I do not feel old enough, responsible enough or wise enough to be dealing with all the things that constitute to living in my own house. Pair that with the pressure of wanting to live more environmentally conscious, sustainable student living seems like a distant dream.
With the high costs and effort associated with being more sustainable it may feel like a problem for a future you. A future you that has more time and money to invest into your home. But the future is now.
Between 1997 and 2016 the total GHG footprint generated by UK households has been between 15 and 19%. It’s clear that UK households have a pretty big stake in the UK’s carbon footprint. We are part of that stake now.
However, there are some changes we can make in our (student) homes to be more sustainable.
Check your energy providers
Students love a bargain and maybe the energy provider you’re currently signed up to isn't the best money-wise. However, when looking for alternatives why not consider green energy. Your first point of call would be the Energy Saving Trust who have loads of information of their website, such as 12 initial easy steps to save you money and energy. They have also complied a list of the best green electricity providers.
Furnishing your home
Second-hand furniture and appliances are more cost effective and sustainable. There are so many ways to find second-hand furnishings, like the British Heart Foundation who offer a 10% discount for students! Not only are you supporting an amazing charity, but you’re helping your bank balance too. Online stores like Facebook marketplace and Freecycle are also great options.
Surplus Food
Technology is a blessing and a curse, but when it comes to sustainable student living there are some great apps that can help you minimise food waste in your local area. For instance, OLIO connects local people to share surplus food to minimise food waste in their community. Bearing in mind “a third of the food we produce globally is thrown away, and in the UK households are responsible for over half of all food waste” this app paves the way for change. There are also apps like Too Good To Go which allows consumers to collect the waste food of stores and restaurants that are just ‘too good to go’.
Zero Waste
Many University towns and cities will have zero waste stores as a result of the large student population. You can take a look at my previous article here for some great ones across the UK or use this handy search tool.
However, if there are no local stores near you, then that’s not the end. There are so many online eco stores. I’ll be sharing a collection of my favourite ones next Thursday (including some great discounts!). Follow us here or on Instagram so you don’t miss out when it’s posted!
Considering the current state of our planet we need to take advantage of all the start-ups, new technologies and amazing people who are all working to help make sustainable living more viable. Sustainable (student) living is possible if you try!
Inspired by this Guardian article.
Hi, thank you for reading the All Things Green blog! 💚
We share simple eco friendly tips to help you lead an imperfect sustainable lifestyle. We believe that "small steps are still steps" and that we can all have a positive impact on the planet - no matter how small.
Have a flick through our website to find out more about our story, take advantage of some exciting eco discounts or read our previous blog posts.
- Naomi x
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