Paige Morse
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 75 THIS WEEK
- 1,390 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO17pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO8.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO540minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO0.0treesplanted
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UP TO336minutesspent learning
Paige's actions
Climate + Air
Low Carbon Diet
Carbon is emitted into the atmosphere in a variety of ways, including through the foods we eat and food we waste. I will learn about low carbon foods and replace higher carbon foods with them in my diet.
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.
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
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.
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
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
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 20 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 60 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.
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
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
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
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
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 8 hours in my community.
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.
Action Track: Community
Share My "Why"
I will record a video to share why I am taking action this Earth Month, a sustainable swap I've made, and/or a local conservation effort in my area.
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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Paige Morse 4/29/2024 1:09 PMI learned a lot about native plants this month, and finally found and planted a few last weekend. I hope that I am successful in creating an enriching habitat for local critters.-
Mary Hanks 4/29/2024 1:13 PMPaige, I love living in a pollinator-friendly native garden! I try to spend part of every day, weather permitting, contemplating the beautiful plants and busy critters. Who knew I'd ever be grateful to WASPS? When I was a kid, I had no idea some of them were pollinators. Now I'm older and wiser...about wasps, at least. :)
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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?
Paige Morse 4/28/2024 3:45 PMThis activity was more difficult than I expected, more than my energy audit. It seems that less information is available, likely because my region has plentiful supply, often too much in fact. I learned that rainfall is up 16% in my state in the last decade, and rising sea levels are causing major erosion at the coast. I have more work to do to understand and improve water management. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Join a Cleanup EffortHow does working with others to clean up your community make you feel? What results did you see? Please consider posting a photo of your cleanup!
Paige Morse 4/28/2024 3:39 PMI am happy to see that others in my area are concerned about the environment and are eager to clean up our neighborhood. We don’t talk about it in casual conversations but I wish we would. I want to find a way to make it a more common topic.-
Mary Hanks 4/28/2024 5:09 PMMy team organized a clean-up campaign in our neighborhood, and we were gratified at how many folks who were out walking their dogs decided on the spur of the moment to join us! I think seeing people in action is a very powerful motivator.
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Paige Morse 4/27/2024 12:06 PMI discovered a wonderful exhibit on orchids at the Smithsonian this week. The flower variety is uniquely adapted to its environment so it quickly shows signs of stress when the habitat changes, like we are seeing now with climate change. The Smithsonian is working to maintain this diverse and beautiful species, and offers lots of tips to help cultivate and renew its unique diversity. Check out #futureoforchids
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Anne Coudrette 4/27/2024 4:11 PMI love orchids! I wanted to check this out but it’s closing tomorrow :-(
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and PaperBeyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
Paige Morse 4/26/2024 4:38 AMI appreciate the beauty and peace of forests. During my recent trip to the Pacific Northwest we spent time hiking in forests on the Olympic Peninsula - such stunning beauty. I think I particularly enjoy that the trees as so different from Eastern part of US. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Online Energy AuditWhere did you do an energy audit (work, home, school, other) and what did you learn?
Paige Morse 4/26/2024 4:31 AMI did an energy audit for home and learned that we have opportunities to insulate (still - did some last year), and check ducts. We have already made improvements in several areas including HVAC filters, caulking at dors and windows, and switch plate insulation, as well as upgrading some major applicanes for energy efficiency. -
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?
Paige Morse 4/26/2024 4:26 AMI have been reading about cleaning prducts all month - and espeecially appreciated this recent Washington Post article on 'quats': https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/04/25/disinfectants-quaternary-ammonium-compounds/
I am choosing different products, and also making my own when possible - baking soda and vinegar to clean shower glass has been great. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans 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?
Paige Morse 4/25/2024 7:37 AMI have been watching various nature programs in recent days - especially Natue and Independent Lens on PBS - to learn more about these issues.-
balakrishnan C 4/25/2024 7:38 AM-
Freshwater Ecosystems:
- Freshwater ecosystems include rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands. They are essential for supporting diverse plant and animal species.
- Less than three percent of Earth’s water is freshwater, and only a fraction of that is readily accessible as liquid. The rest is locked away in ice caps and glaciers.
- Freshwater starts as water vapor evaporated from oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water. When it rises and condenses, it becomes fresh water.
- Groundwater seeping through soil and rocks forms aquifers, which store more than half of Earth’s freshwater. Wells tap into these aquifers to provide water to cities and homes.
- Limnologists study freshwater ecosystems, examining the species that inhabit them and their interactions within the ecosystem’s food web1.
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The Water Cycle:
- Earth’s water cycle involves the movement of water between the atmosphere, land, and oceans. Most of Earth’s water is saltwater in oceans, while only a small fraction is freshwater.
- Freshwater cycles slowly, with surface water in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs being vital for human use2.
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Freshwater Ecosystems:
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Borrow Before I BuyHow did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of a sharing economy? How could a sharing economy change the dynamics you have with friends, family and/or neighbors?
Paige Morse 4/25/2024 7:35 AMI will share more clothing - especailly within my family and community. I already share with my daughter and sisters; now will look into community opportunities.-
Bev Lopp 4/25/2024 7:50 AMI've always been a huge advocate of thrift stores! Love a bargain, and I love that my clothing will get a new life in someone else's home.
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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?
Paige Morse 4/24/2024 5:38 AMI was not able to organize my own lunch-and-learn but instead joined one for the city - Earth Week trivia. Working in teams I was surprised that teammates did not know about Superfund sites, DDT, John Muir, etc. I shared stories and background when they asked to understand.