Biofuels, hybrid cars, conservation, polar bears, Al Gore … the list of green initiatives is endless.
But a new facet of environmentally friendly living has caused quite a stir. From PETA ads that are too provocative to air during the Super Bowl to brand-new markets of safe and savvy toys - yes, that's right my horny collegiates, I'm talking about greener sex.
Call it a no-brainer, but numero uno on lists of advice from sites like planetgreen.discovery.com and greenpeace.org is simply to turn off the bedroom lights when you fancy a shag.
On campus, that usually means turning up some background music for camouflage, but it should go without saying that light is not a necessity during such activities. Please, for the sake of Mother Earth and your roommate's innocence, flip the switch first.
Remember those stickers that are posted all over the mirrors in residence hall restrooms? Well, they forgot to mention one more option for saving water: killing two birds with one stone. Showering together saves water, and as long as you don't get too, er, preoccupied, this is a great way to do something for the environment and yourself.
The "no glove, no love" slogan has become a hassle in more places than the bedroom. Aside from their presence in landfills, used latex and plastic condoms have become common artifacts in scenery everywhere.
Drainage and runoff carry these nasty little buggers all over the place, and they'll be around for a long time no matter where they end up. After all, 60 to 100 million condoms are improperly disposed of each year in the UK alone.
If you're adventurous, biodegradable lambskin condoms are available, though you'd be hard-pressed to find them at your local drugstore.
Sales of safer, greener sex toys have also skyrocketed as companies have gotten wind of new consumer concerns.
Chemicals called phthalates are commonly used to soften hard plastics like PVC; treated plastics like this are often the outer layer of sex toys. But there are concerns over the toxicity and health risks posed by these materials.
Even products like personal lubricants have faced changes: Petroleum-based ingredients are being phased out in favor of more natural alternatives. Hell, what better way to reduce our dependence on oil than cutting out OPEC's influence on our private fun?
If you're willing to give anything a try, you can transform sex into a certified green activity. Add it to your list of ways to have good clean fun, and not necessarily at the expense of our natural environment.
Hannah Warren is a student at Syracuse University.
