Holly Windom

One Comerica Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
115 THIS WEEK
746 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

12

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

43

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

36

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill

Holly's actions

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Freshwater + Oceans

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Freshwater + Oceans

Learn About Water Justice in My Area

I will spend at least 30 minutes a day using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 8 hours in my community.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

Holly Windom 4/24/2024 6:08 AM

Let talk about Palm Oil: Despite palm oil’s importance in the world market, it is associated to various negative ecological, social, and health-related issues. First, even though palm oil plantations need less space and energy compared to other oilseed crop plantations, they cause a high degree of environmental degradation (e.g., deforestation, loss of biodiversity) (Butler and Laurance, 2009, Reijnders and Huijbregts, 2008, Wilcove and Koh, 2010). Second, the palm oil industry has a negative reputation regarding exploitative and inhumane plantation labor conditions, as well as the “land grabbing” and eviction of locals from their traditional lands (Carrere, 2001, Obidzinski et al., 2012). Finally, palm oil has a high concentration of saturated fat as compared to most other vegetable oils, and its consumption is associated with high blood cholesterol levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (Sacks et al., 2017, Sun et al., 2015). This is the label we should look for: (This needs more research on your part.

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- Blaise Love 4/24/2024 6:13 AM
  
  Thank you for sharing! I've been looking for this logo on products and definitely am hoping to see more brands adopt the sustainable palm oil initiative.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Freshwater + Oceans Understand My Water Footprint

What did you learn about your water footprint and what are you going to do to reduce and be aware of the water you use?

Holly Windom 4/22/2024 12:57 PM

Let's just be honest here! I learn for one person I am way over my allotted gallons. (https://www.watercalculator.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WF_MS_L1-My-WF-Stats-Student-Worksheet_2020-02-25.pdf) check yours. I am just going to promise to do better. If you sing the birthday songs while washing your hands. you too are going to be over the 3 gallons that one person is supposed to use per day in the bathroom. Even with the 7 gallons per day at the kitchen sink I need to improve some how. At least I'm aware now on what to work on this year. Here is more on this topic: https://www.watercalculator.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WF_MS_L1-My-WF-Stats-Student-Worksheet_2020-02-25.pdf

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Holly Windom 4/18/2024 1:32 PM

Well, we are at the halfway point. How is everyone doing? Yes, I forgot to check in the morning even when I placed a ring remind on my phone. I Just doing in the afternoon time. This time I'm noticing more trash on the street and in yards. Some people have not started their spring clean yet. I encourage everyone on nice days get started and it will encourage others.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land + Forests Forest-Friendly Foods

What did you learn about forest-friendly foods? How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

Holly Windom 4/15/2024 5:29 AM

Hell0 Team: First change your diet is changing your life. Yes, its healthier. Yes, you feel much better with energy and being regular. Forest friendly foods are great just not necessarily the tastiest. Truly I found this is the hardest thing to keep up. I do the "Daniel" fast each lent season. No diary, no meat, no sugar. I'm a T-bone sort of a woman with dessert every day. So is always huge for me but I do it for my relationship with the Lord. Now, saying that every year I do not go back to at least one of my bad but tasty eating habits. I'm still a work in progress but at least I'm on the track to being as healthy as possible when I retire in a few years.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land + Forests Keep My Community Clean

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

Holly Windom 4/11/2024 7:21 AM

I live on a main street in my town. Our condo area is very open and I'm on the end. We have a hill right in front of my place and all the items that blowing around stop at this point. Mail, bags, receipts, bottles, cans you name it and I have pick it up. This is weekly event. I have a trash container just for these items. We must remind people that trash belongs in containers. It takes a village to keep this plant clean & beautiful. No one wants to live next to a house full of trash. So, please be aware that every time you allow your trash to blow away. Think of me having to clean up your items that not fair or kind it is all of our responsibility. Trash equals pollution. Not sure how to get that message out but maybe this is a start.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Community Volunteer in my Community

How does volunteering enhance your community and/or change your relationship with it?

Holly Windom 4/09/2024 5:59 AM

This week I have two volunteer events. Gleaners food bank of Detroit. It there quarterly tel-a-thon for double your donation. A local company will match all donations. Next Pope Francis Center for UnHomed. These two kept me aware of my blessing and shows me how to share them. Both need your help. Who do you share your blessing with?

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- Lenora Andrews 4/09/2024 8:34 AM
  
  These are very worthy causes Holly. I share blessings with the people I come in contact with friends, family, coworkers, strangers. Sometimes a smile and a kind "hello" goes a long way! Or, offer to allow someone to go ahead of me who has one/or a few items to checkout.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land + Forests Explore My Area

Where did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?

Holly Windom 4/08/2024 10:52 AM

I'm in Auburn Hills MI (AHOC) and at lunch time the Clinton River runs right behind our building. Yes, near the river are all kind of wildlife. I saw the trifecta = Geese, turkeys & a deer all in the same walk by the river. Yes, I was afraid but enjoyed from a distance them in their habitat. We must learn to live together with wildlife and help reserve their lifestyle. We place ourselves near their home and need to be respectful because soon it will be nesting season. They have been in this area for years! Maybe hundreds of years. I learn that things like littering, plastic bottles and walking off the path that has been supplied is like someone walk thru your home. Its rude! Have you ever interrupted someone sleeping or eat. Let's just stay aware while we are out in nature that it is someone home.

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- Lenora Andrews 4/09/2024 5:25 AM
  
  Being in nature and observing is nice. Good points too Holly!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate + Air Online Energy Audit

Where did you do an energy audit (work, home, school, other) and what did you learn?

Holly Windom 4/08/2024 10:38 AM

I sign up for a monthly energy audit. Consumer Power/DTE sends a chart on your monthly totals. The Chart listed usage of the houses that are the same size as your home vs what the company allowed/planned in their allotment of energy. I wish I could say I'm rocking the approval emails I'm getting. Well, the true is because I'm managed to stay under both monthly totals. I'm in the "You're doing a great job with energy" but I'm never home and I live alone. I do turn down my heat when I'm going to gone more that 5 hours. I do not wash clothing or use the dishwasher during peak times. Most of my lights are on timers. We will see during retirement in a few years if I can keep my "you're doing great" status. I learned that your energy levels do matter. We share this resource and it's a valuable one. The energy company is watching your behavior and I do not want to see the letters they send to the households who are exceeding their monthly levels.

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- Kristin Bloser 4/15/2024 9:10 AM
  
  That's great that you are focused on best practice and it likely results in you paying less for electricity than your neighbors too!
  
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- Lauren Combs 4/14/2024 6:37 AM
  
  Same here, Holly. We also noticed cold air coming in at the bottom of our exterior doors, started blocking and the house was warmer during the winter. The little things add up!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Freshwater + Oceans Say No to Plastic Straws

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Holly Windom 4/04/2024 10:50 AM

I'm glad to admit I'm well on my way with the above list! I no longer use plastic straws. Only paper straws at my house (not crazy about them) but they are there mainly for the grandkids. Coffee/(I only drink tea) at home I use my glass mugs and at work I use a reuseable plastic/steel mug. Yes, My frozen vegetables comes in plastic bags (need to look into how to replace them?? Any ideas please reply). At the market I use reuseable bags I keep them in the trunk and wipe them clean every time I use them. Truly at the stores that give plastic bags, I take them too. I'm still working on being perfect......

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- Holly Windom 4/15/2024 5:15 AM
  
  Hey Lauren : Thank you for the reminder!
  
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- Lauren Combs 4/14/2024 6:47 AM
  
  Hi, Holly. Did you post a pic of yourself with your reusable mug/cup at work to the Earth month contest on connect?
  
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- Holly Windom 4/05/2024 5:24 AM
  
  Thank you very much. I will do that right after I read the package to verify if they are doing it all ready. Great Idea Lauren.
  
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- Lenora Andrews 4/05/2024 5:08 AM
  
  Hello Holly, every step helps and just trying to come up with ways to improve the climate and environment is also a step in a good direction. My suggestion for the frozen vegetables is you can contact the company and let them know you would like to see them use materials that can be recycled. Great job and keep up with your contributions!
  
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Holly Windom 4/02/2024 11:00 AM

Welcome Comerica Team: Here we are once again making efforts to enhance our planet, share our knowledge and improve our daily behavior. I wish all of you the strength, endurance and encouragement to complete this task. Please remember to check in daily by placing an alert in your phone, as I did to return to your page. Good Luck and have fun learn and growing in your newly gain knowledge of topic of sustainability.

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