University is a whirlwind of lectures, assignments, social events and late nights. Thinking about sustainability and how to prioritise it can be a little challenging. However, embracing a greener lifestyle not only benefits the planet, but can also save you a few £££. 

One great way to be more sustainable is to reduce your consumption of meat! Taking part in Veganuary at the start of the year is an easy way to start to cut out meat completely or just plan for some meat-free days. This can make a huge difference Now, whether this means cutting out meat completely or contributing to meat-less days, it makes a huge difference. 12% of greenhouse gases in the UK come from agriculture and most of those stems from meat and dairy. Cutting out meat is an easy way to help towards being sustainable and keep money in your pocket.  

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Fast fashion is a large contributor to climate change and carbon dioxide emissions. Keeping a hold of your clothes or giving them away to family, friends or donating them is better for the environment. Alternatively, upcycle them – it's also a great way to learn new skills like sewing and there’s bragging rights to making your own clothes! If you’re in desperate need of a new outfit, try swapping with friends, visiting a charity shop, or checking out online platforms like Vinted. A piece of clothing should always have more than one owner.  

Hopping on the latest trend, whether it be clothes, gadgets or gizmos, also has a huge contribution to the environment. There’s plenty of challenges floating around like ‘no buy days’ and ‘project pan’ – but after 2 months, a challenge becomes a habit. Project pan is an effort to finish all cosmetic products you already own before buying new ones.  Why not apply it to your daily consumables too? This will help overconsumption, appreciate what you have, reduce single use plastics and save you money; it’s a no brainer!  

Make the most of walking and public transport! Walking and cycling is not only great or your health but is eco-friendly and free. Weather, especially in the UK, can sometimes make this difficult so opt for public transport for those longer distances instead of driving. To reduce your spend even more, Leeds Beckett has a free shuttle bus which connects the university’s campuses – you can find the timetable here. Undoubtedly, there are instances that you need to drive or travel by car. If so, try and share rides or carpool to cut down on fuel usage. 

How you complete your household chores can also impact towards sustainability and climate change. Washing clothes at a lower temperature, airdrying clothes instead of tumble drying, switching off light switches and layering up instead of putting the heating on, will all help towards a greener world and your bank account.   

One that you may least expect is using AI. AI tools like Chat GPT, can guzzle up to two litres of water per 10-50 queries. You may wonder why, but data centres need cooling since they function like huge radiators, converting their energy into heat. AI processes vast amounts of data, requiring even more cooling and even more water. Essentially, cutting down your AI use can help the environment.