Erasmus+ Mobility – Energy Saving Tips

While the benefits of the Erasmus+ programme are well-known, it must be recognised that it also has a negative impact on the environment. Supporting the European Green Deal is a key priority in the latest incarnation of Erasmus+, the European Union’s flagship educational mobility and cooperation programme.

 Everything you do, from the food you eat, the products you buy to the way you travel, releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and so has an impact on the planet’s climate. However, some activities have a far greater impact than others.

When you travel, perhaps you could have a tick-list for protecting the environment? Finding out about new ways to respect the planet, for example, noticing the oceans and beaches full of plastic and seeing it with our own eyes. Or maybe watching workers in unpleasant working conditions. As none of us can control the amount of carbon emissions from planes, the chemical products used in hotels or the plastic used in souvenirs sold in our holiday destinations, you can choose our means of transport, our types of hotels and accommodation. You could also relook at the way you shop, to see how to reduce the damage to the environment and therefore be more beneficial to local people too.

There’s the opportunity to do Erasmus+ by train too but there needs to be a financial incentive for students to choose sustainable transport over flying. For example, an incentive could be to provide Interrail passes for all Erasmus participants to and from the location of their exchange.

It would also be beneficial for the EU to make it mandatory for higher education institutes to provide information about sustainability in the documents they provide to students.

Great Energy Saving Tips!

Here are some useful tips for your own, more sustainable Erasmus+ mobility:

1. When you leave your room, always turn off all lights, heat/AC, and television. Closing the curtains and blinds can help keep out the heat of the sun in the summer.
2. Leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door of your room every few days. This cuts down on chemical cleansing agents, electricity used in vacuuming, and washing bed linen.
3. Walk, bike, or use public transportation to get around whenever possible, this cuts down on gas usage and saves you money.
4. Return maps, brochures, and other tourist info once you’re finished with them so that they may be reused by future travellers.
5. Take any leftover soap, shampoo, or toothpaste with you. Unused or unfinished bottles are often thrown away, and you can reuse any plastic bottles in the future.

Don’t forget to buy locally made (preferably handmade) products, rather than those that have been imported. Items that are flown or shipped in have a much larger carbon footprint, and who wants a cheap, cookie-cutter souvenir made on an Asian assembly line? Don’t buy anything made from endangered plants/animals, unsustainable hardwoods, or ancient artefacts. Not only is it wrong, but you probably won’t be able to get them back through customs.

Read more about this topic:

Erasmus+ Mobility: 5 Green Transportation Tips

What is Erasmus+ Green Travelling?

The Erasmus+ Programme Goes Green