them. You can find these brands at places like Whole Foods, Kroger’s, Target and online.
5. Recycle. You can always recycle no matter where you are at. It is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to help the environment. You can separate your recycling using boxes, small trashcans or any type of storage bins. You can recycle just about anything. For a list of recycling centers in Houston that recycle a variety of items go to: www.houstontx.gov. 

These are all small, easy chores you can do to becoming a greener person. No matter who you are or what you do, taking the smallest of steps to do your part for the environment helps more than you could ever imagine. You can not just become green overnight it is a process which takes time. Whether you do all the things on the list or just one, you are still making a world of difference for yourself and the environment.

ecomodernconcierge.com

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

5 Tips for Eco Dorm Room Living

I wrote this article back in college well over 10 years ago for The Daily Cougar, The University of Houston's on campus newspaper. When decluttering my office space recently I came across this article again and I thought I would share because I think all of these eco dorm room tips still stand true. I did tweak just a few things like the brands of certain items.


Living a green and sustainable life is something that a lot of people want to do, but do not know where to begin. College is costing students more money every year, and you think, “How could I possibly make green changes in my life without breaking the bank?” There are actually plenty of small things you can do whether you are living the dorm life or live off campus. Let’s start with a few simple inexpensive things you can do:

1. Use power strips for all your electronics. Besides saving a ton of energy, they will save you money in the long run on your electric bill. Just turn the power strips off when you are not home and this reduces the amount of vampire energy that you could be wasting. Also, power strips help protect your electronics in the case of a storm. You can pick these up at your local hardware, grocery and home goods store.
2. Buy Organic. Whether it is linens or food, organic is better for you and the environment. Organic materials have become less expensive throughout the years and are now very affordable. You can buy reasonable organic linens at Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond. For organic food, go to your local farmers markets. Farmers markets carry anything from fruits and vegetables to homemade crafts. You can find a list of farmers markets in the Houston area at: http://www.visithoustontexas.com.
3. Use eco cleaners. They do the same job as any other household cleaner just without all the extra harmful chemicals. There is a variety to choose from, Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer’s and Method are just a few of them. You can find these brands at places like Whole Foods, Kroger’s and Target.
4. Recycle. You can always recycle no matter where you are at. It is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to help the environment. You can separate your recycling using boxes, small trashcans or any type of storage bins. You can recycle just about anything. For a list of recycling centers in Houston that recycle a variety of items go to: www.houstontx.gov. 
5. Buy used. There are many of great, used items that people are constantly getting rid of. You buy, sell or trade with others in order get what you are looking for and by leaving a smaller carbon footprint. You can use websites such as: www.houston.craigslist.com or www.freecycle.org (I think this is currently on hold due to COVID-19)

These are all things that you can do for $50 or less. No matter who you are or what you do, taking the smallest of steps to do your part for the environment helps more than you could ever imagine. You can not just become green overnight it is a process which takes time. Whether you do all the things on the list or just one, you are still making a world of difference for yourself and the environment.

ecomodernconcierge.com

Photo by Gabriel Beaudry on Unsplash

Getting Organized for Back to School Roundup

Since this summer passed me by I did not get a chance to prepare a proper back to school blog post like I should have, here is a round up of past blog posts relating to back to school, getting organized, dorm room organization and more. Being a professional organizer I get calls all the time for clients wanting to get organized before the kids head back to school. Some places in Houston have already started back to school and some start back in a few weeks.

Get Organized for Back to School

Made in the USA: School Supplies

Eco Program: Crayola ColorCycle

Dorm Room Organization Tips

Dorm Room Organization Products

Eco Friendly School Supplies

Photo by Renan Kamikoga on Unsplash

ecomodernconcierge.com

Dorm Room Organization Products

Off to college and sharing a dorm room with VERY little space can be super challenging. I have rounded up some products to help you maximize your and get you organized in your dorm room. What are some of your products that I maybe didn't mention?

Adjustable Closet Rod Expander: Perfect for when you have a lot of clothes and need more space in those small closets.

Surge Protector: It seems like most small spaces NEVER have enough plugs. This surge protector will protect your electronics and is long enough to reach in many areas of your dorm room.

Acyclic Divided Lazy Susan: I love using these in my organization projects and think they are especially handy in dorm rooms because they can be used for bath products, school supplies, etc.

Command Hooks: You can never have enough command hooks laying around. They are perfect to hang just about anything from purses to clothes.

Over the Door Shoe Bag: These are great because you can not only use them for your shoes, you can store cleaning supplies, food items, accessories, etc.

Rolling Laundry Basket: This laundry basket on wheels is perfect when you let your laundry pile up before washing. You won't hurt yourself trying to drag around a heavy laundry bag. Just wheel your laundry around with ease.

Over the Door Hook Rack: Various over the door racks are awesome for maximizing your space and hanging items whether it is towels or clothing.

Under Bed Storage: One of the best ways to add more storage in your dorm room is to use under bed storage. You can keep anything in there from personal items to school supplies.

Message Board: This is great to keep track of important dates, reminders, schedules, note sharing with roommates, etc.

Stackable Drawers: A great way to save space is by going vertical and these stackable drawers are perfect to getting the most out of your space.

Beauty Supply Holder: Once again, an over the door product that will help you save space. If you use hair products than this an awesome way to keep track of them and not have them taking up drawer or cabinet space.

Wall and Door Rack: The great thing about this product is that it will not only save space, but is perfect for storing food items. A great alternative to a pantry.

All photos are linked above and are from The Container Store and Bed, Bath and Beyonds websites.

ecomodernconcierge.com

How to Green Your Dorm Room

There are so many eco things you can do in your college dorm room to reduce your carbon footprint.

Here are some ways to green your college dorm room:

• Turn off your electronics.
• Buy furniture second hand.
• Recycle.
• Put purifying plants in your room.
• Buy energy star appliances like microwaves and mini fridges.
• Use smart power strip. 
• Buy organic bedding. 
• Buy eco cleaning supplies or make your own. 
• Buy eco laundry supplies.
• Grow your own herbs in a window.
• Compost. 
• Buy second hand decorations or make your own.
• Use energy efficient lightbulbs like LEDs, Ikea has them inexpensively.
• Use glass dining ware instead of paper or plastic.
• If they are in your room, change the air filters. 
• Hang dry clothes and towels on a clothesline.
• Use old rags and towels to clean.
• Take short showers.
• Eat sustainably. 

ecomodernconcierge.com