Your sustainability journey in Halls starts this September

Welcome to your new home!

Hopefully you’re beginning to settle in! We’d like to help you get started on your sustainability journey this year – every month, we’ll be releasing an article like this highlighting activities, quizzes, and other events you can get involved in, as well as lots of tips on how you can keep your time in halls as sustainable as possible.

Start off strong in your flat ♻️

The best place to begin your sustainability journey is in your own flat. Keep your water and energy usage to a minimum by:

• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
• Timing how long you spend in the shower (spending 5 minutes less in the shower saves 45 litres of water!)
• Using a washing-up bowl instead of leaving the tap running
• Only boiling as much water as you need in the kettle - this saves both energy and water
• Do fewer, full loads of laundry rather than lots of smaller ones. This saves energy, water and money - a win-win!
• Depending on where you’ve come from, you might have very different bins compared to what you’re used to at home. If you’re confused about what goes in each bin, take a look at the recycling poster on your kitchen wall. Don’t have a poster? Get in touch with your reception team who should be able to get one for you.
  
  Here’s a reminder of what goes where:

Sustainable Halls💚

This article is your first taste of the Sustainable Halls programme taking place this year, but there’s so much more to come! Every month, you’ll have exclusive access to articles, quizzes and events all made to help you make your time at university sustainable.

We’re kicking off with our Sustainable Halls launch event in Vine Court Mezz on Thursday, 25th October from 6pm to 8pm! Come along to learn more about the events in the year ahead, get a taste of our monthly sewing sessions, and enjoy a free vegan cupcake while you’re there!

Buying with sustainability in mind 🌎

If you’ve just moved out for the first time, you’ll want to get hold of the essentials. If there’s anything you’re still looking for, don’t rush into buying a load of brand-new items! Consider the following instead:

➡️Share with your flatmates – See if there’s something your flatmate has which you don’t, such as cookware, utensils, etc. Ask them if you can borrow it when they’re not using it (just make sure you wash things up once you’ve used them!)

➡️Think about your wardrobe – textile production contributes significantly to climate change. The Guild hosts a permanent swap shop as well, opening on the 30th September! You can donate clothes you no longer wear and swap your way to a new wardrobe. Click here for more details & info on how to volunteer here!

Travel

If you’re still wondering what’s the best way to get to campus from Greenbank, or if you want to take a day trip somewhere a bit farther afield, there are two great options we can help you with.

🚎Bus pass:

The Arriva bus pass, available at a steep discount at the Guild shop, is a great place to start. If you live in Greenbank, it’s the most cost-effective way to stay dry on the journey to campus and back.

🚲Bikes:

Hire a LivCycle bike from the Guild for a full academic year for just £60 or one semester for £40 (plus a £50 refundable deposit).  All bikes come with a very sturdy D-lock and are serviced regularly by our trained mechanics at the Bikiosk. Visit the Guild’s website to learn more and buy your hire!

Thanks for checking out your first monthly Sustainable Halls article! Find out about the Sustainable Halls social on 25th September here and head to the Guild's website and filter 'Sustainable Halls' for all upcoming events!

We look forward to seeing you at a Sustainable Halls event soon! 

If you want any more information about anything in this article, contact the Guild’s sustainability team at LGsustainability@liverpool.ac.uk.