Picking a college is never an easy choice. You can decide by the area it’s in, the curriculum it has, or you can even decide on a college by it’s school colors! Seriously, I have heard of people who picked a college based on the school colors. Websites even exist that tell you which college is the most like Hogwarts! I did not pick Fontbonne because my favorite color is purple, and, despite my love of Harry Potter, I did not use Hogwarts as part of my searches. Fontbonne, to me, was a very open, friendly place right from the start. I immediately felt already part of the Fontbonne community. Also, Fontbonne’s education program really appealed to my major, which is Special Education, if anyone would like to know. Plus, being from a small school, Fontbonne’s close-knit campus wouldn’t be as overwhelming as, say, Mizzou. Fontbonne is right by the Loop, which has plenty of fun places to go to, like Bubble Tea, Fritz’s, or Cheeseology. I like being able to say “Hi” to anyone and everyone. Fontbonne provides plenty of activities that help anyone who is shy meet new people in a fun, carefree atmosphere. One big thing that peaked my interest were all the ways that Fontbonne helps the ENVIRONMENT! They have paper recycling, recycling for plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Fontbonne also has something called Terracycling, which is anything from ink cartiridges to chip bags to makeup and tooth care products. I love doing anything I can to help the earth, and Fontbonne makes it easy to do just that. Overall, I probably just said “Fontbonne” a good ten times, and I hope that conveys how much I enjoy being a Fontbonne student. So really, look no further if any of these qualities are what you are looking for. Fontbonne is always welcoming new people!
Tagged as:
College,
environment,
recycling,
The Loop
We are on the cusp of finals here at Fontbonne, and pretty soon it will be time to pack up and go home. Overall I can say that I am very satisfied with the year so far. I really enjoyed all my classes, and I feel prepared for my upcoming tests. The Environmental Club had a fantastic start to the year, and my second year of cross country was awesome as well. So what’s been occupying my thoughts lately? CHRISTMAS!!!
So to wrap up my blog for the semester, I’m going to post a few ways to be sure your Christmas is GREEN, whether it’s white or not! 
Gifts: When searching for gifts, look for things that are sustainable and earth-friendly. This could include things that are locally made, organic, made from recycled materials, or simply have less packaging. Another gift to consider is the gift of experience: a gift of a service or experience – like a massage or tickets to a show – will create a memory that can last longer than an object would. Or, you could hand-make a gift!
Wrapping: An easy way to reduce the environmental impact of a gift is by choosing how it is presented. Although wrapping with newspaper is the choice that usually springs to mind, there are other creative alternatives to this, like using maps, coloring book pages, or phone book pages. If nothing else, look for wrapping paper that is made from recycled materials and can be recycled. And don’t forget to keep any bags you get to use again!
Lights: If you use Christmas lights or light up decorations, be sure to monitor how long they are on. If no one is up to appreciate them, they might as well be turned off! If you need to buy new lights, consider LED lights – they use less energy and last longer.
See you next year, and have a great holiday season!
Tagged as:
Christmas,
environment,
Environmental Club,
green
In honor of the Environmental Club’s “Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent” program on Thursday night, I’m going to leave you all with a few tips on how to make doing your laundry better for the environment!
Don’t toss those jeans into the laundry after just one wear! Put hangers on a doorknob or curtain rod to air out odors unless something really warrants a washing. WHY: Save detergent, water and energy.
Wash clothing in cold water! It’s such an easy step to take, and it really makes a difference. WHY: It takes a lot of energy to heat up the water- about 90% of the total energy used by the washer!
Before you load your clothes into the dryer, don’t forget to empty the lint trap! WHY: Dryers with a full lint trap are 30 percent less efficient.
Wash only full loads of laundry! WHY: The machine will be at peak efficiency, and there will be no waste of resources.
Make your own detergent! WHY: No nasty chemicals washing down the drain. Phosphates in conventional laundry soaps can cause algal blooms that negatively effect ecosystems and marine life. Want to learn how to make your own? If you missed the Environmental Club’s program, check out the recipe we used!
Tagged as:
environment,
Environmental Club,
green,
laundry,
tips
