Prep your dorm room desk with items you love to look at and ones you feel good about, because you’ll likely be spending a lot of time there.  Stay organized in the midst of a crammed class load to help keep you on track.  Check out these essentials for your in-room study area: 

Foray 5-Subject Recycled Notebook  

It’s unavoidable, you’ll be using lots of paper to take lots of notes so why not use recycled paper to reduce your contribution to cutting down trees.  Make a statement with this notebook made completely from used paper.   

Pendaflex Recycled Multi-Color File Folders 

Forego the standard (and boring) manilla folders!  Spice up your desk with some color and a touch of organization with these recycled folders. 

‘We Are Happy To Serve You’ Mug

Whether you a NYC native, admirer or transplant, you know that ‘We Are Happy To Serve You’ cups are everywhere.  This ceramic version is the brain-child of TreeHugger founder Graham Hill who wanted people to realize just how many paper cups they were throwing away each day/week/month and who is also a New York resident.  Rest (not) assured that you will be cramming for finals and staying up all night, so be sure to keep this cup filled with some fair-trade organic coffee! 

Whether your anticipating your first day at a new college or a mama who is mentally preparing for the school year ahead, it is likely the idea may have you a little (or a lot) anxious.  Something that helps me, each and every day is my aromatherapy diffuser which can usually be found humming quietly in my office.  I use various essential oils depending on whether I need to focus, stay alert or calm my nerves.  I usually have this cool little device running all day long when I’m in the office (sits right on my desk). It’s about 8 inches tall and disperses essential oils without the use of heat, but rather by fan and with the right essential oil sprinkled on the cartridge, it will make your whole room smell delicious. You’ll feel a cool & quiet breeze when it’s on.  I received this as a birthday gift and I love it. I diffuse some of my favorite organic essential oils in it.  This is a very cool desktop or tabletop tool, makes a great gift for the health or planet conscious and a safe alternative to synthetically fragranced room fresheners. 

Here are some of my favorite essential oils and ideas for usage:  

To stay alert during or after an all-nighter: peppermint.

To calm thy nerves: lavender. 

Anytime you need to go to your “happy place”: sweet orange.

Great for a stuffy (and/or smelly) dorm room: lemon.   

I’ve always loved the designs & concepts from russell+hazel, a company who obviously adores paper and organization as much as I do. And as such, they realize that cutting down trees is not something they what to perpetuate, so each and every product they offer is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials and most are biodegradable and/or reusable; from the spirals in their notebooks to the covers of their binders.

The ultra-stylish Audrey Tote is perfect for students to keep track of assignments and homework, teachers who take papers home to grade or any savvy business woman.  This tote allows you to stay organized on the go in style. 

I’ve compiled some of my favorite snacks that will have you passing up candy at the magazine rack and peanuts on the plane.  In most cases, you’ll find that these alternatives are not more expensive than their conventional counterparts.   Bringing healthy snacks is one of the most important things when I travel, because I know its unlikely I’ll find any at the airport, on the plane or soon after I land.  (Although I do map out the closest market or health food store to my hotel before my trip so I can plan to get some things for my stay).  It’s always important for me to plan ahead and shop in advance so I can pack them in my carry-on for easy access when I get the munchies on the plane (or before or after). 

1). Sensible Foods Organic Apple & Cherry Berry packets:

Equal to a 1/2 cup of fresh fruit, these ”crunch-dried” fruit snacks are 100% organic & GMO free and you’ll find nothing in the bag but the fruit….no preservatives, additives, coloring, sugar, gluten….nada!  Because snacks foods are usually laden with high (bad) fat, salt, refined sugar, and empty calories, the makers of Sensible Foods wanted to create an alternative.  So they created a process to extract the water from the fruit and keep all the enzymes and nutrients in tact.  They are delicious!  

2). Eden Foods Roasted Organic Pumpkin Seeds:

Forego the peanuts and munch on these! Just dry-roasted seeds with a bit a sea salt, make a super delicious and ultra nutrious snack.  You’ll get protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, much needed omega-3, 6, and 9 EFAs and 15% of your daily value of zinc per serving.  They also come in a resealable zip top so they don’t spill over over in your bag.  Studies indicate that pumpkin seeds may protect against kidney stones and parasitic disease, and may even help ward off depression.

3). Woodstock Farms Organic Mango slices: 

These are one of my favorite sweet treats!  They’re addicting and a rich source of Vitamin A with good doses of Vitamins B and C.  Mangos have more carotenoids than most other fruits. They’re high in fiber, and contain a small amount of carbohydrates, which the body converts to energy.
 

4). Oskri Organics Sesame Bar:

If you’re craving a candy bar, try one of these instead.  This is a sweet & nutty crunchy treat that will quench your sweet tooth.  You’ll find three thin vegan and kosher bars in a pack; high in fiber, iron, calcium and protein.  But what won’t you find?  Lactose, gluten, refined sugar & simple carbs.   Yum!

5). NOW Raw almonds:

There are so many amazing benefits of almonds.  Studies have shown that consuming almonds may have the same cholesterol-lowering effects as statin drugs.  With just 1.5 ounces you’ll get a great dose of Vitamin E and magnesium along with protein, fiber, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.  They contain phytochemicals, which are plant chemicals that may provide powerful protection against heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases.  New research claims that almonds may be able to help fight obesity and diabetes.  (I wouldn’t put the whole 1 lb. bag in the carry-on.  Scoop a couple ounces out into a small bag and you’re good to go!). 

Not just for the plane….it’s great to stock up on these for road trips, camping, school lunches or keep a stash in your desk at work 

Of course the greenest purchase is no purchase at all. That being said, however, few of us are willing to go completely gift-free over the holidays. If you’re concerned for the environment, but want to give presents to friends and family, there is a way. You can find a green medium! Giving without taking from the planet is possible with some extra consideration, a little planning, and a lot of research. No worries! I’ve already done the research.

Lets start with everyone’s favorite holiday gift category: stocking stuffers. They’re easy to find and cheap. For the greenest of stocking stuffers, choose products made from natural ingredients with limited packaging. Some great options include.

Green Stocking Stuffers For Babies:
Organic Cotton Santa
I couldn’t help but mention this adorable Santa from Under the Nile again. Made from 100% Organic Egyptian Cotton, he makes the perfect baby-safe toy and stocking stuffer for the winter season.

Green Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers:
Organic Cotton Treehugger Toddler Tee
Printed on super-soft organic cotton kids, this mini tee is perfect for any mini treehugger.

Green Stocking Stuffers for Kids:
50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth
Give them some Christmas break reading. Kids will love pouring through 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth , a chock-full guide to specific things kids can do to protect the environment.

Green Stocking Stuffers For Him:
Earth Science Men’s Moisturizing Shaving Cream
Free from propellants, parabens and detergents, this lubricating formula is enriched with Azulene (blue chamomile flower), aloe and vitamin e to deliver a close, even shave, without irritation. Best of all, Earth Science products are not tested on animals, and do not contain animal derived ingredients. Even common animal derivatives, such as lactic acid and glycerin are sourced from plants.

Green Stocking Stuffers For Her:
Amazon Herb Lluvia Botanical Facial Cleanser
Lluvia Botanical Facial Cleanser? gently removes dirt, excess oil and makeup and maintains your skin?s natural pH balance and moisture barrier without using harmful foaming agents. Its pristine blend of Rainforest plant extracts such as Jatoba and Stevia, as well as organic essential oils, reach deep into pores to safely dissolve and lift away impurities. Your skin is left refreshingly clean and soft to the touch.

76. Switch to low-wattage or compact fluorescent light bulbs. They last 10 times longer and use only one-fourth of the energy compared to incandescent light bulbs.

77. Eat vegetarian foods as much as possible. Meat makes less efficient use of land, soil, water, and energy - and cows emit/flattulate 300 liters of methane per day.
78. Dry clothes and linens on a clothesline rather than in the dryer. If you have to use a dryer, use an energy star one and clean the lint screen before use.

79. When running your tap to wash dishes, use cold water instead of hot. You’ll save a lot of energy.
80. Run energy efficient dishwashers only when full.
81. Take quick showers instead of baths.
82. Compost kitchen and garden waste, or give it to a friend who can.
83. If your lazy, don’t like to iron, or an environmentalist you can always hang your clothes in the bathroom while showering. They’ll be wrinkle free in 5 minutes of steam.
84. Install low flow showerheads and sink-faucet aerators. Low-flow showerheads can reduce the water flow up to 50 percent.
85. Collect rainwater and gray water for gardening use.
86. Start a garden; plant a garden instead of a lawn. Lawns use a huge amount of water.
87. Use natural fiber clothing, bedding and towels.

88. Insulate your water heater. Turn it down to 121°F.
89. Turn off all lights that don’t need to be on.
90. Try to be a localvore. Locally produced foods are better for the environment because they do not need to be trucked in from great distances.
91. Buy in bulk. Buy products with less packaging or buy in bulk.
92. Explore getting a solar water heater for your home.
93. Urge your local officials to start a convenient and even lucrative curbside recyclables pickup program.
94. Remove unnecessary stuff from your car. Each 100 lbs. of weight decreases fuel efficiency by 1%.
95. Use recycled products, especially paper.
96. Invest your money in environmentally and socially conscious businesses.
97. Bring your own canvas bags to the grocery store.
98. Limit your energy star air conditioner use.
99. Encourage your local auto centers to install CFC recycling equipment for auto air conditioners. Freon is released during servicing to become both a greenhouse gas and an ozone layer destroyer.
100. If you have to use fertilizer use an organic one. Home gardeners use up to 10 times more toxic chemicals per acre than farmers because home gardeners over use chemical fertilizers.
101. Spread the word.

Good luck and Godspeed.

42. Switch to Solar Energy.
In one day, the sun provides more energy than our population could use in 27 years. Make the switch to sunlight — it doesn’t pollute and it’s free.
43. Turn your thermostat up by three degrees in the summer. You can prevent the emission of nearly 1100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
44. Use a notebook computer.
Notebook computers are 90 percent more energy-efficient than desktop computers. They run on rechargeable batteries, and have energy-saving features like low-energy display screens and automatic sleep modes.
45. If you’re really hardcore use an Energy Star certified notebook computer. Since 2001, all Apple computers and displays have earned the original (2000) ENERGY STAR® rating.
46. If you’re really really hardcore use an Energy Star 4.0 certified notebook computer. Apple Mac and the Apple MacBook Pro either in a 15.4 inch screen or 17 inch screen have already received the impressive Energy Star 4.0 certification.
47. Use rechargeable batteries.
We buy 5 billion batteries every year. Trouble is, they’re not biodegradable and they’re full of toxic heavy metals that could leak into landfills. Rechargeable batteries, can replace between 50 and 300 throwaway batteries.
48. Recycle your cans.
Every month, we throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. Recycled, that aluminum would be worth $600 million by year’s end.
49. Swaddle babies in organic cotton only.
It’s not only softer and toxin free—vital to a newborn’s extremely sensitive skin but also better for the environment.
50. Look inside the triangle .
Plastic can only be recycled a limited number of times. Plastics labeled with #1 or #2 are most easily recycled, so look for a number inside the triangle on the bottom of most plastic containers.
51. Buy a mulching lawnmower.
Take care of your yard without bagging or burning leaves and lawn clippings, get a mulching lawnmower that spreads the grass clippings back on the lawn, where they decompose and feed the soil.
52. Compost your raked leaves.
If you or your kids are raking them you might as well compost them and use the mulch for free lawn feed.
53. Recycle the news. Americans throw away 44 million newspapers every day. That’s 500,000 trees a week, which is a good reason to recycle your paper or read it online.
54. Buy organic food. Organic foods are grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers — a healthier option not only for you, but also the planet.
55. work and files to save paper.
56. Offset
Air travel is incredibly environmentally taxing. Offset your flying with a small donation to a company that invests in projects to reduce carbon dioxide. .
57. Donate your car to charity Your car doesn’t even have to be running and part of the proceeds will benefit the cause of your choice.
58. Invest in green companies.
These investments perform as well, if not better than alternative investment options.
59. Eat fish carefully.
Excellent choices: mahi mahi, Pacific cod
60. Donate old paint cans.
Most paints contain metals that are hazardous to the environment when thrown away. Donate your leftover paint to your local theater company instead. Your neighborhood recycling center can also suggest drop-off points.

What can I do? What can one person do? I often get this question.

The answer: a lot.

To start, here’s a list of 101 options. I’ll kick off with just a few today, but will add to the list over the next six days. If we can do just one thing . . . even the easiest one, that’s great.

The idea of a list like this is not to make us feel guilty for all the things we aren’t doing, but inform us of tiny changes in our lives that collectively can make significant energy and pollution reductions.

This list of 101 suggestions doesn’t begin to exhaust the possibilities. Figure out what works well for you and then keep going in that direction. Good luck!

1. Send memos over e-mail to save paper.

2. Turn your thermostat down three degrees in the winter.
You can prevent the emission of nearly 1100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

3. Switch to solar energy.
In one day, the sun provides more energy than our population could use in 27 years. Make the switch to sunlight–it doesn’t pollute and it’s free.

4. Avoid styrofoam.
It never biodegrades.

5. Use tap water instead of loading up on bottled water.
If you’re picky about your water install a water filter on your home faucet. That $5 filter will give you 40,000 8-ounce glasses of purified tap water.

6. If you have to print, use recycled paper and make double-sided copies.

7. Use a low-flow toilet.
A low-flush toilet uses half the water but still does the job.

8. Walk, bike or skateboard.
Twenty-five percent of all car trips are less than a mile long. So get on a bike or that bamboo skateboard and get some pollution-free exercise.

9. Support local farmers. On average, your food has traveled 1200 miles just to get to your plate. Shopping at farmers’ markets, co-ops and CSAs allows you to buy directly from the people who grow the food.

10. Unplug appliances.
Unplugging is the only way to make sure your appliances aren’t using energy.

6. A Sweater is Better . . . No Brainer

30 years ago, President Jimmy Carter asked the country to turn down the thermostat and “put on a sweater.” Carter wasn’t making a fashion statement, he was encouraging American’s to conserve energy during the 1979 (or second) Oil Crisi.

Sound advice never gets old, and considering US consumers are spending more than ever on energy bills, it might be a good time to heed President Carter’s advice.

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, a one-degree reduction on the thermostat will save you about 3 percent on your heating bill, so pull your sweater out of the closet and turn your thermostat down, and reap the savings.

If you don’t like itchy sweaters try a Patagonia Fleece or Jacket. Even cozy socks will keep you warm. Your kids will also like this Patagonia Vest . . . read Courtney’s review.

3. Use Energy Star Appliances

Large or small, stainless steel or chrome, Maytag or Whirlpool? When shopping for a new appliance you’ll have a lot on your mind. No need to waste precious brainpower on energy efficiency. Choosing the most energy efficient product couldn’t be easier with Energy Star’s little blue label.

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy that highlights appliances that save 10-15% more energy than standard models with a blue star.

As the equation goes, less energy leads to lower utility bills and less greenhouse gas emissions. According to Energy Star’s website, “Americans, with the help of Energy Star products, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills.”

A home fully equipped with Energy Star products will operate on about 30% less energy than a house equipped with standard products, saving $600 a year. I don’t need to tell you the benefits of getting back $600, but I will mention Christmas is around the corner and it would be nice to get your family what they really want this year. Then again, and if you’re pretty selfish, there’s always that Star War’s Memorabilia you’ve been eyeing on Ebay.

Going Energy Star really is a no-brainer. With 18,000 products in 35 different categories, from washing machine to printers, refrigerators to desk lamps you won’t have to worry about finding an appliance that meets your quality standards. You’ll just have to worry about what you’re going to do with the money you’ve saved.