

Mike Carroll
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,711 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO34conversationswith people
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UP TO1.0donationmade
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UP TO144gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO15lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO58locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO119milestraveled by bike
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UP TO765minutesspent exercising
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UP TO40minutesspent learning
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UP TO252pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1.0public official or leadercontacted
Mike's actions
Buildings and Cities
Go for a Daily Walk
#54 Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Land Use
Advocate for Forest Protection
#38 Forest Protection
I will contact 1 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws.
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.
Food
Support Nutrient Management
#65 Nutrient Management
I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
Transport
Stay on the Ground
#43 Airplanes, #63 Telepresence
Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).
Transport
Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
#26 Electric Vehicles
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.
Action Track: Social Justice
Fund Family Planning
#7 Family Planning
I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.
Electricity Generation
Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives
All Electricity Generation Solutions
I will research and tell 2 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.
Materials
Properly Dispose of Refrigerants
#1 Refrigerant Management
I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.
Materials
Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
#46 Water Saving - Home
I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.
Materials
Fix Leaky Faucets
#46 Water Saving - Home
I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Buildings and Cities
Go by Bike
#59 Bike Infrastructure
I will commute by bike 7 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 6.26 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
Food
Support Local Food Systems
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will source 80 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.
Electricity Generation
Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits
#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore), #8 Solar Farms
I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.
Electricity Generation
Advocate for Solar Installation
#10 Rooftop Solar
I will create a plan to and advocate for solar installation at my business, apartment building, or campus.
Electricity Generation
Rooftop Solar Consultation
#10 Rooftop Solar
After researching the incentives at the federal, state, utility, and local levels, I will contact a local installer/distributor for a solar panel installation consultation on my house.
Buildings and Cities
Choose LED Bulbs
#33 LED Lighting (Household)
I will replace 15 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Buildings and Cities
Upgrade My Windows
#31 Insulation
I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.
Food
Smaller Portions
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterials Mulch the Base of Trees and PlantsName some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 3:52 PMStop using plastics that are destroying our oceans Protect our oceans reef system-
Lielle Berman 4/24/2019 6:03 PMYesssss!!! The age of disposable plastics is OVER! :-)
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REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Generation Rooftop Solar ConsultationIdentify some ways in which modern human societies have become unsustainable. What kind of roles do individuals have in creating and changing practices in society?
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 3:51 PMStop using plastics that pollute and damage our oceans and start using biodegradable paper -
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 3:43 PMWow...my competitive nature is coming out while trying to save nature!! Cannot believe the amount of people stepping up and making changes for our planet. Thanks everyone and keep on posting your successes.-
Lielle Berman 4/24/2019 6:04 PMThank you for being such a huge part of this Challenge!! You're kicking butt and making the world a better place :-) Keep up the great work!
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Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 3:37 PMDown 9 pounds since this challenge started. Good clean healthy eating -
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 3:35 PMA beautiful day here in WNY to get out and help save the earth -
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 3:34 PMDoes anyone have any good alternatives to the plastic used in store/grocery products? I'm finding that even though I use my own grocery bags, often things come prepackaged in plastic.-
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 6:35 PMThey do and that’s a great idea I started Using those when I shop At Aldi’s Our local supermarket doesn’t offer those yet but the nearest Wegmans does -
Lielle Berman 4/24/2019 6:08 PMDoes your store offer any products in bulk? I think Wegman's has a bulk section, so the trick is to bring your own bags/containers and tare weigh it first. I find that cloth produce bags work really well for almost everything, and then I can transfer things like grains, pasta and nuts into canisters at home. If your regular store doesn't carry items in bulk, ask management to make it happen!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Use Advocate for Forest ProtectionHigher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 3:11 PM- For me I used To fill a plate of food just to fill up the plate The more food on the plate made for less empty space I ended Up over eating daily sometimes more than once a day
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Mike Carroll 4/22/2019 4:27 PMHappy Earth Day Realizing this weekend that I need A new bicycle This challenge has definitely motivated me to start biking again-
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 10:25 AMNo it was a Gary fisher mountain bike -
Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 9:40 AMis it going to be an electric bike?
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Mike Carroll 4/18/2019 4:48 AMI just Planted a new Okame Cherry tree in my backyard 🍒-
Mike Carroll 4/24/2019 10:25 AMDid those trees attract alot of bees? I am hoping that my cherry tree will bring honey bees but not wasps -
Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 9:42 AMthat's awesome! my last house I had 1 pear, 1 apple and 1 peach tree. getting it to have healthy fruit is very hard! I think the tree was still too young.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONTransport Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric VehicleReducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?