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With the recent oil crisis, a population that keeps growing as well as the rising cost of our appetites (i.e. cost of food and instances of obesity), people everywhere are scrambling to find and figure out alternatives.  Part of this "enthusiasm" is coming from the need to save money.  I mean, it just cost me almost 70 bucks to fill up my car last week alone!  The other reason comes from a genuine concern over preserving and protecting the environment in which we live.  

What's the world to do?  The answer may lie in the very ground we tread upon.  According to a  recent article published in the Boston Globe , some soil scientists are  beginning to look at ways in which we can improve the overall quality of our soil.  The emphasis is being placed on the fact that soil is even more important than petroleum, water or air because it is an extremely limited and fragile resource.  There is no doubt that soil is something we often do not think about, if at all, and therefore, we take it for granted.  It is what our plants grow out of (which is what nourishes animals).  It is essential.  

The article goes on to state:

Nevertheless, progress in the science of soil has the potential to be truly transformative, and to help solve some of the biggest problems the planet faces. By 2050, according to Rattan Lal, a professor of soil science at Ohio State University, "All the necessities of food, feed, fiber, and fuel are going to be met by less than one-tenth of an acre per person, on average. And we already have seriously degraded a lot of the available land. So unless you can restore some of it you will just run out."

 It's truly something to think about.

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When others think of "environmentally conscious" people, there are several not-so-nice names that come to mind. However, if you think about it, people who are environmentally conscious are simply people who refuse to be wasteful. They are constantly looking for ways to re-use good things; they are always looking for ways to improve the environment in which we live and conserve energy.

It's true that you don't know what you've got until it's gone. Whenever I used to ask my dad for money to go to the movies with friends or to the mall, he used to look at me and say, "You know Janelle, money doesn't grow on trees.." I wouldn't realize the value of these words until years later when I got my first car, job and apartment all at once and was struggling to make ends meet. In order to save money, I still turn lights off if I am not using them; I have reduced the amount of laundry I do to one or two full loads on the weekend (versus like 5 half full loads numerous times a week). I wash my car only when it is absolutely necessary, and instead of using papertowels to do my weekly cleaning, I have taken old, tattered running t-shirts and cut them into little rag squares to use instead.

The great thing about conserving energy and being more environmentally conscious is that you can spread the good news around. Feel free to debate about it with family or spouses. For example, my boyfriend and I had a huge debate over how best to save water. I argued that it was the laundry machine and the dishwasher that were the culprits; and he argued that it was my long showers and dishwashing by hand. Well, we marched ourselves over to the computer and did a little research together to figure out the answer. And the results? You'll have to read my next blog post to find out!

Keeping energy conservation in mind, I pose the question: "What things have you done in the past week to recycle your life?"

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If you're like most college students, chances are you're probably always low on cash; but there are plenty of things that you can do to create a healthier living space as well as conserve energy resources. The following suggestions are just a few ways to to this:

1. Paper Deadlines- If you know you have a big paper due soon, see if the professor will allow you to email it versus having to print the entire thing out. If the professor prefers a paper copy and you don't want to use your paper, head to campus. Most college campuses are equipped with computer labs that will allow you to print out a certain amount of material for free before they start charging you. If you absolutely must print a paper out at your humble abode, make sure that you're using recycled paper. *Note that most stores like Staples or Office Max will actually give you recycled paper for free if you give them your empty ink cartridge from your printer!
2. Flatware- If you tend to make a lot of your own food, try to use something that you can wash by hand versus something that will just get thrown away (i.e. paper plates vs. plastic bowls). If you do use paper products, try to make sure that they are recycleable.
   
3. Park that Car ! Have you ever noticed how a lot of college campuses will make it really difficult to find parking? There's probably a reason for that. If you live on campus, don't use your car. Walk, ride a bike or (if your college offers it) ride the bus. It'll save you money in gas expenses, and you'll get the exercise!
4. Books- Did you ever notice how expensive books can be when you're in college? A lot of people like nice, new things. However, it's sometimes smarter (whenever you can) to buy used books. Think of it as recylcing. So what, someone used the book before! When your semester is over, a lot of universities will actually buy your books from you, so sell your book back to the bookstore when you're done!
5. Thirsty? Have you ever noticed how many vending machines there are on a college campus? If you're taking classes during the summer, there's a good chance that those machines will even be sold out. Buy a bottle of water. When you're done drinking it, don't throw it out; reuse it! Fill it up with one of the many water fountains on campus. If you're picky about tap water, buy one of the larger gallons of drinking water from the supermarket. If you feel like having something other than water, then fill it with whatever your favorite drink is.

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