Claudia d'Aquin
"Now more then ever it is vital to integrate sustainability in our everyday lives in order to make an impact in our environment. I want to show my children that even the smallest change or action can make a difference so that they are able to enjoy what nature has to offer. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 40 THIS WEEK
- 725 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO2.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO332gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO3.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO177minutesspent learning
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UP TO17minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO92pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO61plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO51plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO6.6poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO14pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
Claudia's actions
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 11 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 15 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Beauty and Personal Products
Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 15 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.
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
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 25 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.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 20 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).
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
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 15 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
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
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 15 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.
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.
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 5 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.
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.
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 7 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Freshwater + Oceans
Cooking Oil Disposal
Pouring cooking oil down the drain can cause damage to waterways and ecosystems. I will learn how to properly dispose of cooking oil to help support healthy ecosystems.
Action Track: Community
Keep My Community Clean
At times it may not feel like it's up to us to keep our community clean and healthy, but we all have a role to play. Each day I am outside, I will pick up any litter I see.
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.
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 3 hours in my community.
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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Claudia d'Aquin 4/22/2024 1:34 PMInteresting fact did you know that the EPA is trying replace all lead pipe lines in the United States which is where we receive our drinking water. Some states do not know exactly how many lines they have in their states regarding the lead pipes. Are there devices that you all use or by to filter out chemicals or lead from your drinking water? -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Seek Alternative Gifts and SouvenirsHow do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/17/2024 1:59 PMI have learned throughout the years how our choices on what we consume affects all aspects of life. The food we consume needs to harvested, grown, produced, processed, and consume which takes ups and creates pollution for the earth and communities around us. Pesticides may be used on the food we consume not knowing that it affects our health and food processing warehouses emit gases from machines which also contribute to the wildlife and communities around us. Our consumption of services and goods also affects our water ways, can cause soil erosion, climate change, ecosystems are affected and so much more. The more we take from the Earth the more it suffers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Invest in NatureWhat did you learn about how investing can support the environment and create a more sustainable world?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/16/2024 1:42 PMI learned that individuals and companies that do Green investing help to fund opportunities to promote clean energy and sustainable agriculture. There are laws now that exist for companies to follow which help to regulate their carbon and water footprint within the environment. Companies are sourcing out resources where they learn how their company affect the environment. Companies that contribute to the pollution of Green Houses now are learning to better dispose of such chemicals which in turn can slowly shift to help create a better environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Beauty and Personal ProductsWhat new insights did you gain about the skincare products you use? Did you reach out to advocate for refillable or recyclable packaging?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/16/2024 1:30 PMI learned a lot regarding the makeup brands and products that are reusable and those that are not. For example, pumps, makeup with mirrors like makeup palettes, makeup brushes, and applicators can not be recycled. Makeup that has glass needs to be dried out and cleaned before recycled. I learned that some companies do recycle perfume bottles and are refillable like the Mugler brand that you can refill your perfume bottle. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Smart Seafood ChoicesMany states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/15/2024 1:09 PMI read and learned that since I live near the Gulf of Mexico and my state loves to indulge on crawfish, crabs, oysters, and everything seafood that we have certain advisories for our fish and seafood. I did not realize that our bodies of water meaning all of them get impacted by run-off rain water and chemicals that get dropped into these bodies of water. Chemical such as lead, mercury, PCBS, dioxins, and pesticides affect our bottom-feeders which includes all our shellfish, fish, and even crawfish. The advisories recommend that we eat smaller fish, shellfish, and bottom-feeders because of how chemicals get transferred to them and stays stored in their fat. The process of how the food chain works is with smaller fishes and shellfish that get eaten by larger ones which is advised to individuals to not eat. This impact certainly the way I eat because my state is a heavily saturated state that loves to eat crabs, crawfish, oysters, shrimp, etc. It is a staple in my state which makes it difficult to diet from. -
Claudia d'Aquin 4/12/2024 1:41 PMI had a great watch party at our firm with guest speaker Bill Nye speaking about climate change and it was so informational. A great way to end my Friday and excited to enjoy the beautiful weather with amazing festivals in the city.-
Blaise Love 4/12/2024 1:43 PMWhat a great idea! Bill Nye is classic. :)
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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?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/12/2024 1:34 PMThe amount of freshwater used in order to produce our services and goods is astounding. I didn't realize how much individuals use fresh water and how much water is used in order to create products which we use each day like our cars, food, house, etc. We use so much water for everything we do each day that we do not take the time to notice. I learned a lot about my own water footprint that now I can calculate and me more aware of it to help the environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Explore My AreaWhere did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/12/2024 12:50 PMI went walking with my husband and daughter around our neighborhood and local park and realized just how much work needs to be done in order to keep our environment clean. In certain areas it was clean and in others it was polluted with trash. I don't understand why their is trash on the ground when there are trash cans around. One thing we noticed is the erosion that our streets are having because of the pumps not working in our city which ultimately affects our sewage system, water, and health. We just had a day were we had flood waters on our streets causing damage to our cars, streets, roads, and health. The fact that individuals have to walk in this dirty water and because our pumps do not work it causes damage to cars. I also learned that there is trash in the park such as bottle caps and cigarette buds which is not good for the animals nor out fury friends. When we do not pay attention our dogs can smell or eat these items which can kill or cause them harm to their health. -
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?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/12/2024 12:44 PMI recently bought a product that catches microplastics in my laundry. I didn't realize that our washing machines causes microfiber pollution in our water ways. This affects our drinking water and food which is crazy to imagine that we are ingesting microplastics that can cause our gut health to be bad. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Reduce Pollutants in CleaningWhat did you learn about ingredients in our cleaning products and how they impact water and biodiversity? Did you try making your own cleaning products? If so, how did it go?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/08/2024 2:03 PMI learned that all the products that we use to clean our sinks, toilets, tubs, ovens, glass, floors, etc. are contributing to allergies that we may all develop or that our children may develop which can affect their respiratory system, immune system and so much more. The products that get washed into our drainage system and even into the sewerage system affect our local ecosystems thus affecting the water supplies that get circulated back into our food chains and environment. I have learned from my mother that it is better to make your own laundry detergent which is better for children with fragrance free, hypoallergenic free, dyes free etc. The good old baking soda, vinegar, and boiling hot water method is great for cleaning everything since vinegar has always been used as a disinfectant and cleaning product.