Student living: how to be kind to the environment and your wallet

Moving to uni and getting to grips with independent life is challenging enough – so how exactly can you go about living a more environmentally friendly existence without it spiking your living costs? Follow the tricks and tips below and you’ll discover that going green can actually help you save money – and with a recent NUS survey showing 91% of students are concerned about climate change, you’ll be in good company.

1. Buy in bulk

It might seem obvious, but buying certain key household items in bulk (think dried pasta, washing detergent and loo roll) will limit the amount of single-use plastics you use and save you money. Better yet, see whether your area has a zero-waste store – a fast-growing trend – where you can refill bottles and buy dry ingredients without requiring any new plastic at all.

2. Invest in reusables

From keep cups to refillable water bottles, canvas bags and even reusable cutlery, there are plenty of ways to ensure your day-to-day existence doesn’t require single-use items – saving you valuable money as well as the planet. There are also lots of eco-friendly alternatives out there to explore, such as bamboo toothbrushes and 100% recycled loo roll. Oh, and plastic straws? No thanks.

3. Be energy smart

It’s not just about turning the lights out when you leave the room – no doubt something your parents have already drilled into you. Did you also know that laptops, TVs and phones all keep using electricity while they’re on standby, burning up unnecessary energy and increasing your bills? Instead, be smart about how and when you turn the power on. Likewise, don’t leave your phone on charge overnight.

4. Get hot on heating

Put an extra layer or two on before cranking up that thermostat – and make sure you and your flatmates aren’t leaving windows open while the heating’s on. It’ll be good practise for when you move out of halls and into rented accommodation, where you’ll be responsible for paying utility bills such as gas and electricity. As you’ll discover, they’re not cheap!

5. Don’t let your money drip away

It’ll surprise you how much water wastage can cost (one drop per second can add up to 10,000 litres a year!) – and that’s before you factor in the environmental impact. There are plenty of ways to avoid it, though, from taking shorter showers to using a washing up bowl rather than running water and turning off the tap while you brush your teeth. Likewise, when it comes to cooking, only ever boil the amount of water you need, and pop the lid on your pan when it’s on the hob – it’ll vastly reduce the energy required.

6. Remember to recycle, reuse and donate

You don’t need us to tell you that fast fashion isn’t sustainable for the planet – and while the clothes might seem better value at first glance, they’re often poorly made and so a worse investment long-term. Instead why not refresh your wardrobe with a trip to a vintage or charity shop, or organise a clothes swap with some friends? And if it has a hole in it? Pick up that needle and thread before you throw away an otherwise perfectly good item. You’ll also be surprised by what you can recycle, both in terms of textiles and other student household essentials such as printer cartridges.