Guest Post: Regardless of Your School Colors, Go Green!

Your college years are going to stick out in your mind for the rest of your life. It’s the only time where you’ll be on your own with limited responsibilities, outside of your grades of course. You’re going to meet new people from all over the world and perhaps travel the globe yourself. You’ll be living away from your family and will make your own decisions about pretty much everything in your daily life. One decision that you should make is caring about the environment and actually doing something about it. Here are four ways you can go green while in college:

1. Be careful about what you throw away. If you drive by a college dorm at the end of a semester you’re going to see mounds of “trash” that is definitely reusable and sometimes in really good condition. Couches, beds, mattresses, lamps, printers and countless other items are usually tossed out because college students don’t want to lug them to their new residence or don’t want to bring them home for the summer. These items are just going to wind up in a landfill, when they can be used by other students or families. Go to Craigslist and post your items for reuse. Hey, you can make a quick buck too!
2. Leave your car at home. Campuses are designed for the walker. If your campus is huge in your estimation then take public transportation to the library or to your class on the other side of the quad. If you absolutely need your car then leave it in a student lot and use it only when you absolutely must. You’re in college; do you have money to throw away on gas that’s wasted on pointless driving?
3. Put some green in your diet. The dining hall is no longer a wasteland for food choices. Most colleges have listened to their students and offer a wider variety of healthier options. Some even support local growers and buy fruits and vegetables from local farms. Eating non-processed foods will help you also keep off the “freshman 15.”
4. Recycle whenever possible. Colleges are leading advocates for saving the environment and have made it easier for their students to pitch in by recycling. In your dorm’s trash area there will be clearly marked sections for you to deposit recyclable items. Make it easier on yourself by having two receptacles in your place: one for trash and another for recycling. It’s a great habit to get into at a young age.

This article was contributed by Heather Johnson, who is a regular writer on the subject of Concord Law School Reviews. She welcomes your questions, comments and writing job opportunities at heatherjohnson2323[at]gmail[dot]com.

EC SIFE welcomes guest submission of articles for our blog. Feel free to contact us on our website, http://www.etown.edu/sife.

Quick Tips for Remaining Professional

Here are some quick tips for a new employee to remain professional and to adapt to the business world:

• Remember that everything you do on company time can be considered work. Don't surf gaming site, or spend time sending private correspondence over your company's email system. Save that for while you are home.
  
• Know your employer's rules about discussing company information with others. Make sure you don't divulge information that shouldn't be released outside the company.
• If at a company sponsored social event, remember you are still being watching by your co-workers or bosses.
  
• Avoid drinking too much - know your limits
• Stay respectful and polite
• Use the opportunity to network
• Learn the ethical nature of your workplace - what is allowed and what is not
• Look for advice from your managers if you are unsure about a situation
• Be willing to talk to a superior if you see a situation that seems to violate company policy or laws
• Remember that there are laws protecting whistleblowers
• Discuss workplace norms with a mentor or another co-worker, and know company policies regarding technology use, personal relationships, and work expectations.

Green Your Office

You can make a difference and help improve the environment by purchasing recycled products. You will find that most recycled products cost less, or the same as products made from normal materials. Recycled products cost more when the market for them is very limited; however, prices will fall over time when consumers buy these products regularly. There are many materials that you can buy for your office that are recycled. Recycled paper products include: copy paper, cards, envelopes, folders, notebooks, binders, checks, post-its, and cardboard boxes. Other recycled items include: computer disks, toner cartridges for photocopiers and printers, pens, rulers, and scissors. When buying paper products, the three arrows chasing each other on a dark background indicate that the paper contains recycled fibers, and on a light or no background, indicates that the paper can be recycled.

There are a few other simple things to do to make your office green:

• Bring your own coffee mug to work, and encourage other employees to do the same.
• Contribute guest mugs for visitors.
• Save coffee grounds for compost, and give them to anyone who gardens at home.
• Substitute cloth towels for paper towels, and keep them laundered.

Where to Buy:
www.recycledofficeproducts.com
www.waldecks.com
www.dolphinblue.com
www.sustainablegroup.net
www.buyonlinenow.com
www.checkgallery.com
www.greendisk.com

You can also find a number of other recycled office supplies at your local supermarket, or office supply store.