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.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Land, Water, and Air
Calculate My Carbon Impact
Knowing our carbon footprint is the first step to reducing it. I will calculate my carbon impact and identify lifestyle changes that could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment. I will share my commitments to lowering my impact on the feed.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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 4
DAILY ACTIONS
Wildlife
Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace means enjoying nature responsibly by minimizing our impact and leaving the environment as we found it, or better. I will spend 20 minutes learning about the seven core principles to minimize my impact while enjoying the outdoors.
UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Empowering the Next Generation
Learn About Indigenous Conservation Practices
Indigenous communities have stewarded ecosystems for generations through deep-rooted knowledge and connection to nature. I will spend 20 minutes exploring Indigenous conservation methods and reflecting on their role in fostering balance and equity with nature.
COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS
Land, Water, and Air
Plastic Free Lunches
Avoid Single Use Plastics when you prepare your lunch. Post a picture of your SUP free lunch on your Feed to the team.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Community and Connection
Connect with nature
The goal is to share how we connect with nature and our environment by posting pictures of our favorite spot. This will allow team member to learn about NC's parks and Natural resources
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
Land, Water, and Air
What surprised you most about your water footprint, and how did it influence your perspective on water use? What changes can you make to reduce your water consumption, and how will these impact your daily routine?
We get our water from our municipality and they charge a high price for water they get from the sky for free. Their water tax inspires me to use less of the city water!
Mid April so time to plant a garden in the southeastern USA. Always learning new methods and concepts to saves the environment. This year I'm planting Tromboncino squash, an Italian variety has the same flavor as traditional squash or zucchini but is resistant to the squash vine borer insect pest. So a longer growing season without the need to use Carbaryl (Sevin dust insect spray). Carbaryl is toxic to pollinators like bees as well as the squash vine borer. Fingers crossed they work as promised. (see photo)
My wife and I take our lunches rather eating fast food during the day. We use paper bags and reusable bottles for our beverage. When eating fast food like McD--- the amount of non recyclable waste is magnified exponentially. Those little aluminum foil ketchup packets create tons of waste.
Hi John! I totally agree with this - I can count on one hand the amount of times I went out to eat somewhere in the past few months. It's also so much rewarding eating things you've made yourself or that your partner has made with/for you!
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?
At home I have to remind myself when I need small quantities of hot water rather than running the hot water faucet for a long time for water to come from the hot water heater in the garage to the kitchen with gallons wasted. Instead I use a container in the microwave with no gallons of water just going down the drain. A little more complicated but worth it!
In Europe with high population density and limited land people are required to not create as much landfill waste. America should adopt some of the household waste policy, "just sayin".
I agree...having lived there half of my life...I definitely see and feel the difference. One of the things I've noticed is that restaurants give you so much food, you can never finish it. The cool thing is that you can take it home, but that sometimes doesn't get eaten. Smaller portions definitively reduce food waste, and it's so easy to implement.
What is one way you can reduce your impact on nature the next time you spend time outdoors, and how might that action help preserve the environment for others?
Homeowners can select landscape plants that require less water to maintain thus eliminating the need to water plants. My brother-in-law lives in Denver Co and they mandate "zero scape" limiting the green grass homeowners can plant to save water in a high desert local, very smart.
My home town, Raleigh North Carolina, has no plan for rapid transit or lite rail. We have a large urban airport +/- 10 miles from two cities Raleigh and durham. A lite rail track would connect both cities and stop at the airport. The airport authority opposes lite rail because it would decrease their paid parking revenue, crazy. At BWI in Baltimore you can fly in and take the lite rail to midtown in minutes, works great. Citizens need to lobby the airport authority.
Completely agree! The light rail is one of the best features of Charlotte since my older daughter does not drive and attends university there. It's really opened up a new world for her and was one of the biggest strikes against Raleigh for grad school.
I installed two rain barrels in series meaning the first fills from a gutter downspout and when it fills it directs the extra to a second 80 gallon rain barrel so two barrels from one downspout.
Prachi Menghar 4/16/2025 11:24 AM
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