- Trees purify our air and combat climate change. ...
- Trees provide housing to millions of species that protect us from disease. ...
- Trees cool our streets and cities. ...
- Trees protect against floods and water pollution. ...
- Trees ease the mind during stressful times.
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman
"GO GREEN! SAVE EARTH!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,356 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO4.8pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO155plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO151plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO30advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO20minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO3.0treesplanted
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UP TO460minutesspent learning
Sowmiya's actions
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).
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.
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
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
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 10 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
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.
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.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 15 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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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 1 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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Go Plastic-Free
Millions of tons of plastic is produced each year worldwide. Each day, I will conduct a plastics audit of what I buy and use throughout the challenge (kitchen, bathroom, personal care products, etc.), to see how single-use plastic shows up in my life. I will find plastic-free alternatives to these products and advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, product manufacturers, at work, or on campus.
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.
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 5 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
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
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.
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 Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and PaperBeyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/28/2024 11:04 PMForests Make Us Healthier -
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?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/28/2024 9:40 PMWater footprint is an environmental indicator that measures the volume of fresh water (in litres or cubic metres) used throughout the entire production chain of a consumer item or service.
Some ways to reduce the use of water- Only run full loads of laundry and dishes.
- Fix leaky taps to reduce water loss.
- Use a watering can rather than hose to water your plants.
- Install a water butt to catch rain water.
- Recycle whenever possible.
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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.
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/28/2024 9:37 PMThe state of water is critical for the health and well-being of all living organisms, as well as for the proper functioning of ecosystems and human societies. Several threats to the state of water exist, including pollution, over-extraction, climate change, and habitat destruction.
India's water crisis is a complex issue that stems from multiple factors. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and unsustainable agricultural practices contribute to increasing water demand. Climate change exacerbates the situation, causing erratic rainfall patterns and affecting water sources. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Online Energy AuditWhere did you do an energy audit (work, home, school, other) and what did you learn?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/28/2024 9:34 PMAn energy audit will identify energy-saving opportunities.
It will help you understand your energy usage and ways to use energy better. It can identify safety concerns with electrical systems, wiring, and ventilation, thus making your home or business safer. -
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?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/15/2024 10:59 PMWhen chemicals get disposed they end up in local streams, rivers, and lakes. With nowhere else to go, these chemicals persist in the environment and disrupt local ecosystems and food chains. In severe circumstances, this pollution can even compromise our water supply.
There are many DIY cleaning solutions that are effective and safe for home use.
Here are some examples of DIY cleaning solutions that you can make with ingredients from your pantry:- All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Mix together 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup bicarbonate of soda, a squeeze of castile (or any liquid) soap, and 2 cups of water. Give it a good shake and keep in a spray bottle to use whenever you have a tough stain on your clothes or the carpet
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Stay on the GroundWhat was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/15/2024 10:55 PMLearnt how to make air travel more sustainable- Reduce the number of flights you take per year.
- Fly economy.
- Buy a 'greener' ticket.
- Opt for a direct flight over multi stops.
- Pack light.
- Reserve a vegan or veggie in flight meal.
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Noorunisha M 4/27/2024 2:20 AMGood Infor
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Invest in NatureWhat did you learn about how investing can support the environment and create a more sustainable world?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/15/2024 10:52 PMSustainable investing promotes long-term economic growth by encouraging companies to operate more ethically and responsibly. It helps protect the environment by directing capital towards sustainable practices and technologies.-
Noorunisha M 4/27/2024 2:20 AMInformative
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Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/10/2024 6:00 AMLearnt to capture ac water and direct it to a arena or use it where demanded. This is a great way to recover the water from your unit to use in everyday life.
Because the water from the air conditioning unit is fresh, you can use it for multiple purposes including cleaning.
You can use the water to rinse off windows outdoors or to clean patio furniture.
One form of using the AC unit water is through irrigation, by watering an outdoor garden or indoor plants.
#Savewater #Saveearth
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Noorunisha M 4/27/2024 2:21 AMGood -
Karuppasamy V 4/10/2024 10:21 PMGood one !
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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?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/10/2024 5:54 AMIn skincare and beauty, sustainability means having recyclable packaging, reducing the use of single-use plastics, carefully selecting non-toxic ingredients, ensuring product safety, and decreasing the carbon footprint from manufacturing to delivery.-
Noorunisha M 4/27/2024 2:21 AMAgree -
preethi jayachandrababu 4/11/2024 11:26 PMwell said -
Jessica Mae Gobenciong 4/10/2024 5:59 AMi totally agree :)
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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?
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/10/2024 5:51 AMLearnt to use laundry bags or laundry balls in the wash. These items capture microparticles during washing, preventing them from entering the water system and allowing for easy removal and disposal.