Going green is something that is promoted via television, newspapers, magazines and awareness campaigns. Many people say they are going to make an effort to go green, but few actually accomplish it.

While some may feel that they need a hybrid car or solar panels on their house, there are actually many ways people can go green that are easy and affordable.

Sophia Bush and Ian Somerhalder are two celebrities who are making an effort to promote being environmentally friendly through social media in the hopes that they might inspire someone in a younger generation to make a change.

College is a time when students are finding their way and living on their own for the first time.

This is when they can start making a solid effort to make a change and go green. It can be overwhelming when someone first starts trying to go green, but there are a lot of simple ways to make a change.  

Here are five ways to go green:

1. The three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

    Reduce the waste you generate. Be thrifty and try to buy green when you can.  An easy way to do this is to remove your name from mailing lists of things you no longer want to receive or use electronic mail to receive bills.

Reuse what you already have access to. Re-purpose items, like reusing empty bottles as flower vases, and buy used textbooks.

Recycle anything you can to help make a difference. Look for recycling bins, recycle paper and recycle your old electronics.

2. Wash clothes in cold water

Even if you are not using your own washer, you can still help the environment by using cold water. This will allow the washer to use less energy, which will produce less CO2 that goes into the air.

3. Take notes on a laptop instead of a notebook

Why use a notebook when you can use your laptop? Many college professors even offer their lecture notes online. However, if you feel the need to Tweet or get on Facebook while trying to go green, a notebook may be a safer option.

4. Skip the plastic water bottle; get an eco-friendly bottle

It may be convenient to just grab a bottle of water on the go, but think about all of the energy it takes to transport the water and make that plastic bottle, not to mention that the bottle takes a very long time to biodegrade. Instead, buy a re-usable bottle and fill it with tap water. If you do not like tap water, buy a Brita filter for your faucet.

5. Turn off the lights behind you

Turning off the lights behind you can help lower electricity bills, even if you are not the one paying them, like in dorms. Use natural light whenever it is doable.