Green Living Guide

Learn how to incorporate sustainability in your daily life at SUNY Purchase. Photograph of the Olde apartments. Several blue buildings surrounded by greenery and two benches.

Why should “green living” matter to you?

Save money	Maximize space	Reduce waste	Improve quality	Protect planet
Spend where it counts and only purchase items you need. Repurpose what you have before thrifting something new.	Make room for the furniture and clothes you actually use and give yourself space to maintain good conditions.	Food and textile waste are leading causes of excessive emissions, affecting weather patterns. Minimize waste for your safety.	Less pollution improves our water, air, and food quality. You deserve quality essentials of life that will enhance your overall wellbeing.	Every choice you make impacts the world around you. Do your part and help protect our shared space to better life for all.

How can you “move in” green?

Research your new living space

- Find the dimensions of your dorm in Building and Room Information to avoid overconsumption and waste generation.

Promote circular economy

Purchase items from local or online thrift stores and use free campus resources like the SwapShop and sheds.

Back-to-school shop at home

Reuse your high school backpack, desk supplies, dishware, towels, and bedding from home.

Tips & tricks on green living by category

Check sinks, showers, and toilets regularly for leaks and immediately place a work order if you spot one to conserve excess energy usage.
Unplug all cords from wall outlets when not in use to avoid consuming ghost electricity.
Turn off all lights when you leave.
Hang clothes to air out after short-term wearing to wear again before washing.
Skip the dryer and use a drying rack for your washed laundry to reduce heat production and preserve your clothing.
Wait until you have a full loads of laundry to save money and reduce energy usage.

Reduce your average shower time to under 15 minutes by listening to a playlist or song for that length of time.
Wash your clothes on a cold water setting to save energy and save money as your clothes maintain better condition.
Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, and washing dishes to prevent more mess with less water.
When possible, utilize the toilet-flush system by pushing a half flush for liquid waste and full flush for solid waste.

Carry around a reusable water bottle everyday and fill it up with the hydration stations map locating them across campus.
Invest in water pitchers and filters to reducing single-use plastic waste, trips to the fountain, and costs per bottle.
After enjoying a meal in the Dining Hall, discard of all compostable products and food scraps into the compost bins instead of the trash cans to mitigate contributing to methane emissions.
Seek out local and/or seasonal products when grocery shopping
Implement plant-forward meals into your routine.

Discard your waste in its proper designated area.
Rinse to clean recyclable items before recycling.
Donate gently-used clothing and dorm furniture to those you know or at local donation centers, including on-campus SwapShop and sheds.
Choose electronic copies over hard copies, or print double-sided when possible.
Finish used products by flipping bottles upside down, shaking thoroughly, or combining containers before buying new products.
Only if you live in the apartments, sign up for a compost bin that will be picked up and have your compost used for the Rocket Composter.

Acceptable Waste

Metals

rinsed and dry aluminum cans or jars
bronze
tin
copper
steel

Mixed Paper

Any white and mixed office paper including:

magazines
printer paper
notebook paper
construction paper

Cardboard

Make sure the cardboard is clean (not contaminated with food or grease) and break it down so it’s flat.

Plastics #1-6

Ensure the plastics are rinsed and clean before you place them in the bin.

Glass

all colored and clear glass
ensure the glass is rinsed and clean before you place it in the bin

Electronics: Library Basement Drop Off or Work Order Pick Up Only

batteries
computers
electronic accessories

Transportation Options

The Loop

Take the Loop bus—it’s free for anyone with a valid Purchase ID. The Loop travels to White Plains and Port Chester and the schedule can be found on the Campus Shuttles webpage.

Bicycle

Bring your bike to campus! Register it for free at the Office of Parking and Transportation and park it at any of the racks on campus. Winter storage is offered through the Office of Residential and Student Life.

Consumer Resources

Before purchasing an item, research the social and environmental impact and ethics of that product.

Assess a product’s ingredients and chemical safety:

Environmental Working Group (EWG) Consumer Guides

Assess a product’s animal testing history:

Cruelty-Free Kitty

Sustainability in Academics

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SDGs are a set of 17 goals that were developed by the United Nations. They are an urgent call to action for all countries to curb the climate crisis and ensure social equity. SUNY Purchase joined the UN Global Coalition in 2021 and included the SDGs into its Learning Outcomes for the 2021-2027 Strategic Plan. Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals at SUNY Purchase.

In the classroom

The Environmental Studies BA program at SUNY Purchase reflects the interdisciplinary focus on the interactions among the sociopolitical, economic, and ecological systems where the natural world and human society overlap.

The importance of sustainability is highlighted in other majors and minors like sociology, anthropology, gender studies, liberal arts, global black studies, biology, new media, and philosophy and critical thought.

Out of the classroom

Adaptability, collaboration, and persistence are essential to working in sustainability. Gain experience and upper-level credit with the Office of Sustainability Internship Program.

Living On Campus