Parin Patel
"“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”"
POINTS TOTAL
- 35 TODAY
- 320 THIS WEEK
- 1,165 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO5.4poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO11pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO57pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO76plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO272gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO1.0public official or leadercontacted
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UP TO2.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO3.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO2.0treesplanted
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UP TO30minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO253minutesspent learning
Parin's actions
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 1 hours in my community.
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.).
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
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.
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
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
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.
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 2 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 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.
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
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.
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
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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
Land + Forests
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
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 30 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
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 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Pick Up the Phone
I will gather a group of friends, family, neighbors or colleagues to make 1 phone calls to public officials or companies to advocate for planet-friendly policies.
Land + Forests
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.
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
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.
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Grow Local
I will research and plant a garden filled with native fruits, vegetables, and flowers to nurture local wildlife and ecosystems. I will find nearby nurseries that offer plants native to 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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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Endangered SpeciesWhat endangered species did you learn about and what did you learn?
Parin Patel 4/26/2024 5:38 AMThe Hawksbill turtle and in the last 30 years, the worldwide populations of hawksbill turtles have reduced by at least 80% as a consequence of accidental capture in fishing gears, nesting habitat degradation, coral reef damage and the illegal trade of hawksbill shells and products. Other human-led threats such as plastic pollution, climate change and rising sea levels could further contribute to the decline of this species in the future. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Volunteer in my CommunityHow does volunteering enhance your community and/or change your relationship with it?
Parin Patel 4/26/2024 5:35 AMVolunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities. -
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?
Parin Patel 4/26/2024 5:34 AMOcean water has a load of salts and minerals in it as a result of all the rivers of the world carrying minute amounts of these minerals with them as they flow to the sea. Once in the sea these minerals will remain forever . The result being that the oceans of the world are salty. All this saltiness as a result of fresh water rivers flowing into the oceans of the world. -
Parin Patel 4/26/2024 5:30 AMRecycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power a normal light bulb for about four hours.
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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?
Parin Patel 4/25/2024 10:15 AMI was able to reduce water footprint by installing water banks in toilets, added a water-saving showerhead, closing the tap during teeth brushing and using less water in the garden. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Keep My Community CleanHow does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
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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.
Parin Patel 4/24/2024 12:52 PMNorth Carolina has historically been considered a water-rich state. In recent years, however, the state has faced water short ages due to a combination of rapid population growth, drought, and aquifer degradation. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests 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?
Parin Patel 4/24/2024 12:48 PMI was able to do this when my neighbor had ended getting a lot more mulch than expected. So I was able to make use of it in my yard and was able to split the cost with him. -
Parin Patel 4/24/2024 7:51 AMHere are 10 interesting facts about Earth Day.- Earth Day was created by a Wisconsin senator, Gaylord Nelson.
- The idea for Earth Day came after a series of environmental catastrophes.
- More than 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day.
- Earth Day is on April 22 because of college schedules.
- The Environmental Protection Agency was created after the first Earth Day
- Earth Day went global in 1990
- The Paris Agreement opened for signature on Earth Day
- United Automobile Workers union played a role in making Earth Day possible
- Tens of millions of trees have been planted on Earth Day
- Organizers are trying to have the biggest Earth Day cleanup event in history in 2024 on Penang Island
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mohammed shameem 4/24/2024 7:59 AMGood information!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Explore My AreaWhere did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?
Parin Patel 4/24/2024 7:45 AMDecided to check out the woods in my backyard during lunch. It was nice to get out there as it helped relieve stress from the workday and got to see the potential that it had since there seems to be a little path from the kids that play out there.