A shared appliance system to reduce waste, save money, and promote sustainability on campus

Untitled_Artwork 63.png

Navigation (toggle to open) </aside>

WHAT IS TUFFY’S DEPOT?

Untitled_Artwork 60.png

Tuffy's Depot is a shared rental system for college campuses that reduces e-waste, saves money, and strengthens community bonds. Through short-term rentals of energy-efficient appliances and household essentials, we help students avoid unnecessary purchases while extending the life of shared items—all contributing to a more sustainable campus culture.

Why It Matters

Dorm life often means multiple students buying and using the same appliances, like air fryers, vacuums, and blenders, leading to overconsumption, unnecessary energy use, and e-waste. Tuffy’s Depot offers a smarter, more sustainable alternative by promoting shared use of these items. This reduces waste, saves energy, and helps students make eco-conscious choices—all while easing financial burdens.

By reducing e-waste, conserving energy, and fostering collaboration, Tuffy’s Depot is transforming campus life into a model of eco-conscious living. Together, we’re proving that sustainability is achievable, one shared appliance at a time.

</aside>

E-Waste Reduction

Globally, 80% of appliances discarded annually are not properly recycled.

</aside>

Many small appliances, such as air fryers and vacuums, are discarded prematurely, contributing to the global e-waste crisis. Sharing extends the lifecycle of these items, keeping them out of landfills.

Producing a single blender emits 4.5 kg of CO₂

(like driving a car for 11 miles.)

</aside>

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams, with over 50 million tons generated globally each year—only 20% of which is recycled. Colleges contribute significantly to this problem through the short lifecycles of dorm appliances like air fryers, vacuums, and blenders, duplicate purchases in shared spaces, and improper disposal of electronics.

Dorms often have dozens of duplicate appliances, most used infrequently, leading to unnecessary waste. Discarded electronics and appliances not only crowd landfills but also leach harmful toxins into the environment and waste valuable materials like copper and rare earth metals.

In the U.S., only 15% of small appliances like blenders are recycled, while the rest end up in landfills.

</aside>

By promoting shared use of appliances, Tuffy’s Depot extends their lifecycles, reduces duplicate purchases, and minimizes e-waste on campus. It’s a practical, sustainable solution to a growing problem, empowering students to make a positive environmental impact.

Energy Efficiency

Multiple appliances left plugged in or running simultaneously create significant energy waste through phantom power draw and inefficient usage patterns. When every dorm room has its own set of appliances, the cumulative energy waste becomes substantial.

Modern vacuums use 600–1,400 watts per use, but shared use can save up to 20 kWh of electricity per semester—enough to power a laptop for 200 hours.

</aside>

Air fryers are energy-efficient compared to ovens, but dorm-wide duplication still adds up. Sharing cuts unnecessary energy use by up to 70%.

</aside>

By implementing a sharing system, we can dramatically reduce the number of devices drawing power at any given time. This not only minimizes idle power consumption but also encourages more mindful and efficient use of appliances. Studies show that shared appliance systems can reduce overall energy consumption by up to 40% compared to individual ownership models, making a meaningful impact on campus sustainability efforts.