Students, residents offer tips to 'go green'

Earth Day is the annual reminder for people to celebrate the environment and live green.

In a presentation for Earth Day on Tuesday at the University of Northern Colorado, retired professor Charles Olmsted said going green -- being environmentally friendly -- for him meant redesigning a solar insulated home, which consumes less energy for cool and warmth.

Going green doesn't have to mean building a solar home or even buying a new hybrid. Even more practical baby steps -- such as saving energy by turning off running water or unused lights -- can make a difference.

On Tuesday, students, faculty and other Greeley residents at UNC's Earth Day 2008 celebration gave a few other practical ways anyone can go green:

« Recycle: Student Catherine Placzek said she has several separate boxes in her room for recycling, and that when she visits home in Colorado Springs she carries them all home to be recycled.

« Alternate transportation: Student Thomas Myers longboards everywhere. "I try not to drive, not even to work," said Myers, "I even longboard to church sometimes all dressed up."

« Buy local: Buying at the local Farmer's Markets, for example, helps the livelihood of local farmers. Resident Nathan Justice said that he would like to improve going green by eating less meat, organic food and anything from the Farmer's Market.

« Use Less Water: Chandra Lontz Smith said that shutting the shower off when in between getting yourself wet, and washing off the soap is a good way to use less water.

« Hang clothes out to dry: Instead of using the energy to operate a dryer, Solomon Little Owl, director of Native American Services at UNC, said he hangs his clothes on a clothes line.

« Recycle trash bags: Pat Dlug said that she'd like to start recycling her trash bags when she goes shopping.

« Improve home insulation: Olmsted built his new house with the plan of saving money on the long-term. The house allows sunlight to enter through windows and panels and be absorbed by the back concrete wall, which releases the heat as thermal energy to keep his home warm in the winter.

« Earthships: The most unusual tip received for going green, student Raymond Wharton suggested that the 'Earthship,' a house made out of old tires with dirt to fill in as walls could act as a low-budget solar-insulated house that also would consistently absorb and release heat.