Top 5 Most Environmentally Friendly Colleges in the U.S. 2023

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Education is only effective when it is combined with real change that impacts the world we live in. Selecting a college to study in can be a bit challenging as there are a plethora of factors you consider before choosing the best option. Some of these factors are education quality, study-life balance, healthy competition between students, co-curricular activities, and more. One other essential factor that a lot of people fail to consider is how environmentally friendly the university is. How can a college be environmentally-conscious, you may ask? To begin with, having many plants on campus and following eco-friendly practices for day-to-day college activities are some ways to do the same.

top 5 environmentally friendly colleges in the USA

Climate change impacts everything, and educational institutions are not exempt from taking responsibility for making the world better. Existing in harmony with nature ensures that we all have a healthy and hopeful future. Students need an environment where they feel safe and connected to nature to perform as well as they can in their academics.

Here are the top 5 environmentally friendly colleges in the United States

1. Colorado State University

Known as a very eco-friendly university in the United States, Colorado State University was the first ever university campus to get platinum status in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System. Other than this, the campus has taken initiatives to introduce eco-friendly projects such as a food scrap and waste reduction program. This program managed to reduce the number of leftovers at college events and prevent food wastage. The project also aims to provide students with access to healthy food whenever and wherever.

Apart from this, Colorado State University has aimed for 100% carbon neutrality before the end of this decade. The campus is one of the best sustainable and eco-conscious colleges in the whole country and is an excellent place to pursue your on-campus or online environmental science degree. This is an excellent example of the initiative the modern educational institution can partake in to manage its impact on the environment.

2. University of Virginia

A worthy recipient of the Green Ribbon Schools award given by the U.S. Department of Education, this university has worked hard over the last decade to make its campus a sustainable and harmonious environment for humans. The initiative recognizes schools and universities that practice sustainable habits and invites them to an exclusive ceremony where they receive the award and much-needed media attention. The University of Virginia ranks among the top 10 law schools in the US, according to LSAT experts, TestMaxPrep.com. With such a great green initiative by the university, it certainly makes it one of the finest campuses to study law.

The University of Virginia encourages and promotes sustainability among students and faculty members. They do this using diverse programs such as the Recycling and Waste Diversion program, the Green Workplace program, and the Green Labs program. These projects do an essential job of informing and educating students to minimize the amount of waste they create in their daily lives.

This college and other “green” institutions like to make their students understand the need for eco-friendly living. They often do it by adding some assignments associated with the environment and its protection. There are so many eco-friendly projects conducted at the university that many students think, “I would love it if someone could write my college research paper for me.” If that is your thought process, you can always contact a professional writing service. Their experts can write some essays for you to reveal some of your academic pressure.

3. Green Mountain College

As its name implies, Green Mountain College is an efficient and sustainable education leader in the country. The university was one of the first campuses in the United States to be awarded the reputed EPA Energy Star Campus recognition award. This recognition boosted the campus’ eco-friendly goals and pushed it in a greener direction.

Green Mountain College wants to convert to using renewable energy completely and be 100% carbon-neutral by 2030. Being very student-forward, the university’s sustainable actions are led by its graduates and students. One of its notable eco-friendly projects, the college’s biomass facility, was created and designed by students themselves and continues to be maintained the same way. Apart from learning essential things such as writing tips and marketing skills, the students at Green Mountain College learn to love and be one with nature early on in life.

4. Arizona State University

Known as a pioneer and industry leader among other eco-friendly colleges, Arizona State University launched its impressive “Carbon Project” to eliminate as much of its carbon emissions as possible. To do this, the campus planted more trees inside the university and allowed departments to shift to using electric vehicles.

environmentally-friendly college

The campus also began adopting carpool arrangements for its teachers and students and urged everyone to use sustainably-produced products. The university also often collaborates with ethical companies that practice fair trade labor practices. The college’s administration has always encouraged its students to take up eco-friendly and environment-based research projects to raise awareness and educate themselves.

5. The University of North Carolina

Another well-known environmentally-conscious college with the intent of attaining complete sustainability, the University of North Carolina intends to accomplish the following three goals:

  • No waste sent into landfills
  • Zero greenhouse gas emissions
  • Minimal usage of water and resources

In addition to this, the campus has invested a lot of resources in minimizing waste and constructing buildings that are energy efficient. It motivates its students and teachers to use transportation options that are friendlier to the environment. Unity among teachers, staff, students and the local community allows the university to take small steps towards sustainability that help them reach bigger goals. The campus also hosts numerous events to raise awareness about the preservation and conservation of the environment.

Conclusion

Every college wants to be green, but not all of them can achieve their goals effectively. To truly achieve complete harmony between nature and modern life, a campus must provide students with a conducive environment that keeps them close to nature. The colleges mentioned above are following essential sustainability practices to mitigate the effects of global warming. So, if you want to study at a university that cares about global well-being and ecology, the colleges on our list are worthy candidates for you.

Why Mediterranean Countries are Safest Bet to Solve Energy Crisis in Europe

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Europe has been desperately trying to find alternative sources of energy to replace Russian gas. American Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) imports used today, is only a temporary solution and not a long-term one, due to its high costs and transport limitations. However, Algeria, Israel, Egypt, and possibly other transit nations like Libya and Turkey in the future can all contribute significantly to the continent’s increased energy demands. In the Eastern Mediterranean significant amounts of natural gas have recently been discovered recently and could increase gas collaborations with Europe.

European partnership with Mediterranean energy producers

Algeria increased its pipeline supplies to Europe by over 10% on available export routes in the first ten months of this year and is considered as a major gas supplier. Since 1996, Spain has purchased gas from Algeria through the Maghreb-Europe pipeline, which passes through Morocco, and since 2011, it has done so through the undersea Medgaz pipeline. Nevertheless, the dispute between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara, which Morocco claims as its territory while Algeria supports the Polisario Front calling for Sahrawi independence, has consistently impacted relations between Madrid and Algiers, especially the two nations’ energy commerce.

Tensions have progressively gotten worse over the last two years and led Algeria to end gas exports via the Maghreb-Europe pipeline and therefore cut off supplies to Morocco, planning instead to expand the capacity of the Medgaz pipeline[1].

Madrid, which had previously maintained that the UN should decide the status of the area, supported Rabat’s proposal to maintain sovereignty over the Western Sahara while providing it independence to manage its own internal affairs. The Algerian government has repeatedly warned Spain not to re-export gas it receives from Algeria to Morocco[2], which has struggled to make up for shortages caused by the termination of flows via the Maghreb-Europe pipeline and Algerian ambassador in Madrid has been withdrawn following these events.

Moreover, the agreement on gas between the EU-Israel-Egypt[3] comes as European politicians are more concerned about Egypt’s economic stability. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has severely impacted Egypt, especially in terms of food security, and the Egyptian government is working to contain what may become a growing economic disaster. While macroeconomic growth rates have been largely positive, pressure is growing due to inflation and skyrocketing food and energy costs.

Recurring political unrest in Egypt is a nightmare scenario for many European governments, who have been scarred by the experience of the unrest that engulfed the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of the Arab Uprisings in 2010 and 2011. In particular, the migration crisis that was precipitated and made worse by the violent conflicts in Syria and Lebanon.

All in all, while Europe is attempting to diversify energy imports too rapidly, new partnerships with Mediterranean Energy producers must be recognized for their geopolitical complexity and instability that could jeopardize the energy security of future strategies.

[1] https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/stability-in-the-mediterranean-region-will-bring-stability-to-europe/

[2] https://energynews.pro/en/spain-algeria-concerns-about-gas-relations/

[3] https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2022-08-12/israels-mediterranean-gas-potential-gas-export-to-europe-and

The Menace of Landfills in Kuwait

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Kuwait, being one of the richest countries, is among the highest per capita waste generators in the world. Each year more than 2 million tons of solid waste in generated in the tiny Arab nation. High standards of living and rapid economic growth has been a major factor behind very high per capita waste generation of 1.4 to 1.5 kg per day.

The prevalent solid waste disposal method in Kuwait is landfill burial. Despite being a small country, Kuwait has astonishingly high number of landfills. There are 18 landfills, of which 14 sites are closed and 4 sites are still in operation. These landfills act as dumpsites, rather than engineered landfills. Infact, landfill sites in Kuwait are notorious for causing severe public health and environmental issues.

Besides piling up huge amounts of garbage, landfill sites generate huge amount of toxic gases (methane, carbon dioxide etc) and plagued by spontaneous fires. Due to fast paced urban development, residential areas have expanded to the edges of landfill sites thus causing grave danger to public health.

Landfills in Kuwait

The total land area of Kuwait is around 17,820 sq. km, out of which more than 18 sq. km is occupied by landfills. Area of the landfill sites ranges from tens to hundreds of hectares with waste deposition depth varying from 3 to 30 meters. All kind of wastes, including municipal wastes, food wastes, industrial wastes, construction and demolition debris etc are dumped at these sites. Infact, about 90 percent of the domestic waste is sent to landfills which imply that more landfills will be required to tackle rapidly increasing volumes of solid wastes.

Most of the landfill sites have been closed for more than 20 years due to operational problems and proximity to new residential, commercial and industrial areas. These sites include Sulaibiyah, Kabed, Al‐Qurain, Shuaiba, Jleeb AI Shuyoukh, West Yarmouk, AI Wafra among others. Migration of leachate beyond landfill site boundaries is a frequent problem noticed across Kuwait. Groundwater contamination has emerged as a serious problem because groundwater occurs at shallow depths throughout the country.

The major landfill sites operated by municipality for solid waste disposal are Jleeb AI Shuyoukh, Sulaibiyah and Al-Qurain. The Qurain landfill, with area of 1 sq. km, was used for dumping of municipal solid waste and construction materials from 1975 until 1985 with total volume of dumped waste being 5 million m3.

The Sulaibiyah landfill site received more than 500 tons of waste per day from 1980 to 2000 with area spanning 3 sq. km. Jleeb AI Shuyoukh, largest landfill site in Kuwait with area exceeding 6 sq. km, received 2500 tons per day of household and industrial waste between 1970 and 1993. Around 20 million m3 of wastes was dumped in this facility during its operational period.

Over the years, most of the dumpsites in Kuwait have been surrounded by residential and commercial areas due to urban development over the years. Uncontrolled dumpsites were managed by poorly-trained staff resulting in transformation of dumpsites in breeding grounds for pathogens, toxic gases and spontaneous fires.

Most of the landfill sites have been forced to close, much before achieving their capacities, because of improper disposal methods and concerns related to public health and environment. Due to fast-paced industrial development and urban expansion, some of the landfills are located on the edges of residential, as is the case of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Al-Qurain sites, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

How Asia Pulp & Paper Adopts CDP Carbon Disclosure Standards

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The pulp and paper industry is one that has been deeply impacted by the rise of the eco-conscious consumer. Whether a business produces disposable, reusable, or repurposable paper products, many pulp and paper companies continue to be placed under further scrutiny by consumers. Issues such as resource depletion and carbon emissions are common critiques of the industry, regardless of how useful or necessary their products may be.

At the same time, many pulp and paper companies such as Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) Sinar Mas have proactively moved towards comprehensively integrating sustainability outcomes into their overall operational strategy.

Asia Pulp and Paper CDP Carbon Disclosure

Seeking out awards and standards to integrate into your company’s sustainability strategy is the first step to officiating your business’ efforts, establishing trust with the consumer base, and providing transparency to stakeholders. The inclusion of reliable third-party standards or guidelines into long-term sustainability strategies such as Asia Pulp & Paper’s Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2030 not only provides an external source for validating the company’s claims, but also reassures skeptical consumers.

There is no shortage of internationally-recognised charities, non-profit organisations, and other organisations that provide strict standards that pulp and paper companies can integrate into their sustainability strategies. One such organisation is CDP, a not-for-profit charity that runs global disclosure and corporate environmental reporting systems dedicated to managing environmental impacts.

What is CDP?

Formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is an international non-profit organisation that originally focused on encouraging individual companies to disclose their environmental impact and carbon emissions.

Today the organisation helps investors, businesses, cities, and governments evaluate their environmental impact and connects them to accredited solutions providers to take immediate action and create a sustainable economy.

CDP has three key areas of focus: Water Security, Forests, and Climate Change. Each of these categories has further criteria against which participating member companies are assessed and graded. Put together, this results in an overall score that can be a measure of a company’s environmental consciousness, advanced sustainability governance, and outspoken leadership in addressing climate change.

In its annual ranking process, CDP also rewards businesses that provide high-quality disclosure with a place on the so-called “A-list”.

Why should pulp and paper companies disclose with CDP?

CDP disclosure has various benefits for companies in any industry or sector. Compared to other certifications that have a complex and costly accreditation process, CDP primarily relies on audited self-reporting in line with its goals to make risk management and corporate environmental reporting a normative part of global business culture.

Businesses can easily participate in CDP membership provided they are willing to collect their own data and present it for a report – which can be seamless for a company that has already integrated CDP standards into its sustainability reporting.

Pulp and paper companies, in particular, stand to benefit from carbon disclosure and other environmental measures due to the resource-intensive nature of their industry. Under its “Forest” area of focus, CDP specifically recognises the timber industry (including pulp and paper companies) as one of the industries that drives deforestation and forest degradation globally.

To address this, CDP has introduced various critical steps and commitments that pulp and paper companies can adopt to improve the sustainability of their supply chains. This includes public commitments to sustainable development, traceability targets related to larger environmental commitments, and enforcing monitoring systems to assess and assure the company’s compliance.

CDP disclosure can also benefit pulp and paper companies in the following ways:

1. Greater Stakeholder Transparency

Environmental disclosure is highly sought for and in constant demand in today’s eco-conscious economy. Such demands are coming not just from consumers but investors and stakeholders at all levels.

CDP themselves report that 680+ investors with over US$130 trillion in assets and 200+ large purchasers with over US$5.5 trillion in annual procurement expenditure are now looking to CPD participating businesses as a benchmark for transparency and long-term sustainability.

Today’s investors understand the strong link between longevity and environmental sustainability; they want to invest in viable long-term business which, in the context of climate change and emerging sustainability regulations, is only possible with vetted sustainable businesses.

Participating in CDP disclosure standards isn’t just a moral or ethical imperative for companies anymore, but can have a positive impact on their business by improving their standing with stakeholders.

Businesses in the pulp and paper industry will benefit from the transparency that CDP offers when it comes to selling shares and corporate investment. This grading demonstrates a business’ willingness to report data on sensitive topics, and provides a benchmark against which concerned parties can measure progress in sustainability. Asia Pulp and Paper’s Sustainability Report 2020 is an example of self-reporting that other pulp and paper companies can look towards when crafting their own disclosure processes.

2. Improved Brand Reputation and Management

Brand reputation is one of the most important factors when it comes to consumer relations. Brands that destroy trust with their customers through superficial commitments to sustainable development or quality-control shortcuts could also suffer financially as sales decrease alongside their brand reputation.

Pulp and paper companies remain vulnerable to blows to their brand reputation in the context of increased consumer scrutiny, especially as more companies specialising in sustainable alternatives emerge onto the market. The industry can overcome concerning press coverage and the public’s concern around their resource usage by taking responsibility for the environmental impact of their enterprises, choosing transparency, and committing to third-party assessment by external international authorities such as CDP.

3. Keeping Pace with Regulation Standards

Climate change, human rights, and sustainable resource management are now global concerns that businesses of all sizes will need to address in order to stay afloat. State and federal governments are under increased pressure from consumer groups to set and achieve international sustainability goals, which means increased regulations for businesses operating in areas of concern.

sustainability goals of APP Sinar Mas

In a world in which mandatory corporate environmental reporting and disclosure is gaining momentum, disclosing through CDP enables companies to meet reporting rules in multiple regions. It also provides an advantage over the local competition; by adjusting sustainability standards ahead of government regulations, pulp and paper companies following CDP’s standards have fewer adjustments to make if reporting becomes mandatory. This also allows organisations greater flexibility in redirecting their resources to more salient areas in line with larger policy changes.

4. Long-term Benchmarks of Success

Not all businesses are going to start CDP reporting with an A+ grade; sustainable businesses don’t grow overnight, and committing to a long-term sustainable development strategy takes ample time, resources, and effort at every level of an organisation.

Because progress can happen so slowly, it’s easy to lose sight of how far the business has come on a YoY basis. This is where CDP reporting can come in to offer third-party insight into a business’ sustainability progress over time, as well as accreditation in recognition of improved sustainability measures.

Asia Pulp and Paper has been transparent in its improvement in CDP grades across the years, beginning with an A- in supplier engagement and B scores in climate change and forest in 2020, and increasing to Asia Pulp & Paper receiving A- grading in CDP’s Forest category in 2021.

The organisation’s earlier efforts at implementing sustainability into its overall strategy have also been recognised. The case study attributes the organisation’s success to various mechanisms within its Forest Conservation Policy including a sustainable and responsible forestry management plan, bottom-up consultations with stakeholders, and external community-focused projects such as the Desa Makmur Peduli Api (DMPA) programme.

This is an example of an organisation that has made tremendous efforts towards sustainability across multiple aspects of its organisational strategy, and is committed to finetuning its measures to improve its overall grading over time.

media and sustainable development

Pursuing Sustainable Development through CDP Disclosure

The CDP framework provides a point of reference for both businesses and consumers to assess an organisation’s environmental commitments, and can help all parties involved make better decisions about how resources are used as part of the production process.

Companies in the pulp and paper industry need to normalise corporate environmental reporting, carbon disclosure statements, and external auditing if they want to survive the new era of sustainability legislation and eco-conscious consumers and stakeholders. Businesses can also look towards projects by organisations that have already embraced CDP disclosure (such as Asia Pulp and Paper) as a blueprint for what steps to take next – whether or not these organisations have made it onto CDP’s A-List yet.

New Fines for Littering in Bahrain

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Littering is a common phenomenon both in urban and rural areas of Bahrain. Streets, sidewalks, parking lots, roads and highways are mostly covered with food wrappers, soft drink and water bottles, plastic bags, handbills, cigarette butts, tissues, papers etc. Litter has the potential to cause harm to human health, safety, welfare as well as the environment. Littering can be a fire hazard and it attracts pests and rodents. Litter also cause accidents on roads as drivers avoid litter on road. Litter also harm plants, vegetation and natural areas. The temptation to ‘litter’ is usually motivated by disrespect to the law and its enforcement as well as ignorance and arrogance in our attitude, thinking that municipalities will clean our mess.

There are several factors that may impact on littering behaviour including inconvenience and laziness, absence of ownership or pride for the area, feeling that someone else will pick it up, number, placement and appearance of litter bins at or near the site, absence of realistic penalties, enforcement of legislation, lack of social pressure and lack of knowledge of the environmental impacts of littering.

New Littering Fines in Bahrain

The local authorities in Bahrain have now taken cognizance of the situation. Now littering on Bahrain's roads could carry fines of up to BD300 if a new draft law is passed by parliament. The National Cleanliness Law was approved by the Capital Trustees Board last week and includes tougher punishments for dumping waste, leaving animal faeces on the streets, and disposing of medical or hazardous substances in public. The new law will give more judicial power to the municipal officials to penalize the offenders.

Under the existing law which is almost three decades old, offenders are fined only BD10 for littering. However, if the new rules are implemented, then fines for minor offences will range between BD100 and BD300 and for serious offences will be between BD500 and BD1,000.

Capital Trustees Board chairman has very rightly mentioned that ‘Dumping and littering have become a habit for a number of people and it needs immediate action, especially with fines not matching the offences. The fines once imposed will be monitored by the Capital Trustees Authority, and Bahrain's three other municipalities.

Thus, dumping and littering whether on main roads or neighborhoods, on pavements or alleys, at beaches or wasteland are prohibited. Also, dumping anything that may obstruct traffic or prevent people from movement is illegal whether it is garden waste, construction waste, furniture, vehicles or any other materials.

Conquering Litter

Litter can be conquered. People can make a difference. It is our responsibility to clean up the litter in an ‘earth-friendly manner.’ Clean communities have a better chance of attracting new business, residents and tourists. There is no reason for any of us to litter because we can always find a litter bin to throw the trash away.

Let us set an example for others, especially children, by not littering and by carrying a litterbag in our vehicle, securely covering trash containers to prevent wind or animals from spreading litter, when visiting parks and recreation areas make sure to leave the area clean for the next person to enjoy and restricting the distribution and disposal of handbills.

PPP = Permanent Plastic Problem

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The 3P’s of plastic – PPP – first is that the item or object is plastic. The second concern is that plastic is permanent. Not permanently in use, but after is use it has a very long life-span before it breaks down totally. And that leads to the third, and ultimate issue, that plastic becomes a problem.

The issues around plastic are multi-facetted, complex and very diverse. It depends on the composition of the raw materials, how the materials are combined and made into the plastic product. Then it becomes an issue in how the product or object is disposed of. The story then becomes very long in terms of how it breaks down, where it breaks down and what is breaks down into.

permanent plastic problem

Carbon footprint is heard so frequently these days in the context of climate change and global warming. The carbon footprint associated with the production of plastic is huge. Plastic production consumes large quantities of oil, and/or natural gas and energy to power the whole series of production processes. A baseline to start with is that in the production of just 1kg of plastic produces 6kn of CO2. The plastic production process also requires a large quantity of usable, clean water.

There is copious research in plastics, microplastics, accumulation of microplastics in our food chains which translates to our ecosystems in which we live. There are tonnes and tonnes of plastics in our oceans. Figures currently estimated at 8 million tonnes of plastics end up in our oceans. This happens so simply because we are a throw-away society. Instead of disposing correctly or recycling, people literally throw their plastic waste around them. In gutters, streams, alleyways, on the road. Other plastic waste may be carried by wind or washed away by rainwater and overland flow. It may come from wash off from landfills, improper storage and illegal dumping. This can be summed up in one word: trash.

Some plastic is recycled. Although recycling plastic is not a straight forward and easy option. Different types or composition of plastics require different recycling methods. Unfortunately, only about 9% pf the global plastics are recycled. This could be summed up as sheer apathy.

According to numerous fishery studies and research projects, more and more fish are ingesting microplastics. This means that microplastics are entering our food chains and food webs. Microplastics are minute, tiny, miniscule pieces of plastic.  Still plastic. One needs to realise that we are part of the food ecosystem, in fact we are generally placed at the top of the food web.

As the microplastics pass through the various food chains, there is a process called bioaccumulation taking place. The actual accumulation increases through the food chains. As one moves up the chain, from proto- and zoo-plankton, through the lower level consumers, with the smaller fishes consumed by the larger fishes, their predators, the level of microplastics keeps increasing. And so yes, it is a documented fact that humans are now consuming fish with significant levels of microplastics in the tissues of the fish.

plastic problem

It is estimated  that humans are consuming a rather frightening amount of microplastics in the order of 40,000 pieces of plastic per week. A crude calculation of this amount of microplastic would be equivalent to the size of a credit card. This could be summed up as unpalatable.

Why is there such a demand for plastics you may be wondering. First and foremost, liquids both drinking liquids but also cleaning and lubricant liquids are containerised in plastics.  But around 40% of plastics are used in packaging. Filler plastics, protective wrappings, individual packaging, tapes and straps. The list of uses seems endless. Is it that necessary. This could be summed up as waste.

sustainable-packaging

What are the estimates of global plastic waste per annum. Hold on to your hats, Even take a seat. People on our planet, all 8 billion of us, produce around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Yes, its hard to visualize to truly appreciate these figures. Let us put into a visual context, that is like a full load of trash from a dump truck being emptied into the ocean every minute of every hour of every day for one whole year. No wonder sea level is rising!

No plastic is not the cause of sea level rise. But our plastic waste ending up in our oceans is a real and alarming fact. Everyone is responsible because we all use plastic in some form or other. Unless you are a 100 and naturalist, you are contributing to this waste accumulation on our planet, earth. We are all accountable. So what will be your next move?

5 Rules to Become a Zero-Waste College Student

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Are you a college student who is trying to give back to the environment by going zero? Are you looking for tips on how to go waste-free? Well, you are in the right place. We will show you some ways with the help of which you can achieve a zero-waste lifestyle and low waste living.

We begin by saying, Congratulations. It is highly appreciated that you are trying to play your part in the betterment of the world at such a tender age. Let’s look at a few ways that will help you answer the question of how to go waste-free and that you can follow to have a very low impact on the environment during your 4-year stay at college.

1. Take part in university green activities

You may not know this, but several universities and colleges have a community garden, a compost system, or both of them. All you need to do is find out where it is in your college. A few colleges also have a kitchen compost. Instead of throwing your food scraps in the trash, you can place them in the college’s compost.

Several universities have a gardening club. You can join the gardening club, and use recyclable resources as pots and decorations. You can plant seeds in eggshells, and can use various other items as pots.

If you have searched and your college doesn’t have any of this, then you can take the initiative and start one yourself.

2. Get used textbooks

Another thing that you can do when you are thinking about how to go waste-free to get old textbooks. You are going to be studying new courses every semester. This means that you will have to buy textbooks every 6 months.

Not only are they expensive, but they are also seldom worth the cost since you are hardly ever going to use once the semester is over, except in a select few cases.

textbooks-reuse

Reuse of textbooks will not only help in environmental conservation but also help in education of children in less-privileged countries.

Therefore, it is a good idea to buy used books. Contact your seniors, and see if they have the books you need. You can go to the college library and get the books issued to you for the semester. With the advent of technology, most of the textbooks are available in their soft form online.

You can buy papers online for college and download the soft form of books instead of buying physical books to adopt a zero-waste living style and start a low waste living. You can read the world news on various blogs and forums online instead of physically buying one. There are various blogs online that help college students with several study-related issues, such as how to start a research paper and where to find the best material online.

3. Use reusable things

The best way to start low waste living is to start using reusable items. You can begin by using a plastic or glass water bottle. It is a very simple yet important step. You will not only contribute to nature, but you will also be saving yourself money by not buying a water bottle whenever you feel thirsty. A pretty deal, right? Don’t buy one-time use items, even things such as disposable plates for your dorm kitchen.

4. Buy durable school supplies

It can be pretty exciting and fun to shop for new things when school starts. However, don’t let the excitement cause you to overspend. Look for more durable and sustainable things. Use your old things, such as rulers, folders, binders, scissors, to begin your zero waste living.

If you have no choice but to buy new things, make sure that you buy things that have been made out of sustainable materials or recycled materials. Moreover, you can use your laptops to take notes instead of notebooks. If you can’t entirely stop using notebooks, then reduce the number of notebooks you use at least.

When you write research papers and articles, you do a lot of research work and use up plenty of paper. Don’t waste resources and buy college papers online. To start your zero waste living, buy college paper from the best and cheap sites. Don’t buy paper for college physically.

5. Use college transport

Most colleges and universities provide transportation facilities to their students. Instead of coming to college via taxis, or on your vehicle, make use of this facility and reduce your carbon footprint. You can walk to the campus, or ride a bicycle.

Conclusion

Earth is our home, and instead of destroying it or contributing towards its destruction, we should look for ways in which we can give back to it. Adopting zero waste living not only helps you reduce your carbon footprint, but it also helps you save money, which as a college student, you are going to be short of.

You need to remember that every step counts, no matter how small it is. Minute things such as using reusable straws and turning the tap off as you brush your teeth have a bigger impact than you’d think they’d have.

Here’s to going green, people!

Lifestyle Changes That Can Protect The Future Of Our Planet

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We are all more than aware of the global environmental situation that seems to be becoming increasingly worse as time goes and while many homeowners would love to advocate for the environment and work towards making a change, not everyone is entirely certain as to which lifestyle changes would make any difference at all. However, if more people were aware that they could save thousands of gallons of water per year and reduce the consumption of power, perhaps more people would be making an active effort to fight climate change and the destruction of our planet.

green-living

If you are hoping to make a difference that will positively impact the environment, you should consider the following lifestyle changes to help the environment.

1. Use Renewable Energy

The use of renewable energy is still a relatively new concept and while some consider renewable energy to be a costly investment, the initial spend will save you a significant fortune in the long run. What’s more, you will also be making a massively positive impact on the environment, which means you will be saving the planet and your pocket at the same time.

There are several ways that you can use renewable energy, such as solar panels for home, solar-powered water heaters, wind turbines for larger properties, and even hydro-power depending on your region and the location of your property. Choosing the best solar panels for harnessing renewable energy can essentially cut your power bill completely.

2. Getting Around

Even though it has been a common goal for the past several decades to purchase a car and travel in comfort, younger generations have noted just how backwards the goal is. Rather than saving to purchase a luxury vehicle, you should be considering methods of transportation that will not harm our environment. While you could consider biking to work, those who do not have to travel too far could also consider walking.

If walking or biking is simply not a realistic solution, you could consider travelling with others on your way to effectively reduce carbon emissions as there will essentially be fewer vehicles on the roads if more people travelled together when possible. Alternatively, investing in an electric or hybrid vehicle would also be a fantastic choice that will help protect the future of our planet.

3. Reduce Water Usage

From time to time, most homeowners have experienced water restrictions and cuts during maintenance and other issues. However, rather than degrading the short changes to your day, it would be wise to consider how little water your household is using during restrictions as you could ultimately continue and create a routine in which using water sparingly eventually becomes a habit.

water-leakage

Reducing your water consumption each day will ultimately help save thousands of gallons per year. Therefore, even small changes to your lifestyle will make an impact in a positive way.

Bottom Line

Reducing water consumption, switching to renewable energy, and changing your method of travelling can make a difference to the future of our environment and when considering that these changes will also save you a small fortune, you and the planet will benefit from your decisions. Sustainability and minimalism will save you money and save the planet at the same time.

Green Growth in Jordan: Prospects and Challenges

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The global financial recession triggered serious debate among many countries in revealing the causes behind failures and in innovating affordable solutions. Seeking “transformational” economic growth is very fashionable nowadays bringing to the front-line clean energy and green investments as keys for a better future. And for those countries at the heart of change in the Arab World, the famous “Spring” is bringing a different flavor to the aspired change and reform.

Ways to Make Your Business Eco-Friendly

In Jordan, attention to sustainability (whether environmental or social) is a need as well as a strategic choice. For a country with very limited natural resources and increasingly growing demand, attending for people and environment is not only a political obligation but an under-exploited differentiator that would place Jordan as a regional platform for community-oriented development and sustainable investments.

The known argument of “environment versus investment” should not stay within our dictionary. Both are converging to support development goals especially within a vulnerable environment like ours. The magnified energy crisis that recently hit Jordanians has initiated a paradigm shift in perception and practice. We have never been more aware of the energy cost and the tough budgetary constraints like we are today. I wish I could claim the same for water, another upcoming reality that Jordanians are hardly ready to face.

Learning it the hard way, Jordan is recognizing with no doubt that sustainable development and effective linkages between economic, social and environmental goals, are not attainable without targeting development sectors and mainstreaming sustainability within their plans and operations. The standalone green approach in decision-making is no longer viable as it encapsulates environment away from other development policies and reforms.

gogreen-new-year

The demand for reforms that ensure long-term benefits to the community is dictating an integrated development approach. People need to be conscious about trade-offs and at the heart of the decision-making process. While calling for more jobs and social welfare; Jordanians are becoming more aware of the pressures caused by economic growth on the country’s natural resources. The business and investment climate has its requirements to give back with value added economy. Land, water, energy, infrastructure and good governance are all inputs in the development process; thus, if Jordan is to compete in the market, we should find the right recipe.

Recognizing its untapped resources, Jordan has identified clean energy and green investments as new clusters to boost economic development, provide green jobs, and sustain natural resources. As the first country in the MENA region to conduct a national green economy scoping study, Jordan has identified several opportunities to kick off the green clusters including renewable energy and energy efficiency, water and waste-water management, solid waste, green buildings, ecotourism, transportation etc. However, mainstreaming the green economy potential into those sectors is still limited.

The cost of imported energy amounted to 20% of the GDP (2006). Total imported energy amounted to 96% of Jordan’s total energy needs. The estimated investment made in the renewable energy sector in 2023 was about 4 billion USD.

In 20222, the installed wind power capacity across Jordan was around 600 MW while the installed solar energy capacity was approximately 2 GW in 2022.

A major achievement was made recently with the first patch of agreements signed between the government and renewable energy developers to start the first solar and wind power generation projects enabled by the recently issued comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework for renewable energy.

electric cars market in jordan

Such investments are expected to contribute to the energy security goals, create green jobs for Jordanians, alleviate burden off the government budget and position Jordan on the clean energy map. As promising as this truly is, Jordan needs to proactively pursue the other elements of the value chain, namely; education, innovation & technology, training, and entrepreneurship.

With over 70% of its population under 30 years of age, Jordan’s big investment needs to be in its talent. Mainstreaming the green economy market needs into the education and vocational training systems will enhance the green clusters competitiveness and ensure socioeconomic benefits.

Through building an effective regulatory and governance framework and bringing together public and private sectors as well as civil society organizations; Jordan will establish its competitive edge in the green economy world while striving to meet its people’s development aspirations.

Can Portable Toilets Create a Greener World?

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Future generations need a sustainable, safe planet, which is why industries are focusing more on how they impact the environment. Portable toilets are one example of an industry that strives to be eco-friendly. It is a green product since it’s recyclable, and you can move it from one place to another without needing a permanent toilet. Read on to learn more about how portable toilets contribute to a greener world.

environmental benefits of portable toilets

1. Water Conservation

Every day, the average American flushes more water down the toilet than they do for any other purpose. The good news is that you don’t need to flush or use water for waste disposal with a portable toilet, meaning you use less water in the home. Therefore, portable toilets save millions of gallons of water each day.

2. Improve Public Health

Properly maintained portable toilets help reduce the spread of diseases. Most reliable mobile toilet providers use products that do not contain alcohol or formaldehyde, which harms human health and the environment. Installing portable sanitation units at work sites can increase productivity since workers don’t need breaks to go to a remote toilet facility.

3. Proper Waste Disposal

Reputable portable toilet rentals usually ensure proper waste disposal, especially when spread throughout an outdoor area or at a central location. Human waste may contain disease-causing bacteria that can contaminate nearby water supplies if not correctly disposed of. Thanks to technological advancements, portable toilets now have waste removal systems.

4. Minimize Insect Problems

Besides being a breeding ground for germs and pathogens, portable toilets contain human waste, attracting insects that propagate inside the walls and spread through significant contact points. But proper human waste management reduces odors and minimizes insect problems that would otherwise draw the insects.

5. Save on Materials

The temporary nature of portable toilets makes them great for the environment since they are made from recycled plastic, and you can easily transport them or remove them when you don’t need them.  As such, they do not encroach on the land in the same way as regular toilets.

Additionally, portable toilets don’t require plumbing. Thus, there’s no need for a lot of materials that would go to waste. It takes 15 to 30 years for the portable toilet to need replacing, so you can use it for a long time.

6. Prevent the Spread of Disease in Wildlife

Using portable toilets prevents excess human waste from washing into streams and drains, thereby preventing water pollution that would cause diseases and death to wildlife.  These diseases can also spread through human feet, animal hooves, or insect wings. When used at campsites or construction sites, portable toilets collect human waste to prevent the spreading diseases to wildlife.

7. Improves Sanitation

Portable toilets are more than just effective at cleaning up bathroom waste. In addition, people can stay clean by using sanitation options that provide additional protection from diseases from human waste. Most portable toilets have soap and water at the sinks for cleaning and maintaining the toilet.

Moreover, they ensure that the waste does not emit smells that may attract parasites and endanger health.

8. Controlling Odors

A portable toilet solves one major problem of bad smell. Its design locks the odor inside and prevents flies and insects from hovering over it. These toilets also consistently use odor-controlling products suitable for warm climates and can be equipped with winterized options. Most portable toilets have the best bacterial inhibitors and odor neutralizers available.

Bottom Line

Portable toilets are eco-friendly, hygienic outdoor restrooms that have come a long way since their invention. Consider installing a portable toilet to ensure people are safe since it is excellent for the environment because they save water, wastes less material, and keeps wildlife healthy.

رسالة التربية البيئية

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يعد التعليم البيئي عملية شمولية تهدف الى إيجاد أفراد مسؤولين قادرين على تحديد القضايا البيئية، وإيجاد الحلول لها، ويتخذون خطوات فعالة نحو حماية البيئة. إن الوعي والمعرفة والتوجهات  والمهارات والمشاركة أسس تقود التعليم البيئي.

لقد  ظهر التعليم البيئي كاداة اساسية لا غنى عنها في تعزيز الالتزام والريادة والسلوك الإيجابي لدى الأفراد، كبارا كانوا أم صغارا، فيما يتعلق بالبيئة. ومن المثير للاهتمام أن التعليم البيئي يساعد أيضا في تحسين الأداء الدراسي للطلاب.

والى جانب التعليم ضمن المنظومة المدرسية، يشتمل التعليم البيئي على جميع الجهود المبذولة لتوعية المجتمع من: مواد مطبوعة ومواقع الكترونية ومدونات الانترنت والإعلام بأشكاله المتعددة وحملات التواصل الاجتماعي ..إلخ.

ويمكن تقديم التعليم البيئي الرسمي (المنهجي) من خلال المدارس والكليات والجامعات و بشكل غير رسمي (لا منهجي) من خلال منظمات المجتمع المدني والإعلام والحدائق النباتية والساحات الخضراء. وتعد ورشات العمل وبرامج التعليم البيئي في الهواء الطلق والحملات المجتمعية بعض الأمثلة للنمط اللا منهجي في نشر المعلومة البيئية.

 الاعداد للمستقبل

يمر العالم اليوم بمرحلة غير مسبوقة من التغيرات المجتمعية السريعة. ولأول مرة في التاريخ ينشأ أجيال من الأطفال الذين يعيشون داخل المنازل والمباني والمنسلخون عن الطبيعة. وحتى نعد جيلا جديدا من مناصري البيئة فلا بد من إعداد الأطفال للمستقبل الذي سيرثونه. سيحتاج أطفال اليوم أن يكونوا مناصري البيئة في المستقبل.

سيعيد التعليم البيئي اتصال الاطفال بالطبيعة في ساحات منازلهم وستربي الأطفال على التنمية المستدامة في جميع أنحاء العالم.

دور المعلمين

للمعلمين دور أساسي في نشر التعليم البيئي حيث يسهل على المعلم المحترف لمهنته تحفيز الأطفال. و بسبب طبيعتها المتنوعة التخصصات، تتطلب البيئة معرفة جوهرية بالعلوم والتاريخ والجغرافيا والسياسة والثقافة والاقتصاد والعديد من التخصصات الاخرى. معلمو البيئة المؤهلون يجرون دراسات ميدانية و يطبقون برامج مختلفة ويتعاونون مع الطلبة والمجتمعات المحلية ويستخدمون الاستراتيجيات الديناميكية لربط الوعي البيئي بالأفعال المسؤولة.

سيعيد التعليم البيئي اتصال الاطفال بالطبيعة

البرامج الممكن تطبيقها

للبرامج التعليمية الموجهة للأطفال والكبار دور أساسي في رعاية كوكب أكثر أمانا وصحة. وحيث أن مخرجات التعليم البيئي تكون أكثر تحديا من غيرها فمن المهم رفد الممارسات الحالية في الغرفة الصفية  بأساليب تمتاز بالحيوية والتشاركية والابتكار. لا بد للأساليب التعليمية أن تضمن مشاركة كبيرة للطلبة وأن توفر فرصا كافية لاختبار الطالب للمحيط الطبيعي. وتشمل الأنشطة التشاركية الزيارات الميدانية والمسوحات والاستبيانات وتحليل الوضع الحالي والنقاش الجماعي وتمثيل الأدوار و الألعاب البيئية والأندية البيئية ومسارات التنزه في الطبيعة والعمل على مشاريع بيئية.

لأضافة لما سبق، هناك حاجة لأنشطة شعبية لتحفيز وإدامة اهتمام الأطفال بالتعليم البيئي، ولكن بوجود الاهتمام العالي والالتزام بالتعليم البيئي في المدارس لن يحتاج الأطفال إلى الكثير من الإقناع كي يهتموا ببيئتهم.

ترجمة: قمر الشنار : مهندسة معمارية حاصلة على البكالوريوس من جامعة العلوم والتكنولوجيا الاردنية. عملت خمسة عشر عاما في قطاع بلديات المملكة العربية الهاشمية و شغلت موقع مديرالتخطيط في بلدية اربد الكبرى وعملت على تطوير الوعي البيئي و ادارة النفايات ضمن البلدية و مع المجتمع المحلي من خلال برنامج توأمة مع بلدية فيبورغ الدانماركية.

Tips for Choosing Eco Friendly Window Blinds

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Eco friendly window blinds are a great way to add style and beauty to your home while also being environmentally conscious. For the best price and quality, you need to follow some quick tips for choosing eco friendly window blinds.

Read on to find out the way to get the best window treatments:

Benefits of Eco Friendly Window Blinds

Key Points

  • There are many benefits of eco friendly window blinds, including the fact that they can help you save money on your energy bills.
  • Additionally, eco friendly window blinds can also improve the quality of your indoor air and help to reduce the amount of noise pollution in your home.
  • If you are looking for ways to go green with your window treatments, eco friendly window blinds are a great option to consider.

Here are some quick tips for choosing eco friendly window blinds for your home.

What Are Eco Friendly Window Blinds?

Window blinds are a great way to add privacy and style to your home while also helping to regulate light and temperature. However, traditional window blinds can be made from materials that are harmful to the environment.

Eco friendly window blinds are an alternative that helps to reduce your window treatment’s impact on the planet.

There are several different types of eco friendly window blinds available, made from sustainable materials like bamboo, recycled plastic, and even recycled paper.

Eco friendly window blinds can provide the same level of privacy and style as traditional window blinds, but with a reduced environmental impact.

What Are the Benefits of Eco Friendly Window Blinds?

Window blinds are a type of window covering that gives you a lot of benefits.

1. Get Desired Level of Privacy

Eco friendly window blinds can be used to provide privacy.

2. Set a Personalized Tone

Using eco friendly window blinds, you can define and set the tone of a room as per your taste.

3. Prevent Glare

The superior quality window blinds can prevent glare from the sun, thus providing you with a comfortable environment to work on screens.

4. A Variety of Materials to Choose From

Modern window blinds are available in a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and plastic.

5. Minimal Impact on the Environment

Eco friendly window blinds are made from sustainable materials that have minimal impact on the environment.

One type of eco friendly window blind is made from bamboo. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that does not require pesticides or chemicals to thrive.

As a result, it is an environmentally friendly alternative to wood. Another type of eco friendly window blind is made from recycled plastic. Recycled plastic uses less energy to produce than new plastic, making it a more sustainable option.

6. Reducing Carbon Footprint

Window blinds made from sustainable materials can help to reduce your carbon footprint and make your home more eco friendly.

How to Choose Eco Friendly Window Blinds?

Window blinds are a great way to add privacy and style to your home, but they can also have a significant impact on the environment.

Fortunately, there are lots of eco friendly options to choose from, so you can enjoy the benefits of window blinds without harming the planet.

1. Certified Organic Materials

One of the most important things to look for is certified organic materials. This ensures that the blinds are made from sustainable materials that have been grown without the use of harmful pesticides or chemicals.

Bamboo is a popular material for eco friendly window blinds as it is incredibly strong and durable, yet still marine-friendly.

Another great option is recycled plastic, which uses less energy and resources to produce than traditional vinyl blinds.

2. Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing Practices

When it comes to the actual manufacturing process, look for brands that use environmentally friendly practices such as solar power or green energy.

3. Recycling Option

Finally, consider the end of life for your window blinds. Many eco friendly brands offer recycling programs so that you can recycle your old blinds instead of sending them to landfill.

With a little research, it is easy to find eco friendly window blinds that suit your style and budget.

Top 4 Eco Friendly Window Blinds

Window blinds play an important role in any home. Not only do they provide privacy and help to control the amount of light that enters a room, but they can also add a touch of style.

environmentally-friendly blinds

However, traditional window blinds can be made from materials that are not environmentally friendly. Here are four eco-friendly window blinds that are sure to please even the most discerning of homeowners.

1. Bamboo Blinds

Bamboo blinds are a popular choice for eco-conscious homeowners. Made from a sustainable resource, bamboo blinds are sturdy and stylish.

In addition, bamboo is a highly renewable material, making it an excellent choice for those looking to reduce the impact of window treatments on the environment.

2. Hemp Blinds

Hemp blinds offer a similar look to bamboo blinds, but they are made from a different material. Hemp is also a sustainable and renewable resource, making it an excellent eco-friendly option.

In addition, hemp is known for being exceptionally durable, meaning that your hemp blinds are sure to last for years to come.

3. Coconut Shell Blinds

Coconut shell blinds provide a unique look that is sure to add character to any room. Coconut shells are a waste product from the food industry, making them an environmentally friendly choice.

In addition, coconut shell blinds are known for being exceptionally strong and sturdy.

4. Jute Blinds

Finally, jute blinds are another popular eco-friendly option. Jute is a plant fiber that is both renewable and biodegradable.

In addition, jute is often used in carpets and furniture, so it can stand up to wear and tear.

When choosing eco-friendly blinds visit Affordable Blinds for cheap blind options, be sure to consider all your options to find the perfect fit for your home.

Why Go Green with Your Window Treatments?

Window blinds are a great way to add a touch of style to your home while also reducing your carbon footprint. Window blinds can be made from a variety of sustainable materials, such as bamboo, wool, and even recycled plastic.

In addition, window blinds can help you reduce your energy consumption by blocking out sunlight and keeping your home cooler in the summer months.

And because they are so easy to operate, window blinds can actually save you time and money in the long run. So, if you’re looking for a way to go green with your window treatments, eco friendly window blinds are a great option.