Earth Month Ecochallenge 2023: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2023

Elizabeth Speck

U.S. Bank

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
71 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

1.0

water footprint

calculated
UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning

Elizabeth's actions

Education & Livelihood

Work-Life Balance

SDG 8

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Basic Needs & Security

Reduce Food Waste in Home

Review food consumption and waste behaviors within my home and commit to taking action to reduce the amount of waste. I am choosing this goal because I find that each weekend, I am disposing of leftovers and other food items not used. Actions include learning to make zero waste meals, eating out less, using leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day, and meal planning around the items that are in the fridge and pantry.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Spend Time Outside

SDG 3

I will replace 30 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside exercising, enjoying the sunrise/sunset, gardening, journaling, or practicing gratitude for nature.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Online Energy Audit

SDG 7

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Support Local Pollinators

SDG 15

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Replace Manual Thermostats

SDG 7, 9, 12

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Create A Readiness Plan

SDG 9

Each day, I will spend time developing a readiness plan for my household in the event of an emergency.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate & Ecosystems

Calculate Your Carbon Impact

SDG 13

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how lifestyle changes could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Know Your Produce

SDG 2

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Choose LED Bulbs

SDG 7

I will replace 10 incandescent light bulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Share Your Eco Habits

SDG 11

Through my Earth Month Ecochallenge feed, I will share with others an environmentally friendly habit I have cultivated.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Donate Food

SDG 3, 10

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Calculate Your Water Footprint

SDG 6

I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Analyze Your Utility Bills

SDG 7

I spend 60 minutes analyzing my recent utility bills, which might include electricity, gas, or water to see what my current usage is and determine if I can reduce my energy and water use.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Watch a Documentary About Economy, Energy, or Industry

SDG 7, 9, 12

I will watch 3 documentaries about economy, energy, or industry.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature

SDG 13, 14, 15

I will watch 3 documentaries about climate change.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Watch a Documentary About Food, Water, or Basic Needs

SDG 6

I will watch 2 documentaries about food, water, or basic needs.

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
Basic Needs & Security

What surprised you about the two produce lists? How will you use these lists for your grocery shopping? Have you used these lists before?
Elizabeth Speck 4/24/2023 8:57 PM
This was the first time that I have viewed this list, but now that I have I will be sure to buy organic for the Dirty Dozen and will be comfortable knowing that I can buy organic of non-organic of the Clean 15.

I will also keep these lists in mind when shopping at the Farmer's Market in the summer and to ask the vendors about their pesticide usage before buying.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What is one way you will reduce your water use? What is a practice you already have that helps you reduce your water use?
Elizabeth Speck 4/24/2023 8:45 PM
My water footprint is 2,110 gallons a day which is above the national average of 1880. However, 1000 of this is for pet food because in addition to feeding my two cats, I also take care of an outside feral community of cats, so I realistically, I won't reduce my water footprint there, and without that piece, we are doing pretty good.

Things we do regularly includes not leaving the water run while washing hands, brushing teeth etc., only doing full loads of laundry, and regularly checking faucets for potential leaks. And all faucets are low flow. I am looking into a rain barrel to use to water the garden.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentaries you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?
Elizabeth Speck 4/24/2023 8:30 PM
Watched The Pollinators - Biggest learning for me is that we need change in way farming is done to save our pollinators, because without pollinators we lose our food change. Climate is shifting because of how we produce our food (chemicals causing pollution). we need simplified farming, creating healthy soil, reducing chemical usage. Done right bees will stop dying, and our land will be more sustainable.

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