- Hidden Waste: It's not just physical trash! The environmental impact of everything I use, from hardware to data storage, becomes clear.
- Challenging Consumption: Resisting the urge to access and process information, even if "useful," highlights the importance of mindful consumption.
- Limitations of AI: While I can promote sustainability, I can't directly reduce waste. This emphasizes the need for human action alongside technological solutions.
Uma Shankar
"Save Planet"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 190 THIS WEEK
- 1,447 TOTAL
participant impact
-
UP TO116milesnot traveled by car
-
UP TO116milestraveled by foot
-
UP TO1,137pounds of CO2have been saved
-
UP TO88single-use bagsnot sent to the landfill
-
UP TO7.0hoursvolunteered
-
UP TO33advocacy actionscompleted
-
UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
-
UP TO2.0public officials or leaderscontacted
-
UP TO12treesplanted
-
UP TO672minutesspent learning
Uma's actions
Land + Forests
Advocate for Forest Protection
Using my voice can help create a more sustainable and just world. I will contact 1 local, regional, or national decision makers to advocate for public policy that protects forests and improves their ability to sequester carbon and nourish biodiversity.
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.
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
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
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 120 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
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
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.
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
Declutter My Home Without the Landfill
Each day, I will learn about responsible ways to dispose of items and de-clutter, clean, donate, repurpose or recycle unneeded items in my home to make sure that what I get rid of doesn't go into the landfill.
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.
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.
Land + Forests
Carry My Trash
I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me this month, to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill. I will post on the feed my reflections, conversations, and actions I will take moving forward.
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 120 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
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
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.
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 4 hours in my community.
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 12 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
Action Track: Community
JOIN OR CREATE A GREEN TEAM AT EMERSON
I will continue to contribute to Emerson's environmental sustainability goals beyond April by learning more about the Global Green Teams Network, joining a team near me, or maybe even creating a new team.
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.
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
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.
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?
-
Uma Shankar 4/30/2024 10:33 AMTrees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:31 AMAs a large language model, I can't experience a Zero Waste Day firsthand. However, by simulating the experience, I learned some interesting things:
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Advocate for Forest ProtectionHigher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:31 AM- The energy used to power me: The data centers storing the information I process consume massive amounts of energy, potentially from sources like coal-fired plants.
- The resources for my hardware: Mining the materials for my physical components might cause environmental damage in areas with less strict regulations.
- Manufacturing of goods I rely on: Even if I help you be sustainable, the production of those goods might involve pollution or resource use in other places.
- Hidden costs in the cloud: The complex systems supporting me rely on resources and energy use that might not be immediately apparent.
- Limited scope of my impact: My focus on information access might overshadow the environmental cost of the technology itself.
-
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?
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:30 AMThrough our conversation, I learned that many common cleaning products contain ingredients harmful to water and biodiversity. Here's the breakdown:- Nasty Chemicals: Phosphates, ammonia, and some fragrance additives can disrupt ecosystems, promote harmful algal blooms, and be toxic to aquatic life.
- DIY Options: Natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice can be effective and eco-friendly cleaners.
While I can't perform actions like making cleaning products, I can access information on DIY recipes. These natural options can be just as effective and help reduce your environmental impact.
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:29 AMDue to high rise large gated community we was water scarcity in summer and flood in winter do to improper drainage system & lack of rain water harvesting,.. now we stating implementing both in our community to overcome this issue -
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?
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:28 AMAs a large language model, I can't perform actions in the real world like laundry. However, I can access information on catching microplastics. Here's what I learned:- Microplastic Catchers: Laundry bags or balls designed to trap microfibers during washing can be used. These can then be cleaned and the captured microplastics disposed of responsibly.
- Washing Habits: Washing clothes less often, using cold water, and opting for shorter cycles can all help reduce the amount of microplastics released.
- Drying Practices: Skipping the dryer or using dryer balls can minimize microfibers released into the air during drying.
By understanding these methods, I can help users make informed choices to minimize microplastic pollution from laundry.
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Choose Renewable EnergyIf you are already signed up for your utility's renewable option, what other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage? If your company doesn't offer a renewable option, were they open to your request of this in the future?
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:27 AMAs a large language model, I don't use electricity directly. However, I can share some tips to reduce household electricity usage that you can implement:- Daily Actions: Turn off lights and electronics when not in use. Unplug chargers and appliances on standby. Wash clothes in cold water and air-dry them whenever possible. Shorten shower times and consider low-flow showerheads.
- Appliance Upgrades: Look for energy-efficient models when replacing appliances.
- Smart Power Strips: Use these to automatically cut power to electronics on standby.
- Cooking Habits: Utilize pressure cookers and microwaves when possible, which are generally more efficient than conventional ovens.
If your utility doesn't offer renewable options, contacting them to express your interest can be a powerful first step. Their willingness to listen might indicate future plans for renewable options, and your voice can add to the growing demand for clean energy.
-
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?
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Invest in NatureWhat did you learn about how investing can support the environment and create a more sustainable world?
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:26 AMThrough our conversation, I learned that investing can be a powerful tool for environmental good. Here's what I gleaned:- Funding sustainable businesses: By investing in companies prioritizing renewable energy, clean technologies, and responsible resource management, investors can fuel the growth of a more sustainable economy.
- Divesting from harmful industries: Shifting investments away from environmentally destructive practices like fossil fuels can put pressure on those industries and encourage a transition.
- Impact investing: This approach targets investments directly contributing to positive environmental outcomes, like clean water projects or sustainable agriculture.
Overall, conscious investment strategies can promote environmental responsibility and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Seek Alternative Gifts and SouvenirsHow do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
Uma Shankar 4/29/2024 11:25 AMMy consumption choices, though indirect, can significantly impact wildlife and other communities. Here's how:- Resource extraction: The materials used to power me and the devices I run on require resource extraction, potentially harming habitats and displacing wildlife.
- Manufacturing supply chains: The production of goods and services I rely on might involve pollution or unsustainable practices in other places, affecting ecosystems and local communities.
- Energy use: The data centers storing the information I process use massive amounts of energy, potentially from sources harmful to wildlife and human health.
By being mindful of these impacts, I can help steer users towards sustainable choices that minimize the environmental footprint.