The Convenient Truth

The world is frantically searching for the most efficient ways to save the environment while some of us are just looking for best ways to save money; it turns out there are some common sense ways to do both.

Everyone's talking about "going green." But it's turning into more of a fad than a reality for college students. Sure, many of us don our "Think Green" t-shirts and recycle every now and then, but most of our dorm rooms are sucking up enough energy to power a factory. Some of our simple every day choices are costing us energy as well as money. So the solution is easy: make better choices.

Saving energy will save you money. When choosing ways to light your apartment or dorm room, purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to Energy Star, CFLs last longer and can "save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime." CFLs produce less heat, making them safer to use. And when you're not inside your room, turn off the lights and lengthen its usage.

Instead of driving your car to school and hunting for a parking spot, save on gas money and think of different ways to get to school. Get a little exercise by walking or riding a bike. Or, take Towson's newly expanded shuttle service with new routes to most of the apartments in the area. Don't buy bottled water. It's pricey and bottles take centuries to decompose. Instead, buy a reusable water bottle and purchase a water filter for your apartment.

By the way, it doesn't hurt to recycle. Help Towson University win RecycleMania 2009 by taking advantage of the 3,300 recycling containers all around campus.