As with most large movements in history, young people nationwide are leading the way in the fight towards a more planet-conscious future.

College students from coast to coast are studying ways to reduce waste, toxic emissions and other harmful habits and creating more efficient and earth friendly alternatives. Others are simply making better choices; turning off lights, recycling old notebooks and using cold water for their monthly trips to the laundry room.

Some very conscientious students at various schools are even taking it a step further by living and breathing the Green lifestyle in Green Co-Ops.

Most people think of Co-Ops as Hippie Houses full of free love, pot and rarely-used showers. This new brand of Co-Op, popping up on campuses every day, may have some similar features (like pot, I’m sure), but is a far cry from the original.

Residents of these houses learn how to live the typical college life, without the negative impacts the rest of us have on Mother Earth. They shower…just a little faster. They study … just a little closer. And they party…just as much as the rest of us (but probably reuse those Beer Pong cups).

The students behind this movement are brilliant; they have not only developed new and innovative ways to maintain a healthy planet (like reusing that wasted water that runs while the shower heats up!), but they also prove to everyone else on campus how easy it is to do. And if everyone on campus took just one thing away from these houses, Mother Earth could look a whole lot better.