Maria Sweeney
4/16/2019 7:35 AM
Next I'm going to talk to my housemates about saving energy by always turning out lights and being mindful of what we set the thermostat to.
Maria Sweeney
"My mission is to spread awareness to those around me about the importance of living a sustainable life, and what changes you can make to your daily life in order to do so."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 751 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO3.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO66meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO660minutesspent exercising
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UP TO75minutesspent learning
Maria's actions
Buildings and Cities
Choose LED Bulbs
#33 LED Lighting (Household)
I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Land Use
Forest-Friendly Foods 2
#5 Tropical Forests
I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Food
Smaller Portions
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.
Transport
Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
#26 Electric Vehicles
I will spend at least 45 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Buildings and Cities
Go for a Daily Walk
#54 Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Materials
Properly Dispose of Refrigerants
#1 Refrigerant Management
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.
Materials
Recycle Everything I Can
#55 Household Recycling
I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.
Land Use
Buy Bamboo
#35 Bamboo
When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.
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 QUESTIONBuildings and Cities Choose LED BulbsChanging lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Use Forest-Friendly Foods 2How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?
Maria Sweeney 4/16/2019 7:32 AMIt was difficult to cut coffee out of my diet. However finding different sources of energy throughout my day has taught me a lot about what foods I really do like most. As for palm oil, it was difficult at first, but it has gotten easier, and it feels so good morally. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Use Buy BambooAre bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Maria Sweeney 4/11/2019 6:02 AMBamboo alternatives were readily available at the small grocery store across the street from my house. I hadn't really noticed they were there until I learned they could make a sustainable impact. -
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?
Maria Sweeney 4/04/2019 7:37 AMI am inspired by the money I would save on gas and the chance to experience a new developing and exciting technology. -
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?
Maria Sweeney 4/04/2019 7:37 AMI am inspired by the money I would save on gas and the chance to experience a new developing and exciting technology. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings and Cities Go for a Daily WalkWhat have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Maria Sweeney 4/03/2019 11:26 AMOn my daily walk today, I noticed perennials starting to sprout up. It made me excited for spring! I have enjoyed watching how the weather has changed the plants and animals around me. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterials Recycle Everything I CanHow could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?
Maria Sweeney 4/03/2019 11:22 AMI have begun incorporated the other "R's" into my daily life by eating out less which has reduced the amount of plastic I use. I have also begun refusing plastic straws and plastic bags when our. I also encourage others to do the same. This makes me feel responsible. I am acknowledging that my actions have an effect on the world around me. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Reduce Animal ProductsIn 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?
Maria Sweeney 4/03/2019 11:19 AMThe culture in North America is the reason we consume so much more meat than other countries. Our society has a false belief that meat is needed in every meal in order for the meal to be nutritious. There is no education explaining that the amount of protein we need a day does not require so much meat. It shows that the North American way of living is ignorant of human's true needs and place in the circle of life. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Smaller PortionsFun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of eating smaller portions?
Maria Sweeney 4/03/2019 11:16 AMEating smaller portions will keep my body at a healthy weight because I will not overeat because I don't feel full yet. Giving my body time to communicate to my brain when I no longer need food will help me feel more energetic, will help me save money and it will keep me more aware of my body's state and health -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Learn the Truth About Expiration DatesHow does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Maria Sweeney 4/03/2019 11:13 AMKnowing the difference between use by, sell by and best by dates enables me to reduce the amount of food waste. I now better understand when foods have actually gone bad. Since it is not what I thought it was based of the dates printed on the package, I will not throw out foods prematurely.