Earth Month Ecochallenge 2026

Helen's points

0 TODAY
45 THIS WEEK
301 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

280

gallons of water

saved

Helen's actions

Take the Pre-Survey

Take the Pre-Event Survey

I’ll take a short pre-survey to share what motivated me to join — and earn 15 points! (If I already took the survey by email, I’ll just mark this action complete to get my points.)

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal

Reduce Refined Sugar

Cutting back on refined sugar can improve energy, mood, and overall health. I will limit my intake of sugary snacks and drinks by reducing refined sugar in meals or snacks each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

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 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Soil and Food

Choose Water-Smart Foods

The foods we eat carry hidden “water footprints” that affect rivers, soils, and communities worldwide. I will reduce servings of high-water-use foods and choose alternatives that help conserve water and support more resilient food systems.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Take Shorter Showers

Conserving water helps protect this precious resource. I will shorten my showers to 5 minutes to save water and reduce energy use - each time saving up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water!

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Soil and Food

What foods did you discover have a large water footprint? How might shifting your diet help conserve both water and soil health?
Helen Penate 4/08/2026 1:28 PM
- Book Lover 📚
Beef has a large water footprint, I've gradually started to have more of a plant based diet. Even changing one meal a week to plant based, makes a difference. Every little change, adds to creating a bigger change to conserve water.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal

Before you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now? What was the most challenging part of reducing refined sugar, and how did you overcome it?
Helen Penate 4/03/2026 12:54 AM
- Book Lover 📚
Before starting this challenge, I wouldn’t say I was addicted to sugar, I just wasn’t as mindful about the large amounts of refined sugar that was in almost everything we eat. I also wasn’t as aware of how bad refined sugars is for the environment, I feel like now I’ve changed my approach on how I see refined sugar. It’s not only about making a better choice for myself, but also the environment. The most challenging part about reducing refined sugar is that it’s in everything, it’s really difficult to get away from it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

How did shortening your showers affect your awareness of water conservation? What other water-saving practices can you adopt in your daily routine?
Helen Penate 4/01/2026 12:42 PM
- Book Lover 📚
Shortening my showers showed me that even 5 minutes that you take away from your normal time, can make a huge difference. It's things like turning off your sink while you scrub your hands, little things like that can save gallons of water.

Read More