10 Ways to Promote Renewable Energy on Your Campus

The world seems to be in full stride when it comes to consuming energy. Our lifestyle has evolved around electronic devices, which has further enhanced our dependence on power sources. 

Unfortunately, this means an increasing surge in demand for energy to keep up with our current pace of advancement. It is high time that we embrace the need for alternative and cleaner sources of energy that can slow down the degradation of our natural ecosystems. 

With this in mind, one of the great places to start the chain of chain would be your college, where young minds are willing to adapt and work towards a better future. If you are a student, here are some ways you can promote cleaner energy sources of energy in your campus. 

1. Create Awareness About Health 

The use of non-renewable energy sources can be experienced at any level and anywhere, starting from the air you breathe. If you want to bring attention to cleaner fuels, one of the best ways to do so would be to get facts about the air pollution in your region. However, this can involve some work, such as reaching out to your local TV weatherman or a governmental body to gather data about 'bad air' days. 

Understandably, this could be overwhelming and demanding. And you might have to steal some time away from your classwork. To make things easier, you can turn to an essay writing service such as EssayPro to help you with some urgent tasks such as writing assignments. You could get some assistance with research and editing, so you can have a moment to focus on other things. In fact, these professionals might even be able to create a report on air pollution that can promote awareness among your campus authorities.

2. Compare the Bills 

Another way to get the attention of your college heads is to talk money. The main reason why many hesitate to switch to renewable energy sources is due to the costs involved. However, many fail to realize that much of the expenses primarily occur during the initial stages, and later on, the maintenance required is relatively low.

What you can do is collect data on how much your campus pays per year for electricity, heating, and cooling. This you can compare with the approximate cost of replacing the current energy source with solar power. Make sure to clearly state the benefits in the long run, highlighting the value and cost-efficiency. 

3. Conduct Student Campaigns

Although many individuals can be proactive, many of them might still not be aware of the implications of using non-renewable sources. Fortunately, at your college campus, you have resources and an audience at your disposal. 

You can form a club to organize some green project ideas that focus on the protection of ecology and local biodiversity. You could think in terms of tree planting, waste collection, or building composts. The aim here is to create more awareness and get your fellow students to take initiatives in the right direction. 

4. Use Solar for Backup 

In most cases, it might not be possible to create a complete change to renewable sources overnight. However, that shouldn't discourage you. You can propose taking small steps so that there would be a snowball effect that will encourage the management to do more. 

One such initiative would be considering solar energy for backup electricity and heating, rather than powering full time. This can make a huge difference instead of having to rely on inverters and generators to supply power for the entire campus. 

5. Renewable Energy for Water Treatment 

Another way to start on a small scale is to consider using renewable energy for water treatment on your campus. This can be used to power wastewater (such as greywater) in order for gardening and other activities. 

This method will involve installing processing plants on the campus, but it can save tons of water and always have access to clean running water. This means your college will not have to take much from the natural water resources. 

6. Install a Windmill 

Solar is not the only source of renewable energy. Depending on the location of your campus, you can also urge the management to try installing wind-powered turbines that can generate electricity at a small, medium, or large scale. 

These are also relatively cheaper when compared to other energy sources and can bring down the maintenance costs drastically in the long run. Additionally, there are also places where windy days might be more common than sunny days - making a windmill a more appropriate choice for your campus.  

7. Purchase Clean Energy 

When you are trying to promote renewable energy on your campus, you should also take into consideration that the management might not be willing to or is able to afford to install solar cells or wind turbines within the campus. 

So what is the next best scenario? If you are unaware, it is also possible to purchase electricity from renewable energy power plants. There are several community solar systems that are being built in centralized locations in order to provide power to nearby neighborhoods. 

In this case, your college will have to sign a Power Purchasing Agreement with the provider. Some states also give you the option of 'Green Pricing' where you will have to pay a small premium in order to obtain power generated from clean sources. 

8. Install Renewable Energy Sources for new Buildings 

It is highly likely that your college is expanding, adding more buildings, or at least planning for them in the near future. If the management is unable to secure renewable energy for existing buildings, you, as students, can also try to persuade them to adopt a clear source for the upcoming projects. 

When integrated right from the construction time, the costs can be reduced, and the process made easier. 

9. Save Energy in Your Dorm Room 

If you are a student living on campus, then it is important that you are on the path of sustainable living before you preach it to others. Of course, you cannot install a renewable energy source just for your room or building. 

However, you can make sure that you reduce your energy consumption and take more effort in terms of leading an eco-friendly lifestyle that can be inspiring to others. 

10. Management and Students Working Together 

In addition to these steps discussed above, you will also have to focus on making the communication more effective between students and management. This will make way for more ideas to be discussed and implemented. After all, you need the support of the authorities to realize them.  

This will involve building student societies and organizations for the purpose of promoting a sustainable campus. The chances are that your college already has one. If not, you could be the one to get it started. 

The more students are in support of this cause, the more encouraged the management will feel to make changes. You can also find support from faculty and other staff in order to make your cases stronger. 

While taking action on an individual level is still a major step, switching to renewable energy as a community can make a more significant impact on our environment. And as a place where futures are being built, your college campus is one of the perfect places to speed up this movement towards a better environment.