Simple Conservation & Money-Saving Tips for College Students

Want simple ways to conserve energy and water while also helping you save money on utility bills?  Good! Us, too! So as part of our For the Greener Good initiative, we’re sharing tips and reminders to help you save money and do good work for the environment.

After all, college life can be smoother with more money in your pocket, and more pride in your purpose.

Here are some simple tips and reminders to help you commit to being a part of the conservation and energy efficiency movement:

1. Turn off the water

Simply turn off the water when brushing teeth and save up to 25 gallons of water a month. And doing so while shaving can save as much as 300 gallons monthly. Or, when washing your hair in the shower, turning off the water can save around 150 gallons of water a month.

2. Cut down your shower time

By limiting your shower time to 4-7 minutes you can conserve up to 3-5 gallons of water and save money on your water and energy bills every month.

3. Turn off those artificial lights and use natural light

When leaving a room, turn off all lights and unplug all nearby devices as an easy way to bring down your electricity bill. Another tip is use natural light during the day and use light fixtures at night.

4. Use the dishwasher

When washing dishes by hand we tend to let over 27 gallons of water go to waste but running your dishwashers (especially energy efficient ones), you could minimize your water usage to around 3 gallons. You can also save energy by turning off the dry setting if that is an option on your machine. Make sure you only run the dishwasher with full loads.

5. Control your own climate

When using AC/heat in your space, try to keep all windows and doors closed in order to keep the warm air in and the cool air out so that you don't have to keep cranking up your thermostat. Set your programmable thermostat (if available) as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.  And when the outdoor temperatures are ideal, open the windows where possible and turn off the AC/heating unit.

6. Check for leaks and report them

Regularly check your faucets, showerheads and toilets to make sure you don’t have any costly leaks that could be bringing up your water bill. If you see or hear a leak, reach out through the resident portal to make a maintenance request to fix it.

7. Dry your clothes naturally and wash with cold water

While using the dryer is convenient, it can stretch your bill while shrinking your clothes. Use the sun and natural air to dry your clothes (perhaps some of your favorite items) or consider hanging them on your shower curtain rod to bring down your energy bill. Also save on your energy bill by washing with cold water.

8. Appliances, devices and computers

Enable energy saving modes on your computer.  Unplug or use a smart power strip to cut all power to appliances, electronics and computers when not in use.

9. Refrigerators

Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight.  Keep the refrigerator at a temperature between 37° - 40°F and the freezer between 0° - 5°F.

In addition to these tips, ACC offers numerous student employment opportunities at our communities, including Community Assistant (CA) and Resident Assistant (RA). Working in these roles provides an opportunity to earn an hourly wage and some even allow you to save on your living accommodation, all while gaining valuable work experience and developing the critical skills for after-college employment. Want to get involved and make a difference by fostering an environment where students love living? Check out our careers page to see what opportunities are available for you.