Samantha Gibbs

I will spend 10 minutes researching environmental justice and environmental racism concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

What can lack of access to nutritious food affect a community? How can having access to nutritious food help a community become more resilient?

I will spend 20 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will replace 7 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will spend 5 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home or dorm room.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 5 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

I will replace 15 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

I will keep track and reduce my consumption of refined sugars, including sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and POC-majority neighborhoods. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

I will keep 5 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 133 lbs of CO2 a month and 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

I will naturally heat and cool my house, office, or dorm room by opening or closing my windows, curtains, and blinds, and by using fans.

I completed the UFV Sustainability Survey to share my opinions and priorities on how UFV can and should move towards a more socially, culturally, economically, and environmentally sustainable institution. My responses will guide the Office of Sustainability in the development of an institution-wide sustainability strategy – to be known as the UFV Sustainability Pathway. (Check your UFV email for the survey link)

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

I will power down my computer and monitor when not using it for more than 2 hours, saving up to (1.1) lbs of CO2 each day that I do this.