Claudia d'Aquin
"Now more then ever it is vital to integrate sustainability in our everyday lives in order to make an impact in our environment. I want to show my children that even the smallest change or action can make a difference so that they are able to enjoy what nature has to offer. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,130 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO16poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO58pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO165plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO219pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO137plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO808gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO2.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO3.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO17minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO253minutesspent learning
Claudia's actions
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 11 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 15 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Beauty and Personal Products
Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 15 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
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 25 minutes each day learning about the current status of local or global wildlife and how I can align my actions to support their livelihood.
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.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 20 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).
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 15 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
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 15 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
Regenerative Agriculture and Me
Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming and ranching in a way that supports life and restores the soil. I will spend 20 minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
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 5 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.
Climate + Air
Weekly Meal Planning
One third of all food produced worldwide is wasted, and so is the energy it takes to produce and transport that food. I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need and eating what I planned each day.
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 7 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Freshwater + Oceans
Cooking Oil Disposal
Pouring cooking oil down the drain can cause damage to waterways and ecosystems. I will learn how to properly dispose of cooking oil to help support healthy ecosystems.
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
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 3 hours in my community.
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 QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/30/2024 1:19 PMIt was challenging and eye opening to see all the little plastics that get accumulated in one day from cheese stick wrappers, to plastic applesauce cups, to plastic wraps from snacks. For the most part, my husband and I cook our meals and meal prep which helps to reduce the waste of food and plastic by storing our meals in glass containers. We reuse our water bottles and tea mugs but it is still difficult to reduce waste when certain products are wrapped in plastic, foil, etc. I have noticed that I make it a habit to always clean out the food residue from the wrappers and containers before recycling it. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Claudia d'Aquin 4/30/2024 1:15 PMFlooding is a major issue in my city /state and is a concern due to the climate and pending hurricanes that may / may not hit us from the gulf. The pipes and sewage system that our state is coming across a huge dilemma with flooding due to the pipes being so old. The pipes that the city has is around hundred years old and may carry lead and other chemicals that are not healthy for consumption. Little rainy days that we are having now causes trouble for everyone from schools, universities, businesses, and everyone commuting to the downtown area. The flooding that happens because our pumps do not work end up flooding cars, cause people to get stuck in flood waters, businesses get disrupted, etc. It is vital to have soil and plants that can absorb the water that falls from the sky but it is vital that the city gets the pumps working because we can only imagine what will happen if a hurricane comes to the state. -
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?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/23/2024 12:10 PMThe most carbon that is emitted in my life is from electricity and the gas heaters that I have at home. The amount of electricity that is used in a home daily is enormous and can be reduced through Energy Star appliances and making more sustainable options. By implementing energy saving light bulbs, tankless water heaters, energy saving washer / dryers, mini splits for air conditioning, etc. will I be able to help reduce the carbon being emitted. I am going to try to limit the amount of emissions emitted through our cars by only traveling to necessary places and walking to stores nearby. Overall everything we do emits carbon dioxide which can go anywhere from driving a car, flying, using appliances in your home, buying products, to even eating and making food. By being more conscious about the tasks we do and how much Carbon it takes can we truly reduce the output of it. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Online Energy AuditWhere did you do an energy audit (work, home, school, other) and what did you learn?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/23/2024 11:06 AMI did an energy audit at my parents home and in-laws-home and learn that there were several areas that both homes can improve on energy saving. My family home that I group up in is over 100 years old and is quiet a lot to maintain. The home definitely can use some upgrades for the window where some air leaks are located as well as the baseboards where some air leaks out. Some Weatherstripping and caulking will be able to solve the problem to that since the home is so old its takes more energy to heat and cool the home due to high ceilings. A major area to improve on would be insulation within the home in the attic since the home is raised which is another area that air leaks out. A smaller but important area of improvement in creating a home with energy saving devices would be in lighting and appliances around the home. Some items that can be bought are energy star lighting, LED bulbs, and sensors that do not use electrical current. Ensuring that certain appliances are not plugged in if not in use is a major area to help reduce the amount of energy being used. Living in the South all these factors are important to check because during the summer time it can get extremely hot due to climate change and the heat indexes that are rising higher each year.-
Shailesh Chauhan 4/23/2024 11:13 AM
Hi Claudia, that's awesome about the energy audit! It's amazing how much they can reveal about saving energy. Since you're looking for ways to improve your home's efficiency, have you considered a heat pump? They can be a fantastic option in many climates, especially compared to traditional AC.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Stay on the GroundWhat was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/23/2024 6:15 AMInstead of flying for our destination we opted to take a staycation. It was still great and allowed us to get away from the house and unwind. For future trips I plan into looking at the Gray Hound Bus transportation method, cruise via ship, or doing another staycation by being a tourist in my own city and exploring more via the streetcar. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Choose Renewable EnergyIf 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?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/23/2024 6:06 AMI learned that our State's energy program includes installing solar panels for residents and commercial companies. Our office moved into a new space last year and made sure that in their design plan to incorporate energy efficient appliances. They installed lights that do not take a lot of energy and they shut off automatically if there is no activity in the office. We also have large windows around the office which in natural light which in that case sometimes allows us to keep the lights off. -
Claudia d'Aquin 4/22/2024 1:34 PMInteresting fact did you know that the EPA is trying replace all lead pipe lines in the United States which is where we receive our drinking water. Some states do not know exactly how many lines they have in their states regarding the lead pipes. Are there devices that you all use or by to filter out chemicals or lead from your drinking water? -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Seek Alternative Gifts and SouvenirsHow do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/17/2024 1:59 PMI have learned throughout the years how our choices on what we consume affects all aspects of life. The food we consume needs to harvested, grown, produced, processed, and consume which takes ups and creates pollution for the earth and communities around us. Pesticides may be used on the food we consume not knowing that it affects our health and food processing warehouses emit gases from machines which also contribute to the wildlife and communities around us. Our consumption of services and goods also affects our water ways, can cause soil erosion, climate change, ecosystems are affected and so much more. The more we take from the Earth the more it suffers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Invest in NatureWhat did you learn about how investing can support the environment and create a more sustainable world?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/16/2024 1:42 PMI learned that individuals and companies that do Green investing help to fund opportunities to promote clean energy and sustainable agriculture. There are laws now that exist for companies to follow which help to regulate their carbon and water footprint within the environment. Companies are sourcing out resources where they learn how their company affect the environment. Companies that contribute to the pollution of Green Houses now are learning to better dispose of such chemicals which in turn can slowly shift to help create a better environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Beauty and Personal ProductsWhat new insights did you gain about the skincare products you use? Did you reach out to advocate for refillable or recyclable packaging?
Claudia d'Aquin 4/16/2024 1:30 PMI learned a lot regarding the makeup brands and products that are reusable and those that are not. For example, pumps, makeup with mirrors like makeup palettes, makeup brushes, and applicators can not be recycled. Makeup that has glass needs to be dried out and cleaned before recycled. I learned that some companies do recycle perfume bottles and are refillable like the Mugler brand that you can refill your perfume bottle.