Editor’s Note: Senior Grace Ann Reynolds King recently completed a Student-Directed Project where she dug deep into a passion of hers: sustainability. She launched a website to document her research and help educate others on what it means to be sustainable. Below, she highlights five reasons everyone should be sustainable.
By Grace Ann Reynolds King
Being sustainable means living in a way that does not negatively impact the environment and natural resources around you. Why should you care about being sustainable? Here are five reasons:
1. YOU’LL SAVE MONEY
Whether this is on gas or electricity bills, switching to eco-friendly energy sources will save you money! You should even consider investing in community solar panels to benefit everyone around you and limit the cost even more.
2. YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO SAVING COASTAL CITIES
Did you know, it’s estimated that by 2050, a substantial number of coastal cities will be underwater? Because of this, 10% of the land is expected to be inhabitable by 2060.
3. YOU’LL BE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS
You could reduce the number of polluting businesses by doing some simple research and supporting businesses that work towards saving the environment.
4. YOU’LL EAT HEALTHIER
The meat industry alone emits over 14% of greenhouse gases annually, and that doesn’t include dairy products. By changing your eating habits to limit (or omit) animal products, you’d be a contributing factor to the reduction of GHG emissions, and your cardiovascular system will thank you.
5. YOU’LL HELP SAVE THE PLANET
It doesn’t take much, to do your part in saving planet earth.
More about Student-Directed Projects
A Student-Directed Project (SDP) empowers students to do an in-depth exploration of a topic of interest throughout the term. The student designs, plans, and leads their research project in collaboration and with the guidance and support of a coach (faculty advisor). It allows students to delve deeper into their passion and to be the designer of their own learning. As you will see in the examples shared in the presentation above, there is a wide range of Student-Directed Projects; they are multi-disciplinary, non-linear, and most importantly, student-created and led. Read more.