While dealing with money shortages from budget cuts, Iowa State is conserving energy. Since July, it has put regulations on heating and cooling costs to make the campus more environmentally friendly.

Even though the university probably won’t reach its goal of saving $1.5 million this year, the idea is a good one. Part of the program is to have temperatures in 80 buildings set at 78 degrees during the warm months and 68 degrees during the cold months.

So in order to save money and energy, it may seem a little more chilly in class now. But students need to grab a sweater or sweatshirt for class and not complain.

Some things are worth a small sacrifice. Another cost-saving step that made sense was moving night classes to activity areas to minimize open buildings. And individuals were asked to turn off equipment and lights when the rooms were not in use. Plus, the campus is equipped with biodegradable trash bags, soy inks and recycled paper products. While the university is striving to make the campus more environmentally friendly, improvements can still be made. Right now there are newspaper recycling programs available in only 13 of the 100 buildings on campus.

And there are areas where the university could be more active in recycling. Especially at places like Hawthorn Court. This university housing option currently has no recycling programs available.

Reuse, reduce and recycle are three little words the university needs to continue to focus on. Because a university should work to make the world a better place anyway it can.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell