Skip to main content
Sara Horvath's avatar

Sara Horvath

Heartland Community College EASC 111 Spring 2024

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 158 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    Carbon Footprint
    Calculated
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    60
    minutes
    spent learning

Sara's actions

Action Track: Community

Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans

I will spend 30 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

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
    Action Track: Community Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
    What did you learn about freshwater and oceans you did not already know? In sharing this information with people in your life, which conversation was impactful to you?

    Sara Horvath's avatar
    Sara Horvath 4/28/2024 3:42 PM
    Something I learned about freshwater and oceans that I didn't know before is that the ocean absorbs 25 percent of all carbon emissions and generates 50 percent of the oxygen we need at the same time. I spoke to my mother about this fact because I found it interesting, and she also found it interesting. Its crazy how people are so unaware of everything the ocean does for us, even I was super unaware before.

    • Janet  Beach Davis's avatar
      Janet Beach Davis 4/30/2024 1:20 PM
      The ocean is doing it's best to buffer all the problems we throw at the ecosystem. But it's starting to get very stressed. Now we know how to help!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Freshwater + Oceans Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
    What did you learn about ingredients in our cleaning products and how they impact water and biodiversity? Did you try making your own cleaning products? If so, how did it go?

    Sara Horvath's avatar
    Sara Horvath 4/28/2024 3:35 PM
    I learned that many cleaning products can cause water pollution and harm aquatic life. There are phosphates found in common cleaning products such as dishwasher or laundry detergents that produce an overwhelming amount of algae, which then causes water oxygen levels to deplete and make the ecosystems toxic. I did not personally make my own cleaning products but will however be more mindful on what ingredients and chemicals are in my cleaning products.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land + Forests Explore My Area
    Where did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?

    Sara Horvath's avatar
    Sara Horvath 4/12/2024 11:33 AM
    I went around my neighborhood. I was mostly benefited by the clear mind it gave me, walking around and seeing so much natural life and beauty.

    • Melissa Luedtke's avatar
      Melissa Luedtke 4/13/2024 9:53 AM
      I agree!! It is an amazing thing how just being outside in nature can totatlly change a persons mindset!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land + Forests Borrow Before I Buy
    How did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of a sharing economy? How could a sharing economy change the dynamics you have with friends, family and/or neighbors?

    Sara Horvath's avatar
    Sara Horvath 4/05/2024 1:50 PM
    I participated by asking my family for things that I need that they may have before going out and buying it myself. Specifically, my mom let me borrow her bike for whenever I want to go for a ride, instead of me having to go out and buy one myself. A sharing economy can change the dynamic I think in a very positive way, bringing people closer together while also reducing waste.

    • Janet  Beach Davis's avatar
      Janet Beach Davis 4/07/2024 3:28 PM
      It’s also a good way to try out something before you buy. I was all excited about getting a hot pot thing until I borrowed one, and decided it just wasn’t what I wanted. Saved money and transportation on something I would have just put in the cabinet and never used.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate + Air Calculate My Carbon Impact
    Where in your life do you emit the most carbon? What change are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce this output?

    Sara Horvath's avatar
    Sara Horvath 4/05/2024 1:47 PM
    Traveling is where I emit the most carbon at a whopping 7.5 tons. I'm willing to bike or walk to more places to reduce this.

    • Janet  Beach Davis's avatar
      Janet Beach Davis 4/07/2024 3:26 PM
      And it just feels good to walk sometimes. Walking to the grocery store also stops me from impulse buying, because I don’t want to carry a lot home.

  • Sara Horvath's avatar
    Sara Horvath 4/05/2024 1:46 PM
    I participated in borrow before I buy. Its something I think could be done a-lot more often and I will continue to ask those I know if they have what I'm looking for before going out and buying something that will only contribute to more waste.

    • Melissa Luedtke's avatar
      Melissa Luedtke 4/13/2024 9:54 AM
      I too will now always try to think of doing this before I go and buy something. It's a win win because you save money and our environment!!

  • Sara Horvath's avatar
    Sara Horvath 4/05/2024 1:44 PM
    I calculated my carbon footprint and was labeled a climate villain! It gave me a total of 14.7 ton/year. It didn't surprise me too much because I know I could be doing a-lot better, but it really did put in to perspective how how much of an impact we make without even realizing it.