Amy Boyle Geisel

Have you recently taken steps in embracing an eco-friendlier lifestyle outside the office? If yes, share your “greenecdote” with us. Email [email protected] and your story may be featured on Access for Earth Month.

Join the Biggest Hour for Earth! On March 25, join this global movement by spending 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet. Snap a photo and submit to [email protected] to earn Ecochallenge points! Learn more at www.earthhour.org.

Each day, I will spend 30 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).

I will watch 2 documentaries about climate change.

On average, a tree absorbs 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of carbon dioxide yearly during the first 20 years. To do my part, I will plant 1 trees in my community, public parks, or backyard.

Using Seafood Watch's list, I will enjoy 1 sustainable seafood meals each day.

I will write to a school, community learning center, or education leader I admire to express my thanks for their sustainability work and find out how I can get involved.

I will replace 3 incandescent light bulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will watch 2 documentaries about education or work.

I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me each day to raise my awareness of how much waste I produce.

During the workday, I will schedule time for daily breaks during work days to practice work-life balance.

Within my community at home or work, I will organize or attend a local cleanup event.

I will mend clothing for myself, family or friends.

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally). As an example, a plane from New York to Los Angeles (~2,450 miles) generates about 65 tons of carbon dioxide.

For an upcoming vacation, I will spend 55 minutes planning out a staycation in my region. For reference, one several hour flight releases the equivalent of nearly 14% of the annual emissions from a car.

Organized a clean up the property around the public Library. Grabber devices, gloves, compostable bags and food provided. Invite my Girl Scout Troop and away we go.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about water justice in my region.

I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.

I will make a few homemade cleaning products.

I will volunteer 6 hours in my community.

Studies show a grass lawn is water intensive and on average it require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. I will do one or more of the following actions in my yard or community to conserve water and improve habitat: plant indigenous plants, landscape with water-efficient plants, add mulching, replace a lawn, and/or use eco-friendly fertilizers.

I will become a savvy produce shopper when buying organic and non-organic items.

I will try a new vegan or vegetarian recipe and share how it turns out on the Ecochallenge feed, or with family and friends.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will plant pollinator-friendly plants in my area to support local pollinators.

I will have a conversation with one or more nonprofit organizations I want to be involved with.