Reduce your carbon footprint

Electricity

Turn it off

Did you know devices continuously draw electricity even when turned of, such as laptops, chargers, printers, and TVs? Use a power strip that can be switched off to eliminate this “phantom load”.

Enable your computer’s energy saving options

Screen savers don’t save energy, so let your computer sleep. And don’t forget to turn off your computer at the end of the day.

Buy Energy Star

Energy Star products use significantly less power. In the long run this purchase will save you money and reduce CO2.

Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs

Replace any incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFL), which use 1/3 the energy.

Share a fridge

Empty fridges take more energy to stay cool, so help keep it full by sharing with a roommate or someone from your office. Even better, unplug it when it’s not in use.

Air-dry clothes

Try drying at least half of your laundry on a rack to help reduce our carbon footprint.

Heating & Cooling

Keep the heat in

Room too hot? Don’t open the window, it only perpetuates the problem. If your room/office is consistently too hot (or too cold) contact facilities and fill out a service request here.

Use less hot water

Take shorter showers and wash clothes with cold water instead of hot. Clothes get just as clean and colors stay brighter longer when you wash with cold water.

Travel and Transportation

Walk, bike, and use mass transit

Ditch the car and walk or ride your bike around campus. Use ZIpcar and ACTR for trips off campus. You’ll save one pound of CO2 for every mile you don’t drive.

Get a fuel efficient car for fieldtrips

Drive smart

Save gas by driving under 65 MPH and not accelerating too fast. Turn off car if idling for more than 10 seconds, since it emits twice the emissions idling as driving.

Reevaluate long distance travel

In some cases a teleconference or webcast can eliminate the need to be physically present. For shorter distances consider taking a train or carpooling.

Book direct flights

Most fuel is used during take-off and landing, so reducing layovers can significantly reduce the carbon emissions for your whole trip.

Waste

Reduce

New items make lots of garbage, both in packaging and disposal. Find alternatives such as repairing, sharing, or borrowing.
For paper, only print what you will use. In the labs, allow time to wait for your copy to print rather than clicking print multiple times.

Recycle

Keep Middlebury’s recycling program at it’s best, brush up on your sorting skills. Visit the recycling homepage.

Reuse

Visit the campus reuse trailer or The Trunk, the campus thrift shop. Avoid disposable containers, bring your own mug or water bottle, and pack a lunch.