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Turning it Off

On the campus of one small Maryland college, the message that conservation begins at home is starting to gain a little traction.

Resident assistants in student halls are modeling environmentally friendly practices and encouraging their fellow students to learn more energy-conscious habits, like taking shorter showers and turning off computers when not in use. There’s some resistance, but the RAs report many of their peers are starting to walk the walk.

It all started when school officials brought in an industrial psychologist to teach the RAs how to use behavior modification to motivate their peers. The school stepped up its program by placing 25 loaner bikes around the campus to encourage students to drive less and ride more. They also installed low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads. But the centerpiece of their efforts is a new science building being constructed almost entirely out of recycled materials.

The hope is that students at St. Mary’s College will build environmentally conscious habits that last a lifetime. 

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org