Devi Venkatasubramanian
"Lets make our Mother Earth more sustainable for future generations."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 242 THIS WEEK
- 1,763 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO143milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO143milestraveled by foot
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UP TO293pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO3.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO27advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1.0public official or leadercontacted
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UP TO5.0treesplanted
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UP TO1,573minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO350minutesspent learning
Devi's actions
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 1 hours in my community.
Action Track: Community
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 10 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.
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.
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
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 5 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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).
Climate + Air
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.
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
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.
Land + Forests
Advocate for Forest Protection
Using my voice can help create a more sustainable and just world. I will contact 2 local, regional, or national decision makers to advocate for public policy that protects forests and improves their ability to sequester carbon and nourish biodiversity.
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.
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.
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.
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
Leave No Trace
I will respect and protect biotic communities by practicing the seven principles of Leave No Trace whenever I am outside.
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
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 30 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
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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Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 5:32 AMLast day of ECO challenge!!! We did it!! Kudos to all for creating an impact -
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?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 5:31 AMEnvironment will get impacted due to higher standard. building landscapes and dedicating huge spaces for greenery around us can help to reduce the environmental impact with higher standards -
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?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 5:31 AMEnvironment will get impacted due to higher standard. building landscapes and dedicating huge spaces for greenery around us can help to reduce the environmental impact with higher standards -
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?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 5:31 AMEnvironment will get impacted due to higher standard. building landscapes and dedicating huge spaces for greenery around us can help to reduce the environmental impact with higher standards -
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?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 5:31 AMEnvironment will get impacted due to higher standard. building landscapes and dedicating huge spaces for greenery around us can help to reduce the environmental impact with higher standards -
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?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 5:31 AMEnvironment will get impacted due to higher standard. building landscapes and dedicating huge spaces for greenery around us can help to reduce the environmental impact with higher standards -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and PaperBeyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 1:10 AMForest Provide climatic balance , Fresh air and personal connect with Nature-
Behdad Kholghi 4/30/2024 1:25 AMFully Agree!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 1:09 AMit was bit hard to pratice zero waste day. Reducing waste in your daily life is a commendable goal that benefits both you and the environment. Here are some practical steps you can take:- Embrace the 5 R’s
- Mindful kitchen and food habits
- avoiding single usable personal care and hygine produts
- Adapting Change in Clothing and fashion
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans 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!
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/30/2024 1:03 AMit was great experience to work with others making the community clean. seeing us, many people started volunteering. -
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?
Devi Venkatasubramanian 4/29/2024 5:44 PM- Many conventional cleaning products contain chemicals that can harm aquatic ecosystems when they enter water bodies. These chemicals include phosphates, surfactants, and chlorine.
- Phosphates, commonly found in detergents, can lead to excessive nutrient levels in water, causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
- Surfactants (such as nonylphenol ethoxylates) can disrupt aquatic organisms’ endocrine systems and affect their reproductive abilities.
- Chlorine-based compounds contribute to water pollution and can form harmful byproducts.
Creating homemade cleaning products is an excellent way to reduce environmental impact. All-Purpose Cleaner is the one i tried at home and it was as effective-
Sowmiya Kalyanaraman 4/29/2024 9:01 PMGood Info!