Bronco Green Living Guide

I use light emitting diode (LED) bulbs for lamps in my room.

• • LEDs use significantly less energy than other types of lights. LED lights can last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

I unplug electronic items from the wall and turn off power strips when I am not using them.

• • Many household appliances, including electronics, drain energy when they are not in use. The NRDC estimated that “always-on but inactive devices” costs Americans $19 billion and 50 power plants’ worth of electricity annually. 

I only use the amount of light necessary for a task and use natural sunlight as much as possible.

• • Using natural light over artificial light can be just as effective.

I turn lights off when leaving a room, including bathrooms and common areas.

• • Turning off lights can save a significant amount of energy and reduce your carbon footprint.

I turn off the AC/heat when I’m not home and utilize my window blinds.

• • AC units contribute to the urban heat island effect and heating makes up a large part of energy use. 

I turn off the water when brushing my teeth.

• • Turning off water when brushing teeth can save 8 gallons of water per day.

I shower for 10 minutes or less.

• • Most showers use 2.5 gallons of water per minute!

I drink water from the filtered water bottle refill stations to minimize my plastic usage.

• • Drinking tap water can save money and plastic waste.

I carry a reusable water bottle with me instead of purchasing bottled beverages.

• • Using a reusable water bottle significantly reduces plastic waste. 

I use natural hair and body products.

• • Many of our hygiene products contain chemicals that are harmful when washed into our water supply, so try using brands that try to mitigate their negative impact.

I know and properly use the recycling bins on campus.

• • In 2019, Ada county increased by 99,744.95 tons of compacted waste, recycling can help divert a lot of that from landfill.

I clean out my aluminum and tin cans before recycling them.

• • Aluminum and tin cans are supposed to be empty and rinsed out before recycled to not contaminate recycling.

I minimize my plastic usage.

• • Did you know Boise State does not recycle plastic? In the past, plastic recycling has not been effective for various reasons and therefore it’s better to avoid using plastic in the first place.

I attempt to purchase products that have minimal and sustainable packaging.

• • Sustainable packaging reduces the ecological footprint at all stages in the product’s life-cycle. It benefits both the producer and the consumer to reduce their environmental impact.

I regularly use reusable shopping bags.

• • Plastic bags can be very harmful to the environment, cotton totes don’t use plastic. You can purchase your very own at the Bronco Shop!

I donate items I don’t need or use anymore (i.e. furniture, laptop, clothes) to local organizations and charities.

• • The city of Boise has a lot of resources for donating items!

I have homemade and/or second-hand decorations in my room.

• • Decorations can create a lot of waste, there are many ways to reduce and reuse.

I regularly buy thrifted and/or “second-hand” clothing instead of new clothing and I look for alternatives at thrift/second-hand stores before I buy a new product.

• • Fashion contributes to many negative environmental impacts, purchasing products at thrift stores in Boise can help reduce those impacts. 

I dispose of batteries and electronics at the Sustainability Center’s technoscrap bin located in the Student Union Building.

• • Technological waste is hard to dispose of and creates a lot of environmental issues.

I use electronic copies when I can instead of physical documents. I also double check my papers for errors before printing and use double-sided printing whenever possible.

• • Paper use contributes to deforestation. With some simple math, you could be using half the amount of paper by printing double sided! #ThinkBeforeYouPrint

I buy electronic or used books whenever possible.

• • New books also contribute to deforestation, the Bronco Shop often offers used books and ebooks as alternatives. 

I rent or attempt to sell back my books to Boise State’s Bronco Shop at the end of each semester

• • Selling back books is not only good for your wallet but gives each book another life! Check out how to do it through our very own Bronco Shop Buyback!

I only take as much food as I eat when I go to the Boise River Cafeteria (BRC), Southfork Market, and/or other dining services.

• • Food waste can produce methane gases that contribute to climate change.

I use reusable cups, silverware, and dining ware when possible instead of disposable ones.

• • Disposable dining ware has large environmental impacts, reusing is always better.

I use produce from the Sustainability Club Community Garden whenever I can.

• • Community food systems not only have produce that is fresh and local, they eliminate the use of pesticides/herbicides that can lead to potential health hazards.  

I eat vegetarian and/or vegan at least once a week.

• • Did you know that PETA’s Vegan Report Card gave Boise State Dining an A+ in their vegan options. Reducing meat consumption significantly decreases environmental impact. 

I utilize the cold water settings when I wash my laundry.

• • Hot water uses a lot of energy, cold water helps to save! 

I wash full loads of laundry.

• • Full loads saves money and energy since you’re using the most amount of space for the same water use.

I use laundry products free of harmful synthetic fragrances and dyes.

• • Many laundry products contain harmful chemicals, using natural is much safer.

I utilize public transportation whenever possible.

• • Using public transit uses less emissions and takes up less space, urban living can be very sustainable! Track the Boise State shuttle here!

I bike around campus and in the city whenever possible.

• • Cycling significantly reduces your carbon footprint compared to gas-powered vehicles. Don’t have a bike? Check out the Cycle Learning Center! Or the Boise Bicycle Project! 

I take the stairs rather than the elevator if possible.

• • Elevators use energy and walking lets you exercise! 

I turn off my vehicle’s engine while in waiting zones.

• Idling emissions are easily avoidable and mitigates air pollution.

I participate in sustainability activities at Boise State.

• • Find out about Boise State Campus Sustainability events here.

I take sustainability-related courses at Boise State if possible.

• • Search for “sustainability” as a key term and find results for sustainability-related courses across many disciplines in the myBoiseState Student Center’s “Class Search Enrollment.” The Department of Environmental Studies has great introductory courses to start.

I support or am a member of a sustainability-related extracurricular group.

• • Check out the Sustainability Club and the Eco-Reps Program.

I volunteer for a sustainability-related organization.

• • There are plenty of great volunteer opportunities at Boise State.

I know I can contact sustainability@boisestate.edu whenever I have a question about sustainability on campus or visit their website https://www.boisestate.edu/sustainability/ for more information.

• • Our team wants to help you answer any questions and find ways to be more involved on campus, please feel free to reach out to us!

This Guide was modified from the NYUGreEN Room Pledge from New York University.