

Malia Rains
"keeping the earth safe, clean and beautiful :) "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 692 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0conversationwith a person
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO206gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO5.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO5.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO1.0meatless or vegan mealconsumed
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UP TO120minutesspent learning
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UP TO610minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO0.5poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO1.1pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO3.0zero-waste mealsconsumed
Malia's actions
Climate & Ecosystems
Use less single use containers
I will minimize the amount of take-out containers (box, cups, etc.) used while eating out.
Climate & Ecosystems
Shop with a reusable bag
Use a reusable shopping bag or no bag at all to cut down on your waste from the grocery store!
Climate & Ecosystems
Ecological & Xeriscape Gardening
SDG 14, 15
Studies show a grass lawn is water intensive and on average it require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. I will do one or more of the following actions in my yard or community to conserve water and improve habitat: plant indigenous plants, landscape with water-efficient plants, add mulching, replace a lawn, and/or use eco-friendly fertilizers.
Economy & Communities
RESEARCH LARGE SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES
I will research sustainable alternatives to large purchases such as: cars, roofs, landscaping, concrete work, siding, paint, etc.
Economy & Communities
Create A Readiness Plan
SDG 9
Each day, I will spend time developing a readiness plan for my household in the event of an emergency.
Basic Needs & Security
Make Zero-Waste Meals
SDG 2
I will cook 1 meals with zero waste each day.
Economy & Communities
Chat With A Nonprofit
SDG 12
I will have a conversation with one or more nonprofit organizations I want to be involved with.
Economy & Communities
Choose LED Bulbs
SDG 7
I will replace 5 incandescent light bulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Economy & Communities
Replace Manual Thermostats
SDG 7, 9, 12
I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.
Basic Needs & Security
Calculate Your Water Footprint
SDG 6
I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste.
Basic Needs & Security
Watch a Documentary About Food, Water, or Basic Needs
SDG 6
I will watch 1 documentaries about food, water, or basic needs.
Education & Livelihood
Stay on the Ground
SDG 11
Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally). As an example, a plane from New York to Los Angeles (~2,450 miles) generates about 65 tons of carbon dioxide.
Education & Livelihood
Watch a Documentary About Education or Work
SDG 4
I will watch 1 documentaries about education or work.
Health & Equity
Advocate for Equitable Participation and Representation
SDG 5
I will call my elected officials to ask what they are doing regarding equitable gender participation and representation in my region.
Health & Equity
Watch a Documentary About Equity, Gender, Health, or Peace
SDG 3, 5, 10, 16
I will watch 1 documentaries about equity, gender, health, or peace.
Health & Equity
Donate Food
SDG 3, 10
I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.
Economy & Communities
Watch a Documentary About Economy, Energy, or Industry
SDG 7, 9, 12
I will watch 1 documentaries about economy, energy, or industry.
Basic Needs & Security
Take 5-Minute Or Less Showers
SDG 6
I will save up to 6 gallons (23 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers. Tip: Use a timer to practice or count to 60 a few times.
Basic Needs & Security
Try a New Vegan or Vegetarian Recipe
I will try a new vegan or vegetarian recipe and share how it turns out on the Ecochallenge feed, or with family and friends.
Basic Needs & Security
Volunteer in My Community
SDG 1
I will volunteer 5 hours in my community.
Education & Livelihood
Research Impact Investing
SDG 8
Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing or my current investment portfolio to determine if they align with my values.
Education & Livelihood
Work-Life Balance
SDG 8
During the workday, I will schedule time for daily breaks during work days to practice work-life balance.
Health & Equity
Practice Mindfulness
SDG 3
I will spend 10 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.
Health & Equity
Make Cleaning Products
SDG 3
I will make a few homemade cleaning products.
Climate & Ecosystems
Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature
SDG 13, 14, 15
I will watch 1 documentaries about climate change.
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?
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Malia Rains 4/29/2023 7:05 AMFast fashion is a growing industry that takes a large impact on the environment. A lot of these companies provide cheap clothing that is up with the trends but not necessarily source, produced, or sold in eco friendly way. I have tried to make an impact with this by shopping for clothes at companies that have the environment in mind. I have compiled a list below of my favorite brands to shop at! Some of these are B Corps and some have programs to reuse or resell unwanted clothing. All of these brands have sustainability or eco impact sections of their website that provide more details!
Online Consignment:
Thredup - includes stats on materials saved buying used
The Real Real - includes stats on materials saved buying used
Online Retail (underlying goal is to create clothing that is built to last and end up in landfills):
Outdoor Voices - use of recycled materials and sustainable ecommerce packaging
Girlfriend Collective - use of recycled/retrieved plastics and SA8000 certified factories
Patagonia - climate activism; program to mend/repair damaged clothing or turn in unwanted used items
Topo Design - recycled or organic materials; sustainability built into creation of the company
Rei - Co-op that focuses on outdoor brands and is selective in the brands that they support based on sustainability
Madewell - uses recycled materials; Recycled denim program
Teva - uses recycled materials; Recycled shoe program
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Darian Patwal 4/29/2023 5:19 PMThank you for this info Malia! I have wanted to try a few of these companies and will have to do that now!
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Malia Rains 4/28/2023 9:07 AMI was recently listening to a podcast this week and it dove into the use of reusable water bottles. Usually these are in a positive light when it comes to sustainability, but there can be a negative side too. Having a couple reusable water bottles on hand is great to fight the impacts plastic water bottles have on the environment. I think we also have to keep in mind the impact of producing reusable water bottles has on the environment as well. A lot of resource go into producing a single reusable water bottle and you have to use a water bottle a certain amount of times to overcome the impacts of a single use water bottle. I am always an advocate for avoiding single use water bottles and will always look to using those instead of plastic water bottles that may end up in the landfill. But, I think we should also keep in mind the impact of purchasing multiple water bottles and how many uses are actually required to see clean results.-
Darian Patwal 4/29/2023 5:20 PMThis is an eye-opener! I have tons of reusable water bottles but I never thought about the negative impact they have from being produced. One person really only needs 2-3!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate & Ecosystems Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or NatureWhat did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?
Malia Rains 4/28/2023 8:57 AMI watched a documentary on the coral reef and the current state it is in. It was very thought provoking and sad to learn the healthy history and how recently it has taken a downturn. A lot of coral is dying which drastically impacts the rest of the Earth's ecosystem. Putting a picture behind what poor eco habits can impact motivates me to change little things in my life in hopes of preventing negative impacts on the environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBasic Needs & Security Take 5-Minute Or Less ShowersWith 5-minute or less showers reducing your water footprint, what do you plan to add next to your water conservation habits?
Malia Rains 4/19/2023 8:53 AMOne thing I am going to add to my habits is being more conscious of the water used around my house. It is easy to be doing dishes and just forget that the water was left on the entire time. Same with brushing your teeth. These are a couple areas that I am trying to work on and will continue to adjust my habits! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth & Equity Make Cleaning ProductsWhat was surprising about the ingredients in your cleaning supplies, personal care, and pet products?
Malia Rains 4/18/2023 12:21 PMA lot of these ingredients are natural items! I use vinegar and baking soda a lot around the house to clean items and it works better than store bought products. It also leaves less of a residue and does not leave any cheapy fragrances or smells. -
Malia Rains 4/18/2023 12:19 PMOne of my goals this Earth month was to use less single use containers or products. I am at DU this week and the amount of snacks is great, but, it is also A LOT of single use wrappers, cups, silverware, etc. I have been trying to opt for the snacks that are not packaged and also use the mugs and cups that are reusable.-
Rachel Orrison 4/20/2023 10:44 AMAvoiding single use items is SO hard!
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Malia Rains 4/17/2023 5:41 AMIn regards to researching large sustainable alternatives - I have recently been renovating a loft space in my house. I wanted to be sure I am making the right choices in materials to use in that space. I also needed a new roof. I researched all my options inluding: recycled rubber shingles, wool carpet instead of plastic, efficient HVAC options, linen of flax window treatments, tencel bedspreads, etc. I also looked into how the old items will be recycled, reused, or just discarded. It was a super helpful process to make sure I was creating a clean space for myself while also keeping the environment in mind. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEducation & Livelihood Work-Life BalanceHow does practicing a work-life balance create a more sustainable life for you? How might it contribute to sustainability more broadly?
Malia Rains 4/17/2023 5:28 AMFrom my experience, I am more likely to practice sustainable habits when I have a work life balance. When I am bogged down with work and don't have a lot of free time, I do whatever is an easier habit and not the right habit. I think an example of this is ordering take out or food delivery. There are definitely better sustainable options compared to take out, but sometimes it is the easier option. When there is a better work life balance, cooking and trying new recipes turn into a well-being activity instead of a chore. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth & Equity Practice MindfulnessWhat was it like to practice mindfulness? If this is a practice for you already, what was something new you understood in practicing during Earth Month?
Malia Rains 4/04/2023 10:31 AMThere are so many ways to practice mindfulness. I choose to practice this during my morning yoga. Yoga has been a great way for me to practice mindfulness and to just take a moment to start my day off with the right intentions. This Earth Month, I have tried to focus my intentions on habits that I can include in my daily life that are sustainability focused. It is also a great way to bring in positivity and let go of negativity in life so you can shift your focus on things that truly matter (like the Earth!) :) -
Malia Rains 4/03/2023 6:20 AMMaking your own cleaning products is easy! I make an all-purpose spray out of vinegar, water, and dish soap which cleans and disinfects all of my surfaces. It's an alternative to purchased cleaning products that can have many more ingredients and can be more expensive.-
Emmalee Ramon 4/03/2023 10:00 AMNice Malia!
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