Listed below are some simple steps you can take to reduce your environmental impact, both at Carleton and elsewhere.

To save energy and water…

At Carleton:

• Request energy-saving CFLs from Facilities (x4133) for free
• If the heat or A/C is unpleasant, contact Maintenance Services (x 4133)

Everywhere:

• Use energy-saving CFLs instead of incandescent bulbs
• Turn off and unplug all electronics (even computers!) when not in use, or use a power strip that you can switch off
• Always close windows (even storm windows) when the heat or air conditioning is on
• Set thermostat to 68˚ F in winter
• Wash clothes on cold and let them air dry
• Take short showers
• Turn off the water while brushing teeth, washing hands, etc.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room (even public places, such as restrooms and classrooms)
• Look for Energy Star certification when purchasing appliances

Recycle…

At Carleton:

• Items with recycle symbols (#1-7) in the blue one-stream recycling containers
• Packing peanuts at the bookstore—they can reuse them there
• Used ink cartridges at the SCIC on the first floor of the CMC
• Old clothes can be put in the marked boxes in any campus laundry facility
• Used books by re-selling them to the bookstore or placing them in the Books for Africa bin at the entrance to the library
• Used electronics in the electronic recycling bin in PEPS (basement of Laird)
• Donate or sell to the annual June Mortar Board secondhand sale, the ACT Center's annual "Lighten Up" garage sale at the end of spring term, or selling them via the NNB

Beyond Carleton:

• Familiarize yourself with the local recycling policy, remembering to reuse first
• Used ink cartridges by returning to manufacturer or at stores such as Staples or Office Max
• Old clothes by donating them to charity
• Apparel, furniture, appliances, etc. by donating or selling them
• Consider buying things used instead of new or find a local reuse network using Freecycle or FreeSharing.org to find things for free

Dispose of…

At Carleton:

• Batteries in the blue battery bin in Sayles
• Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) by giving them to Facilities (x4133)
• Food waste in yellow compost bins in dinning halls, Sayles, and dorms

Beyond Carleton:

• Batteries by finding local businesses that recycle them
• Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) by returning them to a store such as Home Depot or your local hazardous waste facility
• Food waste in a compost pile

Consume consciously by…

At Carleton:

• Taking only what you can eat in the dining halls
• Using the ride share section of the NNB

Everywhere:

• Avoiding excessively-packaged products
• Opting for travel mugs and reusable water bottles
• Trying to purchase recycled paper and biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products, laundry detergents, and art supplies
• Shopping with cloth bags or your backpack
• Considering local, fair-trade and/or organic products
• Asking questions about the origins of food and the social/economic/environmental responsibility of products
• Selecting double-sided and multiple sheet per page printing
• Saving gas through carpooling