Sarah Poorten

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.

Each day, I will spend 25 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).

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.

I will become a savvy produce shopper when buying organic and non-organic items.

I will volunteer 5 hours in my community.

I will make a few homemade cleaning products.

I spend 10 minutes analyzing my recent utility bills, which might include electricity, gas, or water to see what my current usage is and determine if I can reduce my energy and water use.

Studies show a grass lawn is water intensive and on average it require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. I will do one or more of the following actions in my yard or community to conserve water and improve habitat: plant indigenous plants, landscape with water-efficient plants, add mulching, replace a lawn, and/or use eco-friendly fertilizers.

I will try a new vegan or vegetarian recipe and share how it turns out on the Ecochallenge feed, or with family and friends.

During the workday, I will schedule time for daily breaks during work days to practice work-life balance.

I will commute by bike 5 miles each day and get my muscles moving while avoiding sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

I will replace 2 incandescent light bulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.

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.).

Public transportation reduces pollution, improves community, and creates safe streets. I will use public transit 1 miles per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

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.

When traveling, I will seek souvenirs that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.

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.

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.

I will volunteer 2 hours in my community.