Columbia University Housing

We run in and out of our bathrooms so quickly that we often don't think about all of the resources we use when we're in there.So the next time you’re there, consider these tips.

• A lot of bathrooms on campus are now equipped with great water-efficient dual-flush toilets. Do your part --  follow the directions. 

• Be water wise.The five New York boroughs depend on the Croton, NY watershed and the Catskill/Delaware watershed systems for all of their water needs.Every time we let water go to waste, we are diminishing these reservoir levels and increasing New York's vulnerability to drought.Here's how to conserve this valuable resource:
• Do you let the water run when you are shaving or brushing your teeth?Why not just turn it on when you need it, or plug the basin?For each minute you turn off the faucet, you conserve between three to five gallons of precious New York water.
  
  
• We love those long, hot showers, but keep in mind that each minute uses 1.6 gallons of water, plus the energy needed to heat it up.Savor that shower, but try shortening it by a few minutes.
  
  
• Leaky sink and shower faucets can keep us up all night with dripping sounds, and also can add up to a big water waste. A faucet leaking 30 drops per minute wastes 54 gallons per month.Save your sanity and some water: report leaky faucets by calling H-APPY on your Rolm phone or by filling out a Maintenance Request.
  

• Part of living green is buying green, so keep your eye out for toiletries, feminine hygiene, and bathroom products that source organic ingredients or use recycled content – these products are usually better for your body as well!

• Try to use the lowest-wattage models of electric hair dryers, shavers, and other beautifying appliances – and be sure to unplug them when you're done.Remember that just 15 minutes of blow-drying releases 1.2 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
  
  
• Columbia's hardworking housekeeping staff keeps your toilet paper stocked on a fixed schedule – so you don’t need to hoard rolls of T.P. in your room; it only deprives it from your dorm mates and also creates surplus demand for the whole floor.Ease up on the trees and contact your housekeeping staff or the Hartley Hospitality Desk when you are running low.