Saves Watts

If you're like me, you use Google multiple times a day. I Google almost everything- directions, movie times, and store hours but I never really thought about how it effects the environment. 

The Google website has a white background which uses the most energy when displayed on a screen. White and colors use more watts while black does not require as many. So Givoogle provides the Google web search with a black background. It looks exactly the same as Google and performs the same searches.

It is called Saves Watts because "It Saves Watts with Every Search", pretty catchy! 

So go join the one million monthly visitors who perform your searches at www.SavesWatts.com instead of Google or any other search engine. If we all take small steps towards saving energy we can make a big impact!

ReUsies!

Recently, ReUsies sent me some samples of their reusable sandwich and snack bags so I could test them out- needless to say I love them!

Having a little sister, I know my mother always packs her lunches and uses sandwich bags to do so. Last time I was home my mom asked my sister to bring home the sandwich bags so they could be reused; of course being a 9 year old she always forgets. But if my mom (and other mothers) got ReUsies they would not have to worry about plastic sandwich bags.


ReUsies are 100% cotton lined with leak proof nylon with velcro closures. They come in two sizes, sandwich and snack, with many cute patterns. You can wash them in washer machine or in the dishwasher. I found most foods I put them did not make too much of a mess so I was able to to rinse them out with soap and warm water. 

 



The average household uses an average of 10 plastic sandwich bags a day, with ReUsies all these plastic bags could be eliminated. Plus if you order 3 or more, you will save 10%. Think about it- you will never have to buy plastic sandwich bags again AND you will be eliminating so much plastic waste!


Overall, I give ReUsies a huge thumbs up! I took my lunch to work in them and everyone asked what they were. Please check out the ReUsies Website: www.reusies.com also follow them on Twitter @ReUsies

All videos are credited to their original source- ReUsies.

Expressing My Gratitude

Today is wonderful, my blog is now an actual website! Although you may still access it through Blogspot, my new URL is- www.thegreencollegestudent.com

My website is fairly new but thus far I have received a respectable amount of recognition. I would like to say a few thank you's to all the organizations and people who have supported my blog. 

Tech Go Green- The non-profit I interned for this summer featured one of my postings on their web page and in their blog. I had a wonderful experience interning there as well keeping in touch with them after my time with them.

Delta Zeta Sorority- My sorority featured me on their website for Awards and Recognitions under College Success Stories, such an honor!

Pink Goes Green- Delta Zeta's national campaign for the environment featured me as a guest blogger on their blog. Thank you Kelley Hunter, one day I hope my blog is as great as yours!

Communications 323- Originally, this was set up for a class assignment so I picked a topic I was passionate about. During midterms we did blog awards and I was given Best Blog, so thank you to my class mates!

I would also like to thank all the people I have contacted to do stories about their articles, products, or documentaries. Everyone I have dealt with has been awesome and easy to work with- I am grateful for this. Thank you to my readers and followers as well!

Please stay up to date with my site because I have many exciting topics to cover in the near future, here's a sneak peak...

Sun Chips Decomposable Bag- do they really decompose in soil? I am going to put them to the test.

Review of ReUsies- I found a company that makes reusable sandwich and snack bags and I have been using them for a week now. I am so excited to tell you all about them. 

Who Killed the Electric Car- I'm waiting to get my hands on a copy of the documentary so I can write a summary and provide some facts from this video.

If you have any suggestions or requests for certain topics please do not hesitate to contact me at alessaaguayo@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing your feedback, questions, and requests. Thanks for being a reader of The Green College Student!

Please use www.thegreencollegestudent.com from now on.

Scuba Diving

PADI, one of the world's leader's in scuba diving has a plan to protect the oceans- Project AWARE. This project began in 1989 by dive instructors concerned about the growing threat to the oceans. Their five major areas of concentration are:

• Underwater Cleanups and Marine Debris Prevention 
• Coral Reef Conservation, Monitoring and Data Collection
• Shark Education, Reporting and Conservation 
• Improved Management Policies and Marine Protection Efforts 
• Environmental Training for Divers and Education Programs for Kids  

 One may think scuba diving is bad for the environment and harms the ocean's ecosystems but the PADI Project AWARE program is proof scuba diving can help the environment. As long as divers are safe, stay with their dive instructor, and are conscious of their surroundings they will not harm the environment. Growing up scuba diving, I learned never to touch any rocks, shells, coral, etc and also be careful not to swim into anything; flippers can damage to coral and even the sand because there are animals living underneath it.

It really broke my heart to read this article from The Huffington Post about endangered animals in our oceans. The article covers 13 Ocean Animal threatened by destruction of coral reefs, poor fishing practices, and ocean acidification. If this continues, ecosystems will be destroyed, coral reefs will disappear, and all of the earth will be effected by it. Here are a few of the threatened animals from the article:

• Hawksbill Turtle- hunted for their shell
• Staghorn Coral- declined 98% since 1980
• Meditteranean Monk Seal- less 400 remaining on earth (pictured below)

I believe scuba diving has taught me to appreciate the beauty of the ocean and I feel these animal would be less endangered if more people had the same passion for the sea. I have been able to experience how underwater sea creatures live and respect their habitat. I believe scuba diving is huge reason why I am such an advocate for the environment because I have been to experience it first hand. 

Whether you are a diver or not, respect the ocean and the sea creatures which live there. Don't disturb natural habitats, don't litter, and don't pour anything toxic down the drain because it may flow to ocean.