College Initiative: A “Green” Welcome to Res Life – 2014-2015
Posted on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014
Sustainable Algonquin was on hand for the move into Algonquin College Residence at the start of the 2014-2015 academic year. A number of tips were shared with new students to remind them about how to fit into Algonquin’s “green” culture, have a lower environmental impact and keep finances sustainable too!
Create less waste:
- When ordering take-out meals at the 35th Street Café or in the Marketplace, request reusable containers. Containers can be returned to 35th Street Café where they will be washed and reused.
- Use a refillable water bottle and fill up in the dorm room or on campus at the water bottle refill stations.
Turn off the tap:
- Students turning off the tap while brushing their teeth will save 7 litres of water every day!*
- Being respectful of water consumption and your time in the shower will keep your roommate relationship positive and will contribute to saving more than 3 million litres of water during the school year.**
Say “no thanks” to plastic bags and single-use disposable containers:
- Practice the three “R”s – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
- Use reusable shopping bags rather than single use plastic bags. (save $.05 at the grocery store!)
- Use reusable hot beverage containers (save $.10 at all food outlets on campus – including Starbucks and Tim Horton’s) and invest in a reusable Booster Juice cup – get a free “booster” each time you use it (a $.50 value)
Get active with your transportation:
- Ample bike parking and Tune-up Tuesdays means a bike-friendly campus and the Woodroffe location is easily accessible by bus transit.
- Student Car Share makes it easy to be an Algonquin College student free from the expense and hassle of car-ownership.
Make smart buying choices:
- Look for environmentally-friendly school supplies at Connections from Onyx and Green
- Sign up for the terra20 Save for Change program and remember to stop by the store at Pinecrest Shopping Centre when you visit IKEA.
- Consider environmental choices for your everyday needs – paper products that use recycled content, biodegradable dish soap, laundry detergent, shampoos and other toiletry items – choices such as these use fewer natural resources, are better for the ecology of the Ottawa River (our water supply), and have been shown to be healthier options.
Live the Algonquin College values: Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect:
- Learn about issues relating to social responsibility, the environment and sustainability
- Show that you Care about tomorrow by demonstrating Integrity today
- Respect the environment that we share and those that we share it with
*Assumes a student brushes their teeth twice each day **Assumes a reduction of 2 minutes for shower time as well as all students in Algonquin College residence participating 
