Anna Butler
"Green Month is my favorite challenge of the year. It expands my awareness of my immediate environment and impact on my community. Let's all be better together<3"
POINTS TOTAL
- 50 TODAY
- 125 THIS WEEK
- 1,161 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO180pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO50plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO71plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO0.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1,783minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO1.0treeplanted
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UP TO200minutesspent learning
Anna's actions
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.
Climate + Air
Online Energy Audit
Energy use and waste is often invisible. I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 20 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 20 minutes each day learning about the current status of local or global wildlife and how I can align my actions to support their livelihood.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Plastic in Clothing and Water
Synthetic clothing can contain plastic and shed harmful microplastics into our water. I will use a microplastics catcher in my laundry, or install a microplastics filter for my washing machine.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Seek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs
When traveling, I will seek souvenirs that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.
Action Track: Community
Plant Trees
Trees capture carbon and produce oxygen that is essential to life on earth. I will support this important piece of nature by organizing or joining a community group to plant 1 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
Action Track: Community
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 90 minutes learning more about the importance of freshwater + ocean conservation, and how I can reduce my water use. I will share what I learn with people in person, on social media, and on the feed.
Climate + Air
Stay on the Ground
Carbon emissions from air travel is harmful to planetary and human health. Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).
Climate + Air
Choose Renewable Energy
Renewable energy options are becoming more widespread and accessible. Not only are they good for the planet, they can help save money as well. I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will contact them to advocate for this option in the future.
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 20 minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
Land + Forests
Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and Paper
Trees provide food and habitat for local wildlife species, shade our streets and homes, and help keep our air and water clean by capturing pollutants. Buying products that help protect forests makes a difference. I will only purchase wood, furniture, and paper products from ecologically certified sources such as Forest Stewardship Council.
Climate + Air
Calculate My Carbon Impact
Carbon emissions can show up in many surprising ways in our life. 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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Beauty and Personal Products
Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 60 minutes learning about the beauty and body products I use to see if they are refillable or recyclable. If not, I will reach out to the manufacturer to advocate for those options.
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.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 60 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
Forest-Friendly Foods
I will look for sustainable palm oil products with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSP) label. I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation and opt for ones that help sustain healthy communities and forests.
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
30 for 30 in Nature
Studies have shown that when we spend consistent time in nature, our health improves, our creativity increases, and our connection to the planet gets stronger. Each day of the Ecochallenge, I will spend 30 minutes outside (in a large or small patch of nature), then share my observations, 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
Dishwasher Efficiency
Hand washing dishes can use more energy and hot water than a dishwasher. To save water, I will use a dishwasher and scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
Freshwater + Oceans
Say No to Plastic Straws
An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.
Freshwater + Oceans
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
Itr's estimated over a billion water bottles are thrown away each year. Even if they were recycled, that still uses energy and resources from the earth. I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
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
Borrow Before I Buy
Why buy something I will only use once or a few times if someone nearby has it for me to borrow, and why not share something I have that someone may only need a few times a year? To reduce my consumption and waste, I will create or support the sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
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 QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Anna Butler 4/24/2024 7:53 AMParticipating in a whole food diet definitely helps. I think a truly waste free day is naïve, as there was a point when I had to supplement toiletries, etc. It was cool to experience, and to be mindful of reducing waste and spreading out those "refill/replacement" items. -
Anna Butler 4/24/2024 7:50 AMI have found a few podcasts that inform on sustainability that I have really enjoyed listening to on my walks:) Here are a few:
A Sustainable Mind, The Sustainability Agenda, Outrage + Optimism-
Anna Marie Angeles 4/24/2024 7:52 AMnice! I will try listening to podcast too. -
Madewell Summerlin 1261 4/24/2024 7:51 AMThank you!
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Anna Butler 4/24/2024 3:52 AMDark walk this AM! A special stillness. Happy Wednesday everybody! -
Anna Butler 4/23/2024 5:17 AMAfter using PTO on Monday for Earth Day and birthday celebrations, we are back this morning with a nice long outdoor walk! Kota says hello(: -
Anna Butler 4/21/2024 8:49 AMA birthday and sunny Sunday!!! Let’s love the earth today (: -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Plastic in Clothing and WaterHow did you try to catch the release of microplastics in your laundry? What did you learn in the process?
Anna Butler 4/20/2024 6:56 AMOrdered a filter. I had no idea this was even a thing, which is so scary. I aim to eat whole food based in order to avoid a lot of the artificial. I didn’t realize how prevalent plastics were in water, but I am a firm believer in every bit of effort does make a difference -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Seek Alternative Gifts and SouvenirsHow do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
Anna Butler 4/20/2024 6:52 AMMy favorite way to support a community and learn about culture is to get a souvenir that is intentional and directly from the community. I have my eye on a few and painted and assembled items for my upcoming trip to Amsterdam!! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Plant TreesHow is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Anna Butler 4/19/2024 7:51 AMI learned that day lillies and indigo are native to Memphis - a surprise to me! I am having so much fun being a plant mom to all of these different things! -
Anna Butler 4/19/2024 7:47 AMFriday!! So excited to enjoy the outdoors at an outdoor concert tonight at Levitt Shell. Good Vibes! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and OceansWhat did you learn about freshwater and oceans you did not already know? In sharing this information with people in your life, which conversation was impactful to you?
Anna Butler 4/19/2024 7:46 AMI have always been fascinated about water - in regards to health and for enjoyment. I took the 20 minutes to learn about the freshwater systems around memphis. People always say Memphis has the best water, but the aquifer was pretty neat to read about!