Senior Business Management major

Why are you interested in sustainability?

I am interested in sustainability because our way of living can be so much more efficient. I believe that each person contributes to our planet's waste and if we allow carelessness to take over, we will end up destroying our environment and everyone living on it. It's important for us to take action now, even a small change in habits such as turning off the lights every time you leave a room can make a huge difference overall.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 
COMPOST :) and use electricity/water AS NEEDED in order to reduce our energy consumption and ultimately, our carbon footprint.

Senior Environmental Studies major

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I think living things in this world deserve a chance to live a healthy life. Sustainability is one of the ways to ensure this.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?
Assess what you need, what you truly need and ask yourself, "Do I need the rest?"

Senior Communication Management and Design Major.     Why are you interested in sustainability? I am interested in sustainability to ensure a safer future for generations to come and to increase biodiversity on my lovely home. Thank you planet Earth.   What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? My best advice on how to live sustainably is to only purchase goods and services that you need and will use. Avoid purchasing products that are packaged unsustainably, and unplug electronics when not in use!

Senior Environmental Studies major

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I grew up in a sustainably minded family and community which is what inspired me to get involved with REMP on IC's campus. When I first came to college, I couldn't help but notice that a large proportion of the campus community had little to no knowledge about sustainability and the importance of protecting our planet. As someone with background in sustainability education, I feel it is a civil duty to encourage and educate people about making conscious decisions to protect our one and only mother earth.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 
You can never, ever go wrong with your reusable grocery bags, coffee mugs and water bottles (own multiple of each). In Ithaca specifically, TAKE THE BUS. You really don't need a car here since the city is so centralized; the bus system is easy and cheap if you buy a semester pass.

Junior Environmental Studies major, Music minor

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I am interested in sustainability because it is empowering. In the face of countless environmental concerns, making sustainable choices today- both small and large- can help educate and empower us to take charge of our health and our future.
 

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?
The best way to live sustainably (for yourself and the environment) is to be realistic about your goals and your own personal satisfaction. Small changes can drastically shift your habits to be more sustainable, but you may never reach a point where you would be comfortable being vegan or using a compostable toilet. That doesn't mean you should give up!  Recycling, buying foods that have less packaging, composting, and turning out the lights when you leave a room all help to paint a brighter picture for the future. Also, remember that ideas like "waste" are totally human-constructed, and that we all must live in the areas around us- so treating them in a respectful, thoughtful way proves the ultimate avenue to success in sustainability.

First Year Cinema and Photography Major

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I became interested in sustainability because of my mom. Since I was little she taught me how important it is to protect the Earth and to appreciate the beauty of nature. Now I share her passion and love for the environment and this influences me to be interested in sustainability.
 

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?

My best advice on how to live sustainably is to live simply! Whether its eating naturally and locally or not creating as much waste by buying less material things, simplicity lessens our footprint on the planet and allows us to live in more harmony with the environment.

First-year Environmental Science major, Spanish and Honors minors
 
Why are you interested in sustainability?

I'm interested in sustainability because climate change IS happening, and living sustainably is the way to mitigate anthropogenic effects on the climate.  (Translation: live green, save the world.)
 
What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?

My best advice in how to live sustainably is to really think about where everything you use comes from.  Particularly here in Ithaca, it's easy to only use local products, so do it whenever possible.  When you go home, take that way of thinking with you!  Oh, and turn off the lights when you leave a room.
 

Junior Environmental Studies

Why are you interested in sustainability?

I'm interested in sustainability because climate change is the biggest problem that our generation is facing and reducing my carbon footprint and that of those around me is the first step. It's exciting to see the progress that our society keeps making in awareness and environmental responsibility, but there's still a lot of work to do.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 

My advice on living sustainably is probably just to not use what you don't have to use, reuse what you can and think about the impact that everything you do has on the world, environmentally and socially.

Junior TVR and International Communications major, Honors and Women's Studies minors

Why are you interested in sustainability?
How could you not be? Living a sustainable lifestyle has so many benefits and it's easy. We live in a beautiful town on a beautiful planet and I for one would like to keep it that way. It's fun to buy used things, try local and organic foods, and help people learn about what they can to do help.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 
I would tell them that even though eco-friendly actions may take a little more time and effort, it's worth it in the long run. Sorting compost out of your trash or turning the lights off when no one is in a room takes an extra second but makes a world of difference!

Junior Environmental Studies Major

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I believe that students and young people have the power to create a just and sustainable future.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 
Question the purchases you make, the things you learn, and the conversations you have. Than apply them to the global system.

First year Film, Photography & Visual Arts major

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I think it really important to always be aware of how you are affecting your environment. It is clear that the ways in which our world has grown to live everyday needs to change and I want to be a part of the solution. It is fun for me to learn more about what I can do personally and what I can spread to others what they can do to live more sustainably.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?
I think awareness is key. From getting ready for your day in the morning to what you choose to eat for lunch and how you dispose of your waste are simple everyday things that can make huge difference. I think for the average person they believe being eco--friendly means giving up a lot of comforts, but really there are a lot of different daily choices, which are that significant, it is a lot easier than people think.

Junior Environmental Studies major, Anthropology and Honors Program minors

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I suppose I am interested in sustainability because I view nature as innocent.  In other words, it needs people to protect it from being exploited.  Without proper stewards for our environment, nature as we view it today will be forever negatively altered.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?
Live within your means.  Do not strive for material gain, but rather make your ultimate goal to enrich your mind and your body, and sustainability will follow.
 

First Year Physical Therapy Major, Gerontology And Nutrition Minors

Why are you interested in sustainability?

I am interested in sustainability because what each of us does affects the environment in some shape or form and we al how the power to change the outcome to what we would like it to be.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?

My best advice on how to live sustainably is to live life within your own means, never take more than you need, and be mindful of how you discard of things that you no longer need.

Senior Occupational Therapy major

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I've always been interested in sustainability, as I grew up in a household where my parents prided themselves on their minimal energy use and active recycling. Since I come from a large family, our moderately frugal attitude and lifestyle carried over into other aspects including reusing items (hand-me-down clothing, jackets, snow boots, school supplies, etc.), not wasting any food (we couldn't afford to nor wanted to), and my parents' responsible decisions toward limiting our eco-footprints by avoiding traveling far distances, getting fresh water from our well or spring down the road instead of purchasing plastic water bottles, and purchasing fresh and local food from the farm-stands down the road whenever it was available. Another reason I became even more interested in sustainability was during my environmental class in high school where I was exposed to a lot of great information and the documentary "FLOW." SOO, I guess I'm interested in sustainability because it is second nature for me and because we need to become more conscious about what we are doing to our Earth and the impact it is having on other species right now, tomorrow, and in the long run.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?
GET SMART! Just kidding, the start can be daunting. Start by reducing the amount of waste you generate through plastic bag use (get reusable bags!), food waste, and energy and fuel waste; turn off lights when you're not in a room, dress warmer and keep the thermostat lower/ dress cooler and open windows to create a cross-breeze rather than cranking the AC, and bike, walk, or use public transportation rather than flooring it in your own car and creating extra emissions! =) All of these suggestions are not only better for our environment, but SAVE YOU MONEY!!!!!!! WOOO!!!!

Junior Business Administration major

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I live on this planet.
I cherish its rich environment.
I hold responsibility for its maintenance,
as every human being should.

“Every profession bears the responsibility to understand the circumstances that enable its existence.” ―Robert Gutman

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably?
Be conscious of your everyday activities and their impact on the planet.

Junior Business Administration major, concentration in Management, Honors minor

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I am interested in keeping the planet we live on healthy for many years to come. It is our job now to live in a way and promote a lifestyle that is sustainable to the environment to allow the future and future generations to be better.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 
Make a conscious effort in your purchases to rebuy and buy recycled products, recycle whenever possible, compost, and reuse things that you own. One of the biggest steps every college student can do is investing in a reusable water bottle! Get out and enjoy nature, and remember why it is so important to do all you can to protect our environment.

Junior Integrated Marketing Communications major, Recreation minor

Why are you interested in sustainability?
I'm interested in sustainability because there are so many new technologies out there that are able to help people live more sustainably. I think it's interesting how every person is able to be sustainable by making simple, conscious decisions.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 
My advice for living sustainabily is to try to reduce and reuse more than recycle. It's better to use less new materials and reuse old materials rather than investing in all new materials. Secondhand stores are the way to go!!!

Junior Environmental Studies major, History minor

Why are you interested in sustainability?
Mainly because of my desire to see human progress achieve the point of intergalactic space travel, which will only become possible through continued technological innovation alongside effective resource and environmental management. In other words, I see sustainability as the keystone to solving many of the worlds biggest problems.

What is your best advice on how to live sustainably? 
I would tell them to think about the life-cycle of everything they use. Once you start doing this, environmentally friendly choices become more and more clear.