The Square Life

If your own personal inconvenient truth is that you can’t afford a Prius, you can still join the latest celeb trend easier than you think. Here is Square’s list of the 10 Ways to Go Green in Utah County.

1. TURN OFF THE TAP Water is not as renewable a resource as you may think. Just ask the residents of Atlanta. So turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth or washing your hands. GO GREENER: Buy a water saving showerhead and faucet.

2. WALK You live a few blocks from campus. So why bother with parking and traffic? Use your two little legs to get you where you need to go. GO GREENER: If you need to go a little farther look into public transportation, or invest in a bike.

3. SAVE GAS If you must drive, there are some fuel saving tips you can use. Having the proper tire inflation, using cruise control on the highways, and avoiding aggressive driving by accelerating gently and not driving too quickly will save you on your mileage. GO GREENER: See item #2.

4. TURN IT OFF If you’re not in the room, turn off your lights. If you’re not writing a paper, turn off your computer. Screen Savers are not energy savers. GO GREENER: Unplug it. Even if something is not turned on, the outlet is still pulling some energy out. Also, opt for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs which are more energy efficient.

5. SAVE PAPER Print that midterm double sided, and use a lighter stock of paper. And make sure your toner and ink cartridges are recycled as well. GO GREENER: Eliminate the need for paper altogether. Stop and check if it is something that can be sent and read electronically.

6. SKIP THE BOTTLE Bottled water, besides being costly to buy, uses a lot of money and energy to produce. So use the tap. GO GREENER: Get your own filter.

7. CLEAN UP YOUR CLEANER A lot of cleaning materials are extremely harmful and toxic. Check labels to buy an eco-friendly bottle. GO GREENER: Make your own cleaning solution with a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and warm water.

8. RECYCLE Dunn Recycling, 520 N. Geneva Rd, in Orem. They recycle pretty much anything and everything. Provo city had 1500 tons of solid waste last year, of which less than ½ was recycled. GO GREENER: Don’t limit your recycling to garbage. Don’t throw it away if it is useable. Donate it to D.I. Or post it on the Craigslist “Free Stuff” site.

9. BUY LOCAL Look for food from Utah vendors, or check out a farmers market. It saves energy by reducing the costs needed for transport, and is fresher than its well traveled counterparts. GO GREENER: Make your own compost pile with your old food and scraps.

10. EAT LESS MEAT Meat is one of the most resource intensive foods there are to produce. It takes 12,000 gallons of water to produce just 1 lb. Of meat. And that’s not mentioning the space, energy, and pollution that it uses and creates. GO GREENER: Eat organic, or go vegetarian.