Housing Sustainability

Make your campus life a sustainable one

Every Jag has a role to play in making our campus community more sustainable, especially our on-campus residents. Practicing sustainable living during your time at IU Indianapolis will develop life-long habits that will benefit you, your wallet, and our environment for generations to come.

IU Indianapolis's on-campus residents have several ways to learn about and practice sustainability through available programs, resources, events, and more! 

Ball Hall

Lucy Loller

North Hall

Ehsaw Wah

Riverwalk Apts

Aiden Gabbert

University Tower

Net Mongkonpruthangkoon

Residence Hall Association Sustainability

The IU Indianapolis Residence Hall Association (RHA) is committed to promoting sustainable on-campus living through the election of a Vice President of Sustainability who oversees the RHA Sustainability Committee. Together, these student leaders create educational opportunities and promote sustainable practices to on-campus residents and students at large. 

Connect with RHA on The Spot, Instagram, or via email. 

Sustainable On-Campus Living Tips

  • One of the most impactful things you can do is lower your use of heating and air conditioning. Try modifying your home's temperature by even a couple degrees, especially when you're away. We recommend 68 degrees in the winter, and 72 in the summer. 
  • Enlist natural light to brighten your space and avoid use of artificial lighting by opening blinds during the day. 
  • Bring lamps and use single desk lighting instead of overhead lights when possible.  Purchase LED bulbs for your lamps, which use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.  
  • Even when electronic devices are turned off, being plugged in or set to sleep mode still draws phantom energy. Purchase a smart power strip that automatically turns off the electrical current to your devices, conserving energy when not in use.  
  • Wash your clothes in cold water or use a drying rack to save energy and extend the life of your clothes.
  • If you have a printer in your room, share it with your roommate instead of each person having their own. 
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Save energy and burn some calories!
  • If you don't need it, don't use the ADA button to open doors. Every time the door stands open, it lets conditioned air out of the building.
  • If you bring a mini fridge on campus, make sure it is Energy Star certified. 

  • Vote with your fork!  Choose seasonal, local, organic food whenever possible.  
  • Eat lower on the food chain - more veggies than meat.  Have a Meatless Monday or try going vegetarian or vegan part time or full time.  
  • Only take what you'll eat to reduce food waste.
  • Trust your nose over expiration dates, and especially best by dates. 
  • Volunteer your time at the campus gardens. During the summer and fall, volunteers can take home a share of the fresh harvest!
  • Grow produce in your residence hall.  Herbs and vegetables like onions, tomatoes, and greens are easy to grow inside.  Check out seeds at the University Library's Seed Library to get started.
  • Donate non-perishable food to Paw's Pantry for others in the IU Indianapolis community to use.
  • If your student organization hosts an event on campus and orders food from Chartwells, check out our Green Catering Guide for sustainable options available. 

  • Minimize how much 'stuff' you purchase.  Thinking twice will save you space, money, and the resources necessary to produce that product.
  • Furnish your room on a budget with thrift store decor.  
  • Choose reusable over disposable.  Reusable cups, water bottles, cutlery, straws, and bags greatly reduce the number of single use items we throw away and will save you money in the long run.
  • Visit Paw's Closet for new-to-you clothing instead of purchasing new.

  • Read up on the many alternative modes of transportation to and around campus, found in our IU Indianapolis Car Free Guide.
  • Share a ride with a friend by carpooling when traveling locally and beyond. Sign up for Hoosier Rideboard, a free carpool matching service is exclusive to IU students, faculty, and staff.
  • Walk or bike between classes instead of driving.  Not only will it save you the hassle of finding parking, but it's healthier for you too!
  • For longer, on-campus commutes, use the JagLine, IU Indianapolis's free shuttle service, to get around campus.
  • Get a car when you need it by renting one of the ZipCars on campus.

  • Reduce your waste by choosing reusable over disposable wherever possible.  For gatherings, use real plates, cups, and cutlery.
  • Join the IU Indianapolis Residential Compost Program to divert your organic waste from landfills/incinerators, and instead upcycling it to a carbon-negative, nutrient-rich fertilizer.
  • Sort recyclables from your waste and dispose of them in the recycle bins found in the common waste rooms in each residence hall.
  • Share, donate, or sell items you no longer need.  You can donate ununsed non-perishable food and clothing to Paw's Pantry and Paw's Closet. You donate everything else in the month of March for the annual IU Indianapolis Spectacular Spring Stuff Swap.
  • Use real towels instead of paper towels.

  • Believe it or not, the most effective way to reduce your water consumption is to eat less meat. Research suggests that, on average, it takes about 1800 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef. 
  • Only wash full loads of laundry or dishes in the dishwasher.
  • Wash your clothes with cold water, which is actually better for removing food, beverage, grass, blood, and water-based paint stains. 
  • Report water leaks and maintenance problems when you see them. You can do that here.
  • Take shorters showers.  Can you challenge yourself to take a 5 minute shower or less?
  • Don't let the sink run while brushing your teeth or shaving.