Top 5 Green Tips:

Are your habits adding to the problem or is your eco-conscience guilt-free? Unfortunately, most of us fall somewhere in between. There are many ways to curb environmental impacts. Here are a few tips to help students stay green along the way:

1 - Learn Why Going Green Should Start NOW
Raise your awareness. Education is the antidote to ignorance. Look up news on local and global environmental issues such as the levels of toxins in the air quality of Memphis or the catastrophic deaths of hundreds of miles of coral reefs around the world due to rising sea temperature. For eco-news, visit motherearthnews.com, grist.com or webecoist.com.

2 - Be Proactive. B--E-PROACTIVE
Find something you really care about. Then, go out and join organizations like the Environmental Action Club here on campus to donate your time and ideas. The E.A.C.'s first meeting will be Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Pan-Hellenic Building room 104.
Start recycling with your family and friends. If you live in a dorm, ask your resident advisor about starting a recycling program and get your roommates to commit to it with you.

3 - Get Rolling
If you've got a knack for adventure, then consider getting a bike. Riding a bike is a great way to save money and burn calories, not to mention it's eco-friendly.
"If I think that there is something I can do to reduce my emissions then I do it," said junior economics major, Curtis Gibbs.Gibbs rides his bike to class everyday. He recommends bicycling.
"It's fun to ride a bike," he said. "Many times when you are in an urban area bikes are quicker and easier to get around on."

4 - Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is
Cast your dollar as a vote. Seek out and support local restaurants and businesses that are environmentally conscious. Customers should look for biodegradable containers, energy-efficiency and kitchens that have a partnership with locally grown food vendors.
The Farmers' Market is hosted by the Memphis Botanic Garden every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m through Oct. 28. Farms from around the area meet there and sell fresh organic produce. Buyers will find a variety of plants and flowers as well as heirloom fruits and vegetables that are not available in many grocery stores.

5 - Know Your Food
Most people don't know where their food comes from. Often the produce and meat products bought in stores are driven hundreds of miles to get to the shelf. How many gallons of gas does it take for Memphians to eat an apple?

The produce is usually picked before it is ripe, after which it ripens on the truck. If more people begin eating local foods, then the total emissions of the transportation involved will be cut down. Planting a garden is an easy way to assure that your food has the most flavor and nutrition because it is allowed to ripen naturally. It is not too late to plan a garden for the fall.

Many vegetables like carrots, beets, collard greens, mustard greens, spinach, peas and fava beans make excellent fall crops.