Ecochallenge.org

Campus 2020 Ecochallenge

Sherie Ruf

Washington College

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,060 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

3.3

pounds of paper

have been saved
UP TO

55

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

28

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

133

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1,110

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

20

donations

made
UP TO

5.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

14

pounds

waste composted
UP TO

540

minutes

spent exercising

Sherie 's actions

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 10 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Turn it off

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Adjust the Thermostat

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 133 lbs of CO2 a month and 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 60-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 15 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Leave No Trace

I will practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Tend a Garden

I will tend to a garden each day, work on starting one, or find a local community garden to get involved with.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Have a Garage Sale

I will have a group garage sale with friends, family, and/or neighbors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Connect with a Nonprofit

I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

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
Community Connect with a Nonprofit

What inspires you to act toward a more sustainable community?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 7:07 PM

The future, climate change, food equality, healthier lifestyle

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity Have a Garage Sale

Building community is good for your soul and fun to do! What were some of the positive outcomes that came out of your group garage sale?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 6:54 PM

Lots of creative ideas in how to reuse or upcycle items rather than throwing them away.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Who is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 6:48 PM

Food insecure, lack of clean green space affects everyone but those who cannot go elsewhere are the most affected.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Turn it off

How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 6:46 PM

I don't know anymore, it is sold so many time. Possibly from the river.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use Reusable Bags

What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 1:23 PM

I will figure out a way to carry items in my hands or next within themselves for ease. I should make cloth bags from old shirts and put them in my car and purse to be sure we always have one.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

Father Thomas Berry says, "...our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." Respond to Berry's assertion.

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 1:22 PM

Things seem simpler at dawn. Sunset is a time for reflection for me. This is often when I take my walks.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Switch to Cold Water

What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 1:20 PM

buy more plants and garden!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Happiness

How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 1:19 PM

it keeps things in perspective for me. It keeps me grounded to what I have in my daily life.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Adjust the Thermostat

Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 1:18 PM

Use less, sweep instead of vacuum, open windows instead of turning on a/c, adding a sweatshirt or blanket instead of turning up the heat.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Leave No Trace

Educator Stephanie Kaza advises her students to focus on what they care about most when addressing the enormity of ecological problems. Is there a specific area you feel particularly called to work on?

Sherie Ruf 4/26/2020 1:16 PM

I focus on providing a chemical free environment for my local animals and insects. I plant natives so as to avoid having to alter an environment to suit a plant.

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