Mike Barkan
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 484 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO11meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO2.2poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO34milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO34milestraveled by foot
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UP TO38pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO15single-use bagsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO110gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO500minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO170minutesspent learning
Mike's actions
Action Track: Community
JOIN OR CREATE A GREEN TEAM AT EMERSON
I will continue to contribute to Emerson's environmental sustainability goals beyond April by learning more about the Global Green Teams Network, joining a team near me, or maybe even creating a new team.
Action Track: Community
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWS ON SUSTAINABILITY AT EMERSON
I will sign up to the Sustainability Aficionados distribution list to receive global news on sustainability at Emerson, including world news and Greening OF, BY, and WITH news.
Action Track: Community
TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE ON LINKEDIN
I will take at least one photograph that is connected with this year's theme of Nature Conservation & Biodiversity (for example an urban park, bee hives, birds and other animals...) and I will post it on LinkedIn with the hashtags #EarthMonthEcochallenge #EarthMonthAtEmerson.
Action Track: Community
ATTEND THE ECOCHALLENGE CONSERVATION WEBINAR
On Wed 24th April, I will attend the Earth Month Ecochallenge Webinar on Conservation to learn about what individuals, companies and other organizations can do to promote biodiversity and nature protection.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Use Reusable Bags
Plastic bags can be mistaken for food by many wild animals and can end up in habitats that harm wildlife. I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Grow Local
I will research and plant a garden filled with native fruits, vegetables, and flowers to nurture local wildlife and ecosystems. I will find nearby nurseries that offer plants native to my area.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Reduce Animal Products
One kilogram of beef and cheese emits 71kg and 24kg of greenhouse gasses, while 1kg of rice, grains, and legumes emits between 2-4kg. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts emit less than 1kg per 1kg. I will reduce my climate impact by enjoying 2 meatless meals and/or 1 vegan meals each day this week.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Save the Bees
Bees are vital to ecosystems. To help save the bees, I will learn which local flowers provide nectar and plant them in my backyard or in a pot on my balcony.
Climate + Air
Weekly Meal Planning
One third of all food produced worldwide is wasted, and so is the energy it takes to produce and transport that food. I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need and eating what I planned each day.
Climate + Air
Use Muscle Power
I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 300 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).
Land + Forests
Regenerative Agriculture and Me
Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming and ranching in a way that supports life and restores the soil. I will spend minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
Land + Forests
Personal Waste Audit
The waste we create daily can go unnoticed. I will track the waste I create in a day and post a photo log on the feed to see how much I create and where I can make different choices to reduce my waste going forward.
Land + Forests
Zero Waste Day
The impacts of our waste are far reaching. I will create zero waste for an entire day and share my reflections and learnings on the feed.
Freshwater + Oceans
Low Water Gardening
Grass lawns are water-intensive and on average require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. Native plants are water-efficient and help maintain the balance and diversity of local ecosystems. I will plant native species with water-efficient plants to conserve water and improve the habitat, then post a photo on the feed to share.
Freshwater + Oceans
Understand My Water Footprint
Each of us has a water footprint, directly linked to our daily activities as well as the water required in the production of things we use each day. Understanding our water use is important for a healthy planet. I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste, then share what I learned on the feed.
Action Track: Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
Action Track: Community
Sustainability Lunch and Learn
Learning in a social setting can inspire connection and change. I will work with a friend or colleague to plan and host a lunch and learn at work, school, in my neighborhood or other location to learn more about an environmental topic important to me. After the lunch and learn, I will share more about it on the feed.
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 QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Understand My Water FootprintWhat did you learn about your water footprint and what are you going to do to reduce and be aware of the water you use?
Mike Barkan 4/19/2024 2:19 PMToday I calculated my water footprint - my direct footprint is about 60 gallons per day, but my virtual footprint is about 20x greater due to eating meat and the indirect water use associated with clothing / other goods manufactured. My rainwater harvesting saves a few gallons per day but is negligible compared to the virtual footprint.
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Tünde Benő 4/22/2024 11:44 AMI did the calculation last year I have to repeat to see if I made some changes.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Mike Barkan 4/15/2024 3:14 PMLast weekend I finally got my rainwater buckets up and "running", and they've already filled up 100 gallons completely! Might say it rains a lot here in the Spring. Had trouble getting the footings level the first time I tried to set them up and likely do not have a backup masonry career waiting for me, but I've started to use them!
I also installed a drip-irrigation system in my garden which, with a timer system should much use less water throughout the season. The only issue I didn't think through is that the rainwater collection system does not create enough pressure to work with the drip irrigation system, so I'll have to dream up a better solution soon enough. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Sustainability Lunch and LearnWho did you engage in your lunch and learn? What resources did you use? How did it go and what did you learn?
Mike Barkan 4/15/2024 3:09 PMLast week I hosted a sustainability lunch and learn by setting up a tour with my local AEE to visit Nashville's Omohundro Water Treatment Plant. The historic building came online in the 1870s and still enjoys the same footprint, albeit with many sustainable upgrades, providing upwards of 50 million gallons per day of clean water to the city. Metro Water has gone above and beyond for decades to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable water to residents. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Use Muscle PowerHow do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
Mike Barkan 4/02/2024 6:14 AMLast year during EcoChallenge I finally bought a bike - regretfully I finished last season with 2 flat tires and no knowledge of how to change them. This weekend I finally got my hands dirty and figured it out, giving me a lifelong skill and returning my working bike.-
Tünde Benő 4/22/2024 11:45 AMGreat progress!
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Mike Barkan 3/12/2024 12:40 PMLooking forward to EcoChallenge in 2024! This year I am very focused on expanding my garden throughout the entire growing season, starting plants from seeds, using organic/non-harmful fertilizers, and installing rainwater collection to minimize my water use.