Green Your Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that elicits dread in some, happiness in others, anger in a few, and panic in many.  With all of this worrying about what you’ll do on the most lovey-dovey holiday of the year, it can be easy to forget about keeping your celebration sustainable!

Send a Paperless Card!

Don’t waste paper by sending a paper Valentine that will get lost in the shuffle, send an e-card! You can brighten your loved one’s day by dropping them an unexpected note online. There are also some e-cards, like the ones from the National Resources Defense Council that donate money to charities as well!  Or pick a unique card that will keep on giving by selecting a card that can be planted!

Think Before You Buy Your Flowers

While it is tempting to go the traditional Valentine’s Day route of buying flowers, think sustainably! Make sure you look at where you are purchasing your flowers if you do buy them. If you receive a glorious bouquet, don’t toss it in the garbage! Try drying your flowers as a memento that will last much longer!

Escape the Crowds

Valentine’s Day is a busy day for dates at restaurants. Escape the crowd by making dinner at your own home. Put a little local love in your meal by incorporating local and seasonal produce! Use this link to find local restaurants and where to buy local foods!

Make Sure Your Sweet Tooth Keeps Sweet

Keep your feelings of love flowing by thinking about where the chocolate comes from that you want to buy. Many large companies focus on cocoa sustainability in the products they sell, so look to buy locally and see if any Ames’ stores have products that support cocoa sustainability!

Think Green and Save Some Green!

Remember to be economically sustainable when making your Valentine’s Day plans. Be financially responsible and don’t stretch your budget on gifts that will be forgotten in a month. Plan an experience around campus or participate in any of Iowa State’s activities to spend time together without spending a lot of money.

Consider giving a gift that keeps on giving! You and your significant other could volunteer together. Whether it’s at a food pantry or animal shelter, demonstrate social sustainability and share the love!

Remember there are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day by being socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable! A sustainable Valentine’s Day is sure to be one that is long lasting in memories!

For more Valentine’s Day ideas, be sure to check out our latest newsletter!

Green Your Textbooks (and Your Wallet)

There are always so many noises you hear around campus at the beginning of the year. The buzz of people coming back to campus and the groan of students when they hear about how much their new books are going to cost. Each semester seems like it will begin with the same terrifyingly long receipt for new books. But there are a lot of options that are sustainable for you and for your wallet!

 

Books Age Well

Don’t buy the latest edition. Ask your professor if you can get by with buying an older copy of the book. These are often a lot cheaper than the latest editions.  

 

Buy a Well-Loved Book!

Buy a book that has been pre-owned. These might have a few marks and a little bit of wear and tear, but are still perfectly usable and much cheaper! You can find these at the campus bookstore and online!

 

Swap with a Friend

Do you know a friend who took a class you are taking this semester? Was a course recommendation you gave so glowing a pal just had to take a course you were in? Swap books! This is a great way to reuse books. You won’t have to deal with the worries about shipping like if you decided to resell the book online and you can get something back you will actually use!

 

Try the Library

The library has many of the textbooks you need for class. Look on the library’s website to see if your textbook is there. The reservations are limited, so think ahead of time and don’t cram right before the exam in case the book is checked out. If your textbook is in the library and you plan, you might not even have to buy your book!

 

Look at an Electronic Book

Electronic books are often cheaper and use less resources than traditional books. Many textbooks are now offered as e-books through the bookstore. You can see if the textbooks you need are offered as an e-book on their website.

 

Ask your Professor

Use your professor as a resource. Some professors are willing to loan out their copies of the course textbooks. Other professors might inform you that you might not really need the textbook. Some professor will tell you that you can’t get by without the textbook, but you’ll never know until you ask!