October 2017: Green Tips: Back to School/Halloween

Sometimes, the most sustainable option is also the most enjoyable, and this is certainly the case for the new school year approaching and Halloween. With the new season and one of the most festive holidays approaching, keep these tips in mind to make the most of your weekend and can save you money, and help the environment!

Safe and Sustainable Routes to School 
Instead of driving alone, start a carpool, bike train, or group walk! You'll each save time, energy, and fuel.

Healthy Meals 
Sometimes with our busy work or school schedule, we don't give ourselves enough time to prepare meals. This may lead to purchasing food to-go, which involves packaging waste. Before you spend your money and contribute to adding more garbage to our landfills, take some time to get up earlier than usual to prepare your meals for the day. Use reusable containers to pack and store your meals. Having breakfast, lunch and dinner are essential meals you need in order to maintain your body with enough energy for the day.

Buy Smart or Reuse Your Supplies!
School supplies can be expensive. Check out a local thrift store or dollar store to buy some neat school supplies. Thrift stores often have awesome and unused school supplies for really, really cheap. If you happen to have supplies from previous years, try to reuse those supplies. This can save you tons of money and reduce your waste.

Celebrate Halloween, go green! 
Did you know that many costumes sold in stores contain toxic chemicals like PVC and phthalates? Gross! Instead, be creative by making your own costumes out of repurpose clothes, or fashion costumes from recycled materials. Another tip is thrift shopping for costumes, or asking a friend to let you borrow an unused costume they might have.

Give Out Healthy Treats
Instead of giving out sugary candy, consider giving out healthier treats on October 31, such as oranges, trail mix, granola bars, and stickers.

Decorations
Use recycled paper to create your crafty cut-outs of bats, pumpkins, and other spooky characters to decorate your windows. Decorating your home with locally grown pumpkins will help reduce your carbon footprint and waste. Be sure to harvest the pumpkin seeds for roasting and compost any parts of the pumpkin you don't eat!

Have a low waste party
Instead of purchasing decorative disposable plates, cups, and utensils, use silverware and compostable utensils. Check out your local thrift store to purchase your items. Have your guests toss their used utensils in a bin to be rewashed and reused. Don't forget to recycle cans and compost leftovers!

Inspired by: http://www.earthshare.org/2011/10/celebrate-halloween-with-earthshare-members.html

June 2016 Green Tip: Graduation Weekend

Sometimes, the most sustainable option is also the most enjoyable, and this is certainly the case for graduation weekend! With commencement ceremonies and celebrations with family and friends, keep these tips in mind to make the most of your weekend.

Consolidate Travel

Getting from point A to point B during graduation weekend is anything but simple since it's one of the busiest weekends of the whole year in Santa Cruz! Family coming from out of town will most likely get caught in the inbound traffic on Highway 17 or Highway 1, and parking for commencement ceremonies on campus can be challenging. Reduce stress and be part of the solution by carpooling as much as possible, show your friends and family around by bicycle (you can rent them from some places), or take the bus.

Hydration

As your loved ones are watching you walk at graduation, the last thing you want is for them to feel parched and dehydrated as they sit under that hot Santa Cruz sun. Fortunately, UCSC has bottled water-free commencements, with compostable cups and water jugs available instead! You can reduce your group's waste footprint even further by encouraging them to bring their own refillable bottles to the ceremony. 

Off the Beaten Path

Going to the Boardwalk and other such "tourist" activities can be fun to do with visiting friends and family, but consider taking the time to enjoy the natural wonders of Santa Cruz. You can even host your post-graduation festivities at the beach or one of our beautiful state parks. For a more extensive look at these activities, check out this classic Green Tip!

And to everyone who is graduating this quarter, congratulations!

How are you planning on making your graduation weekend a reflection of your banana slug value of sustainability? Let us know in the comments!

May 2016 Green Tip: Refreshing Your Summer Wardrobe

The approach of summer means the arrival of warmer weather and the latest, hottest clothing trends to match. Fashion companies have begun producing new lines of clothing at higher frequencies, and modern mass-production has kept prices lower than ever. But what is the true cost of these practices?

This month, Zhai Yun Tan wrote a piece featured on NPR.org that looked into the textile waste created by the $250 billion dollar industry of fashion. She posits that we are more likely to dispose of cheaper, mass-produced fashion garments than pricier ones. In her piece What Happens When Fashion Becomes Fast, Disposable And Cheap?, she identifies a few ways to combat these recent trends.

Ultimately, some of the best ways to dress sustainability is to reduce the amount of new material that you are purchasing. Buying second-hand clothes from the many thrift and consignment stores in Santa Cruz, clothes swapping, and crafting your own fashionable designs are all easy and cost-effective ways to reduce your impact on the disposable economy.

Are these practices already familiar to you? Share your sustainable fashion experiences and ideas in the comments below!

March 2016 Green Tip: Three Ideas for Eco-Travel this Spring

As the quarter draws to the close and we begin thinking about spring break and spring travel plans we may have, it is important to plan ahead to avoid causing an unnecessary impact on the environment of your travel destination. The ever-increasing costs of transportation and lodging mean that the most affordable vacation options are often the most green!

Greenest - Stay-cation: Take a Hike!

Spring has already begun to paint Santa Cruz with blooms, and a hike is one of the best ways to get out and enjoy this natural beauty. Even avid hikers know that there's always another trail to explore here in Santa Cruz. If you haven't had the opportunity to take a trek along one of the many routes located throughout the city and county, the upcoming break and weekends are the perfect time to try something new! Decide on whichever trail looks best at EveryTrail, HillTromper, SantaCruz.com, or ask a friend or colleague. Whichever one you decide, make sure to pack plenty of water in your reusable bottle! Hydration is key to a great hike!

Greener - Local Destination: Sleepaway Camp

There are many gorgeous campgrounds in the greater Santa Cruz area that are a perfect getaway for anyone who loves to enjoy the natural beauty of the redwood coast. Bring a tent or sleep out under the stars, and make sure to pack enough water or bring a filtration system. (Are you noticing a trend?) Find a listing of campgrounds, parks, and beaches at the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks website. For day trips, consider any of the fourteen state parks in the county. A comprehensive index of state parks and helpful information can be found at the California Parks and Recreation website.

Green - Long Distance Travel

If you've already booked your flight to Cabo for the break, fear not! There's still opportunity to make sustainable choices. Be thoughtful of where you're spending your money while abroad. Local economies can often be heavily influenced by tourism, so make sure you're comfortable with where your dollar is going. Research your hotel options and make sure that they're doing their best to make sustainable choices. And lastly, consider offsetting your long-distance car or air travel by purchasing carbon offsets. There is a lot of debate over the merit of these offsets, but we think it's worth reading up on and deciding if it's right for you. Remember, the best things to do for the environment don't require any offsets!


How do you make your spring travels green? Post in the comments!

Happy Travels!

December 2015 Green Tip: Curtailment At Home and Away

Even as the Cool Campus Challenge draws to a close, it’s important to keep up the good work as the UC system strives towards carbon neutrality. Whether you’re traveling over the break or staying in town, make sure to stick to your pledges and stay sustainable! This December, try out these tips to curtail your energy usage, resource use, and carbon footprint.

Image by John Loo

If you’re leaving town:

• Unplug appliances, including Wi-Fi routers, refrigerators, microwaves, and lamps. Also consider using a power strip to reduce energy drain of many appliances at once.
• Close windows and blinds to insulate your room or house.
• Shut off or lower your thermostat if you have one. A good temperature to have your thermostat at while you’re out of the house is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Wear your warm clothing inside as well.

No matter where you are:

• Check for leaks in faucets and toilets. If you live on campus and find one before you leave, file a maintenance request.
• Seal air leaks or file a maintenance request to reduce heating needs. Often, drafts under doors can be reduced by laying a rolled up bath towel in front of the door gap.

Also, keep in mind these holiday tips:

Cut down on oils and grease. Fats, oils and grease can pose health hazards if thrown out with the dishwater or if poured down the drain. An excess in the sewer system can even result in sewage overflow leading to harmful effects on aquatic life as well as human well-being. If you do cook with these, make sure to pour the excess into a non-recyclable container, wait for it to solidify, and throw it in the trash rather than down the drain.

Reduce gift waste. Giving gifts? Try to reduce the amount of plastic packaging, or go for gifts that use materials other than plastic. Opt for unpackaged products or those packaged in cardboard and reusable or recyclable packaging. Hope to get gifts? Keep or recycle your wrapping paper and boxes! Both can be reused for future gifting or various craft projects. Check out our previous Green Tips about gift-giving here.

And, as with every vacation, try to carpool or take a bus whenever possible to cut down on carbon emissions. Safe travels to everyone leaving town and a happy vacation to all!