Michael Helme

Sustainable Warwick

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
507 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

45

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

75

minutes

spent learning

Michael's actions

Buildings and Cities

Plan to Insulate

#31 Insulation

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

#8 Solar Farms

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Go Paperless

#70 Recycled Paper

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Plan to Insulate

What are some of the benefits of making your home more energy efficient?

Michael Helme 4/22/2019 5:43 PM

The first benefit is that our house is much less drafty than before. Also, it has reduced the number of BTUs we need to heat our home by about 20%. We did a full energy audit and weatherization 5 years ago, and at this point it's as if we've saved the cost of a full year of home heating bills.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Research Heat Pumps

Why is taking action on climate change important to you? Why do you care?

Michael Helme 4/22/2019 5:41 PM

In the old days some of us lived under the belief that if we just took care of ourselves and our own families and didn't take advantage of others, we would be contributing to the greater good. Now with climate change, we can see that even though we feel like we are minding our own business, in fact our carbon footprints are creating hardships for others. Not everyone can accept that, but I want to be responsible for my impacts on others.

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Michael Helme 4/22/2019 5:36 PM

Our group is hosting a HeatSmart Warwick campaign that helps people learn about heat pumps and the benefits of insulating and sealing. We're looking for participants in a Heat Pump 101 training for May 1st. It's after the EcoChallenge, but it will earn points in the real world! Please contact me if you are interested. Thanks.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?

Michael Helme 4/16/2019 5:07 PM

We just signed up to buy 16 ground mount solar panels from SunCommon. Those panels should provide enough electricity to heat our home with clean electricity instead of fossil fuels. SunCommon does a good job of providing both home solar systems and community solar in the Hudson Valley.

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- Michael Helme 4/17/2019 6:23 PM
  
  Responding to Wendy V below -- We've been looking into backup batteries, but the price has been high recently so we haven't done that yet. Perhaps you know, almost 100% of us with our own solar panels are tied to the grid; we contribute lots of energy to the grid when the sun is shining and days are long, then slowly sip it back from the grid throughout the day and the year.
  
  Read More
- Wendy V 4/17/2019 12:55 PM
  
  Nice! Do you have your own battery?
  Thanks,
  Wendy
  
  Read More
Michael Helme 4/15/2019 8:31 AM

I worked with others to put together this web page on refrigerant management in our town. http://sustainablewarwick.org/refrigerants. It focuses on recycling appliances, like air conditioners, refrigerators and dehumidifiers. Please let me know of any questions you have about the web page. Also, for people not from Warwick, PLMK if you have a website that could post a copy of the webpage, with the details adjusted for your locale. Thanks!

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- Payton Swenson 4/18/2019 6:41 PM
  
  It’s a great brochure!!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

How do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?

Michael Helme 4/09/2019 5:33 AM

I try to work with other members of my local community to take the steps we can take today/this month/this year.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

In your opinion, what contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other countries? What does this say about North American values and ways of living?

Michael Helme 4/08/2019 9:26 AM

A big factor in meat consumption in the United States is the agriculture policies that lead to cheap grains that become cheap feed for livestock, which leads to plentiful quantities of cheap meat. In the American food culture, so many people emphasize what is inexpensive when it comes to food, as opposed to making food an important purchase that is worth spending more on. I don't like to waste money, but I think it's important for us individually and collectively to spend more on good food and a good agriculture policy that promotes healthy food and a healthy environment.

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