College offers a unique environment for students to experiment and explore different lifestyles. That’s why, in honor of UT Energy Week, we’ve gathered up a list of things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment.

Story by Nancy Huang
Illustrations by Dani Muñoz

Walk, walk, walk

The good thing about UT is all campus buildings are reasonably spaced. Instead of driving to school every day, walk between campus buildings to get to class. It’s good exercise and it reduces carbon emissions from cars. And speaking of cars…

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft are great alternative modes of transport for students, and having these apps also reduces your carbon footprint, since you’re not driving your own vehicle. The less cars on the road, the better.

Reduce Food Waste

An estimated 30 to 40 percent of the country’s processed food goes to waste every year. All the energy used for food production and agriculture is wasted, too. Freezing your food so it doesn’t go bad and having portion control can help reduce food waste, save money and make you a healthy eater. Make sure you get a healthy and sustainable amount of food for every meal.

Bike

Austin is full of bikers. Biking is a great in-between transportation option, since it’s a faster alternative to walking but still more environmentally friendly than driving a car. Campus has tons of bike racks to ensure speedy convenience when you’re traveling.

No more plastic

Carrying a reusable water bottle around with you eliminates the need for plastic water bottles. It also saves money, since you can refill a water bottle at any fountain on campus instead of buying endless plastic water bottles.

Changing small behavioral habits is the first step for students to reduce their energy output, get more exercise and even save money. It’s a triple-win situation. In this case, a healthy environment can lead to a healthier lifestyle.