|
One student lives green, starts small |
|
|
|
Thursday, 17 April 2008 |
 | Reinhardt
|
by ALISON MEANEY
Intern Lifestyles reporter
Although living sustainably may sometimes require more time and energy, some students at Appalachian State University think the extra effort is worth it.
Alec M. Reinhardt, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, is one such student who recognizes sustainability’s long-term benefits.
“Knowing
where our climate’s going, realizing where our energy comes from,
making all those connections,” she said. “…I’m more concerned about the
next generation after me and what’s going to happen to them.”
As an appropriate technology minor, Reinhardt is passionate about large-scale projects such as wind
turbines and photovoltaic cells, but as a financially struggling college student, he has to settle with
living green on a small-scale.
Reinhardt combines his passion for living green with his love of food by working in his garden and by
shopping at the farmers market whenever it’s open.
He makes an effort to be conscious of buying food that hasn’t been delivered across thousands of
miles.
He said he appreciates the connectivity of meeting farmers face-to-face and talking to them about the
food they grew.
Reinhardt said he doesn’t mind the extra money or time it takes to make fresh food, as opposed to the
ease of having a pizza delivered.
“Even if it is more money… you’re doing something for yourself instead of putting that burden on
somebody else, expecting them to do something which humans are supposed to do, you know, like
cook food for themselves,” Reinhardt said.
Having developed low-impact habits at a young age, Reinhardt no longer recognizes he’s making an
effort.
“How does it affect my daily life? I don’t think it does. It’s not out of the ordinary - it’s just how it is,”
said Reinhardt.
He has made an effort to live green since the first time he can remember having sustainable practices
introduced to him.
“I had a teacher in first grade that was always on us for turning the lights off,” he said. “She told us one
time that when you leave the lights on, the people at the electric company are laughing at you.”
Reinhardt said he has bought clothes second hand, invested in compact fluorescent light bulbs, and
flipped off the light switch ever since.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments