- Book Lover 📚
Helen's points
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 541 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO580gallons of watersaved
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.)
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.
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.
Share My Why
Share My Why
I will share my Ecochallenge story and why I'm taking action for the planet — and earn 15 points!
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.
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!
Share My Why
Take the Earth Month Ecochallenge Feedback Survey
I will take a short survey about my experience to help the Ecochallenge team improve future events, earn a chance to win a prize, and earn 15 points!
Participant Feed
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Helen Penate 4/29/2026 12:02 PM- Book Lover 📚
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Krisia Carpio 4/29/2026 3:35 PM- Foodie 🍱
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Isaiah Beals 4/29/2026 12:37 PM -
Prateek Gupta 4/29/2026 12:34 PM- TEAM CAPTAIN
- Plant-Based Foodie 🥬
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Akshay Bhagchandani 4/29/2026 12:13 PM
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Helen Penate 4/29/2026 12:00 PM- Book Lover 📚
As this month comes to an end, I've really noticed how much little changes in my routine have made a difference. Reducing just 1 minute from your shower, makes a difference. Making a change doesn't need to be a big change at once, it is a steady improvement.-
Sonam R 4/29/2026 12:41 PM- Community Builder 🤝
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Helen Penate 4/22/2026 12:48 PM- Book Lover 📚
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Blanca Cruz 4/22/2026 4:15 PM -
MONIQUE REICHOFF 4/22/2026 1:14 PM- TEAM CAPTAIN
- Climate Advocate 🌱
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWaterHow 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?
Helen Penate 4/22/2026 12:43 PMBeing more aware and learning to turn off the water as I'm scrubbing the dishes, allowed me to see how much water I was wasting by not doing the simple task of turning off the water. It's about being mindful and turning off the water when it's not necessary for it to be on. I can scrub my dishes and then quickly turn on the water to clean off the soap, all while not wasting as much water. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSoil and FoodWhat 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. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonalBefore 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. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaterHow 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.

