Erica Bonanno
"Turn intention into action"
POINTS TOTAL
- 100 TODAY
- 295 THIS WEEK
- 1,113 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO31milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO31milestraveled by foot
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO23pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO2.0treesplanted
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UP TO30minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO201minutesspent learning
Erica's actions
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.
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
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
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.).
Action Track: Community
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 5 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
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 1 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
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 10 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
Freshwater + Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 10 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
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
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 30 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
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.
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
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.
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
Grow Local
I will research and plant a garden filled with native fruits, vegetables, and flowers to nurture local wildlife and ecosystems. I will find nearby nurseries that offer plants native to my area.
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 4 hours in my community.
Land + Forests
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Erica Bonanno 4/26/2024 8:42 AMOur area tends to flood as we have many rivers and are lower. On the positive side, we have lots of local and county parks in the area which helps with that! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Save the BeesWhat did you plant for bees in your area? Please consider uploading a photo!
Erica Bonanno 4/26/2024 8:41 AMMilkweed, white clover, black eyed Susan are all planted in our "wild" portion of our yard. We like to see what we can help attract each year!-
Gina Ni 4/26/2024 8:49 AMPeacelilies!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Carry My TrashThis is no small task! What was eye-opening to you throughout this action? How will you change your actions going forward to reduce the waste you produce?
Erica Bonanno 4/26/2024 8:34 AMAt the beginning, I realized we accumulate SO much trash in a day, given that over weeks/months/years.... eye opening for sure! I've made more conscience decisions in the recent weeks with how we purchase/use etc. every day items. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Use Muscle PowerHow do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
Erica Bonanno 4/26/2024 8:33 AMWalking to more local places has helped me appreciate my community a bit more! I love where I live for all the local community shops/restaurants/parks etc. but you never notice just how beautiful tree-lined streets can be as you walk to your locations . -
Erica Bonanno 4/26/2024 8:28 AMThe U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year. This means that 5% of the world's people generate 40% of the world's waste. We toss out two billion plastic razors, a million and a half tons of paper towels, and 12 billion disposable diapers annually. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Plant TreesHow is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Erica Bonanno 4/25/2024 5:28 PMSpending time around trees can lower blood pressure and reduce stress-related hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Studies also show that living in areas with more green space can lead to lower levels of cortisol, reduced negative thoughts, and improved mood.-
Mohammad Al-hafiz Mohamed 4/25/2024 6:35 PMThat's absolutely true! Being around trees and green spaces not only helps lower blood pressure, but it also reduces stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
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Erica Bonanno 4/25/2024 5:26 PMFun Fact: About one-third of an average landfill is made up of packaging material. -
Erica Bonanno 4/24/2024 1:04 PMFun Fact: A modern glass bottle takes 4000 years or more to decompose.-
Amy Boyle Geisel 4/24/2024 3:21 PMThanks for sharing that. I had no idea. I assumed glass would break down much faster.
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Erica Bonanno 4/23/2024 10:44 AMPlastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year. Let's do better!-
Alex Asquino 4/23/2024 1:28 PMAgreed!
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Erica Bonanno 4/22/2024 12:44 PMFun Fact: Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour, most of which are thrown away!