Teddy Dedels

Coursera

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
45 THIS WEEK
206 TOTAL

Teddy's actions

Land, Water, and Air

Reduce Vehicle Idling

Idling cars wastes fuel, contributes to climate change, and pollutes the air in our communities. I will turn off my engine when waiting in my car to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Land, Water, and Air

Save Water When Washing Dishes

Dishwashers can save water — if used wisely. I will only run the dishwasher when it’s full and skip the pre-rinse to reduce water and energy use. If I don't have a dishwasher, I will turn off the tap as often as possible while washing dishes.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Land, Water, and Air

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

Land, Water, and Air

Produce No Waste for a 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.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Land, Water, and Air

Reduce Food Waste

Wasting food also wastes water, energy, and resources. I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

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
Land, Water, and Air

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money? What patterns did you notice in the food you threw away, and how can you address them?
Teddy Dedels 4/01/2025 7:40 AM
- 8-DAY STREAK
If I could repurpose the $1,500 that an average family of four spends on food they throw out, I'd much rather invest it in experiences like travel or education, or even put it towards healthier, more sustainable food options.

In examining the food we threw away, I noticed patterns such as overbuying perishables, not properly storing food, and cooking more than needed. To address these issues, we can:

Plan meals and create shopping lists to buy only what we need
Store food correctly to extend its shelf life
Use leftovers creatively to minimize waste

By changing these habits, we can reduce waste, save money, and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.

Read More
- Rachel Rosen 4/01/2025 7:52 AM
  
  ORG CAPTAIN
  
  Wildlife Guardian 🦉
  
  16-DAY STREAK
  I love this thoughtful analysis Teddy! It's amazing to think about what we can do differently to create a positive shift with food use.
  
  Read More
- Aniket Mane 4/01/2025 7:47 AM
  
  Book Lover 📚
  
  17-DAY STREAK
  Informative. Thanks.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land, Water, and Air

What was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Teddy Dedels 4/01/2025 7:39 AM
- 8-DAY STREAK
Having a Zero Waste Day was challenging because it required me to be extremely conscious of every item I used and discarded. It was difficult to avoid single-use plastics and packaging.

I learned that I rely on convenience items more than I realized. This experience highlighted the importance of making more sustainable choices and planning ahead to reduce waste. It also showed that with effort and mindfulness, I can shift my habits towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Read More
- Rachel Rosen 4/01/2025 7:54 AM
  
  ORG CAPTAIN
  
  Wildlife Guardian 🦉
  
  16-DAY STREAK
  Maybe once the Ecochallenge is done you can share out some easy wins shifting away from wasteful items.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land, Water, and Air

How did changing your dishwashing habits make you more mindful of water use? What other small changes can you make to conserve water in your household?
Teddy Dedels 4/01/2025 7:39 AM
- 8-DAY STREAK
Changing my dishwashing habits, like using a dishwasher instead of hand-washing or not running water continuously, made me more mindful of water use. I realized that small adjustments could significantly reduce water wastage.

To conserve water in my household, I can:

Install water-saving fixtures (like low-flow showerheads and faucets)
Take shorter showers

These small changes collectively make a big difference in conserving water.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land, Water, and Air

How did being mindful of vehicle idling change your perspective on fuel consumption and air quality? What other transportation habits can you adopt to reduce your environmental impact?
Teddy Dedels 4/01/2025 7:38 AM
- 8-DAY STREAK
Being mindful of vehicle idling has made me more aware of how small actions affect fuel consumption and air quality. Now, I always turn off my engine while idling to save fuel and reduce emissions.

To further cut my environmental impact, I:

Carpool or use ride-sharing services
Utilize public transportation
Walk or cycle for short trips

These habits help lower my carbon footprint and promote a cleaner environment.

Read More