Marissa Tompkins
"Create a safer, healthier planet for all."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 60 THIS WEEK
- 590 TOTAL
participant impact
-
UP TO17advocacy actionscompleted
-
UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
-
UP TO195minutesspent learning
-
UP TO460minutesspent outdoors
-
UP TO2.0pieces of litterpicked up
-
UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
Marissa's actions
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
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 2 hours in my community.
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
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
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
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.
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.
Land + Forests
Forest-Friendly Foods
I will look for sustainable palm oil products with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSP) label. I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation and opt for ones that help sustain healthy communities and forests.
Land + Forests
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.
Land + Forests
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 3 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
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
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.
Action Track: Community
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 20 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.
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.
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.
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?
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Dishwasher EfficiencyHow can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?
Marissa Tompkins 4/09/2024 2:29 PMI always work to conserve water! I grew up in a desert, so I turn off the water when I'm brushing my teeth. I also use the water in the shower by watering my plants before it heats up. That way I'm not wasting anything. Finally, I have been scraping not rinsing my plates. I'm horrible about this - I like my plate to be clean before going in the dishwasher, but I have been striving to avoid doing that this month! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests 30 for 30 in NatureWhat have you noticed about how it feels to spend consistent time outside?
Marissa Tompkins 4/08/2024 6:14 PMIt feels so great to get outside each day! I love having the time to experience the sun on my skin, enjoy the wind, and see the clouds in the sky! I even see lots of different critters! This yellow butterfly visited my house 🦋 -
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?
Marissa Tompkins 4/03/2024 9:23 AMI do this all the time! I always check my library first & advocate for the library anytime! Nashville has amazing options - the library of things (to check out different items), the seed library (to help you grow your own food, flowers, and herbs!), plus the REGULAR library! I love to check out books and audiobooks through the library! -
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?
Marissa Tompkins 4/01/2024 2:26 PMI took the water footprint test and found out that I am doing better than the national average, but there are still poste I can improve!
Personal: 1,267 Gallons/DayUS average: 1,802 gallons/Day
I need to work on cutting down my outside water consumption either through a grey water system, or by using my rain barrel to water my plants. I can also cut down on spending/shopping habits.US Average: 1,802 Gallons/Day
-
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?
Marissa Tompkins 4/01/2024 2:20 PMOof. This one was rough. My carbon is WAY worse than I thought. I got told I was a climate villain.
Your carbon footprint is 11.5 ton CO2e/year, consisting of:
- Home: 2.6 ton
- Travel: 6.6 ton
- Consumption: 2.3 ton
The ways I can reduce are through turning off/setting an alert for my home thermostat to avoid running the AC or heat. I can also work to cut out palm oil from candies and other items that I already know are not healthy for me. I want to also work on shopping locally and using the farmer's markets to the best of my ability. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Save the BeesWhat did you plant for bees in your area? Please consider uploading a photo!
Marissa Tompkins 4/01/2024 9:29 AMI love taking care of my local pollinators! I strive to only plant native plants for them. In my front yard I have holly, some potted violas, black eyed susans, and canna lilies. In the back yard I have a sweet shrub, potted wild flowers, and clover! My bees love the zinnia and I have bee homes up for my carpenter bees.