Mariana Lazar
"Great change comes in daily increments"
POINTS TOTAL
- 5 TODAY
- 175 THIS WEEK
- 784 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO19advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO450gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO37milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO37milestraveled by foot
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UP TO75minutesspent learning
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UP TO35plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO9.0poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO50pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO21single-use bagsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
Mariana's actions
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 30 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 30 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
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 30 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
Freshwater + Oceans
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 30 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.
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.
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.
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 30 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
Beauty and Personal Products
Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 30 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 QUESTIONClimate + Air Calculate My Carbon ImpactWhere in your life do you emit the most carbon? What change are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce this output?
Mariana Lazar 4/19/2024 9:52 AMMy biggest carbon emission source is my travel. I have tried to optimize as much as possible the other sources but this one seems the hardest. I comute a lot and travel a lot, and sometimes the only reasonable option is non-environmentally friendly. One take away - my next car will be more environmental friendly.-
Melissa Szostak 4/19/2024 9:58 AMI live in a car dependent area too. Definitely will make any future car purchases from a more environmentally friendly viewpoint as well.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Weekly Meal PlanningHow did it feel to plan out your meals and stick to them in an effort to reduce food waste?
Mariana Lazar 4/15/2024 9:31 AMI find meal planning both practical and rewarding. I plan the meals 1-2 days ahead and it really helps with reducing both food waste and over-spending on food. It’s a simple and practical way not only to reduce food waste but also to be more mindful of the quality of the food we consume. -
Mariana Lazar 4/13/2024 5:38 AM
Turning old bananas into tasty muffins 😍
#nofoodwaste-
Raul Poias 4/16/2024 11:13 PMHope you brought some to the office Mariana! :) -
Ioana Bontas-Pop 4/14/2024 1:58 AMOld bananas? More like gold bananas, Mariana! 🍌✨ Transformed ripe bananas into scrumptious muffins, zero waste and 100% taste! 😍🧁#BananaMuffins #SustainableBaking -
Maheshwari Sangale 4/13/2024 5:52 AMGreat
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Online Energy AuditWhere did you do an energy audit (work, home, school, other) and what did you learn?
Mariana Lazar 4/13/2024 2:00 AMI did an energy audit at my home, by looking at the main sources of energy consumption and ensuring they are energy eficient, as well as tracking my overall monthly energy consumption. I do not have a big house, but I try to keep my energy consumption low by following some rules:
- all appliances and light bulbs are energy efficient
- I unplug appliances / electronic equipment that I don’t use
- when I leave the house I make sure all lights are off
- I only turn on the lights when I really need to (when we were kids my mother used to tell us not to turn on the light during the day because we don’t need to compete with the sun :) )
- I make sure to only use my washing machine fully loaded-
Raul Poias 4/16/2024 11:27 PMThat's amazing Mariana! So many learnings from this. -
Ioana Blidarean 4/15/2024 7:55 AMLooks like a healthy intentional behavior. Way to go, Mari!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Endangered SpeciesWhat endangered species did you learn about and what did you learn?
Mariana Lazar 4/13/2024 1:27 AMThe most surprising thing to me was to find out that there are many endangered species and not just few. Some researchers name up to several thousands. The main factors are not just related to pollution and over exploitation but also deforestation, destruction of their natural habitat and outbreaks of diseases.
One very important European endangered species is the Bison, who plays a critical part in their ecosystem. Their crucial role spans from shaping vegetation structure (which enhances biodiversity and provides a proper habitat for a range of plant and animal species) to spreading of seeds and regeneration of forests (affecting nutrient cycling and soil processes). -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Go Plastic-FreeWhere did plastic show up on your life that surprised you the most? What plastic alternative products did you discover you may switch to?
Mariana Lazar 4/13/2024 12:39 AMDoing this plastic audit every day can be very discouraging, since we have it all around. From the kitchen cabinets (cooking oils and spices) to our phones and laptops. One area where I am trying to cut down is in the bathroom: soaps, shower gels and shampoos. I have started to buy these in bulk (get the highest quantity I can find) and fill up smaller bottles for travel. And for soap, switching back to bar. -
Mariana Lazar 4/10/2024 2:47 PMIt’s interesting how many conversations I had with people during the past 10 days by just following some simple rules regarding eliminating food waste, avoiding unnecessary plastic and using re-usable bags. It really is the little things that can make every moment a teaching point.-
Benjamin Valic 4/10/2024 3:25 PMIndeed
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Mariana Lazar 4/06/2024 9:51 AMProtecting our seas from pollution is essential not only for protecting our ecosystems, but also to allow us to continue to enjoy their breathtaking beauty for generations to come-
Ioana Bontas-Pop 4/07/2024 2:02 AMMariana, your photos are stunning and highlight why we must protect our seas from pollution. 🌊📸 The health and beauty of our marine ecosystems are essential for both nature and our enjoyment. Thanks for reminding us of the importance of preserving these incredible treasures. Let’s keep our waters clean for future generations. 🌍💙#ProtectOurSeas #EcoAwareness -
Mariana Lazar 4/06/2024 9:54 AMHere’s a glimpse of that beauty:
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Mariana Lazar 4/05/2024 10:03 AMSpending time outside is always a joy. :)-
Ioana Bontas-Pop 4/06/2024 1:11 AMMariana, those photos are stunning! 🌷 It's amazing how these pockets of nature can transform our experience of the city and uplift our spirits. Thank you for sharing these glimpses of joy and color. It’s a lovely reminder to appreciate the simple pleasures and beauty around us. 🌸#UrbanNature #SpringBlooms
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Mariana Lazar 4/05/2024 10:09 AMIt seems the picture I added was not visible in the post… hope it will be here
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Mariana Lazar 4/03/2024 10:05 AMSpring is such a beautiful season! Here some tulips and Magnolias from a local park. 💚-
Raul Poias 4/04/2024 7:23 AMOmg Mariana! They look amazing! Keep up with photos of beauties like this! -
Anna Selders 4/04/2024 12:10 AMThat looks wonderfull 💚💚💚
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