SOPE - Practical On-Campus Tips

Want to take action while on campus? Try these simple steps:
 

Thinking about driving from Vandenberg Hall to Pawley? Think again - The majority of harmful vehicle carbon emissions are produced within the first mile of driving. Instead, grab one of the OU Bike Share's neon orange or green bikes! (Don't forget to leave it parked for someone else to use once you've reached your destination.)

Look for and use the many blue recycling containers across campus. Many of them are conveniently placed near trash cans, but remember - trash cans, they are not. Make sure your bottles are completely empty before you throw them inside, and that any paper products you recycle don't contain any remnants of food.

Do EVERYTHING you can to avoid using styrofoam take-out containers, glasses, and plates. These can't be recycled and when left unaided in landfills, will not break down for thousands of years. Bring your own reusable container, if you can.

Save water. Less than 1% of the water on earth is drinkable, and within fifty years the entire plant is expected to face serious water shortages. Two easy but POWERFUL ways to do this: turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and take shorter showers.

Many people probably think recycling is the PARAMOUNT thing you can do to help save the earth. THEY'RE WRONG. Remember this essential process: First, reduce the amount of stuff you use and buy, reuse second, and then, when all else fails, recycle.

Even better, brown bag your lunch from home and use reusable silverware and containers instead of plastic silverware and zip-lock bags.

Stick any purchases from the OU Bookstore or O.C. cafeteria take outs in your own book bag rather than using a plastic one you might be offered. The U.S. uses 100 billion plastic shopping bags per year. That's about 333 bags per year per person - almost a bag per day.

Some campus locations offer free printing. As tempting as these locations may be to print out all 50 pages of your professor's latest power point presentation on Moodle, print only if necessary. Recycling paper eventually degrades it to a point that it is no longer recyclable.

Campus residents...turn off lights when you're out of the room and unplug unused appliances. In the average home, 25% of the electricity used to power electronics is consumed while those products are turned off. You might not be seeing the electric bill now, but start preparing for the day you enter the real world. Flat-screen TVS and video game consuls are particularly bad energy vampires.

Shop for food at local organic and eco-friendly stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market (both located at the corner of Walton and Adams), and check out the Rochester Farmer's Market when it's in season.

Once they're empty, throw any take-out coffee cups you use from Vandenberg Dining Center's coffee and hot chocolate machine area into a paper recycling bin (they are recycable), or use your own.

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