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
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.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Freshwater + Oceans
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 60 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
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.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
Freshwater + Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 30 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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).
COMPLETED
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
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.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
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.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
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.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
Land + Forests
Compost Food Waste
Food in the landfill is one of the main sources of greenhouse gasses. I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day by composting my food.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
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 3 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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
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.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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.
UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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.
COMPLETED
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?
REFLECTION
QUESTION
Biodiversity + WildlifeSeek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs
How do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
One of my alternative souvenirs when I travel or when I am in another place is food. And a consideration to selecting items must be local, unique to that place, or at least others have not tasted them. In this way, we can support locals on their business and in continuing their traditions on making these kinds. Some of the well known rice-based delicacies here in northern Luzon are: a. Tinubong -is a staple of local cuisine; it's made by roasting glutinous rice flavored with salt and coconut milk in a bamboo tube over a low fire. b. Patupat - a triangle shaped rice-based delicacies wrapped banana leaves or coconut leaves c. Tupig - rice cake made from ground slightly-fermented soaked glutenous rice mixed with coconut milk, brown sugar and young coconut strips wrapped in banana and cooked on a charcoal.
Make a living fence. Why put a metal fence, when you can make a living fence, it says (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPR0-06L2ks). Or if not, you can incorporate a living plants into your existing fence to create the boundary you want to achieve. We have local medium size fruit-bearing trees, vegetable trees and different shrubs that can branch or when prune can sprout and can spread which serves as a wall. This living fence can also help its environment and the ecosystem. It can also be a source of clean air, an organic fruit or vegetable, or a house decoration.
Repurpose your huge plastic bottle to a pot. I live in a small apartment and having a terracotta pots consumes space and are heavy. Instead of throwing plastic bottles after use, i have transformed them into pots in a way that catches and retains water for self watering; just added a string of cloth from used shirts for roots to absorb water. By the way, the plastic bottles are some sodas we have during some of our team collaboration meals. Just saw and copied this from YouTube.
We are in an area or place where drought is experienced during summer from March to first/second week of May, really without rain. And if there is a chance of thunderstorm in the afternoon, we are lucky then to have a rainwater. In our household (or to some in our community), we catch rainwater through drums or any available container to water plants or at times flash toilets, even though we are connected from the water grid. This simple acts not only can conserve water but lessen our water utility bills.
Usually air travel are way expensive than any other transportation, and it is regretting if you book flights that you might not use or fly into. So I always find alternative transportation every time I go home to the province or have some vacation to other areas in the Philippines. Sudden events or vacations made more flexible when having an in land travel rather than on air. I only book flights when my travel is fixed and no possibilities of cancellation, as missing it out causes a lot of stress.
Just cancelled a non-refundable flight to a famous beach place in the Philippines. I want to spend time with my family better and peacefully here in the province, rather than stay at the crowded beach (just saw the news.)!
How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
If 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?
Taking advantage of the summer, just opened another batch of solar lights to save electricity for lighting from the grid . We now have four in total and planning to buy/order for more. Using a $10-20 solar lights might lessen your electric bills.
We are conscious of using dishes daily for frequent washing limiting them to only 2-3 times during meals. We wash dishes manually with a basin to trap water, lessen water use. There is a nearby pump well whenever we need water for washing.
The advocacies and role of biodiversity and nature conservation now expands more than what they were initially created. There were established ones and there are new. And simply knowing that there are existing programs, projects and activities that I can volunteer myself (costal cleanup, water filter donation) and contribute (Rural Rising - Box all you can), even though little, can impact someone else's welfare or even nature's conservation.
