Brandyn Kirchhoff
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 913 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO12advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO0.0donationsmade
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UP TO560gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO10hoursvolunteered
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UP TO6.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO92meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO1,817minutesspent exercising
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UP TO290minutesspent learning
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UP TO1,306minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO116plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO86pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO2.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO104more servingsof fruits and vegetables
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UP TO63whole food mealsconsumed
Brandyn's actions
Energy
Adjust the Thermostat
I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 3 vegan meal(s) each day this week.
Community
Host A Watch Party
I will host a watch party to screen a documentary about an issue that matters to me.
Community
Express My Support
I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.
Simplicity
Core Values
We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Donate to or Volunteer for Low-Income Solar Initiatives
Whether it's by donating or volunteering, I will research the benefits of low-income solar and find out how I can support low-income solar initiatives in my area.
Food
Whole Food Lifestyle
I will enjoy 2 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.
Water
5-Minute Showers
I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
Nature
Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset
I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.
Nature
Go for a Daily Walk
I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.
Health
Exercise Daily
Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.
Health
More Fruits and Veggies
I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 4 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.
Energy
Choose LED Bulbs
I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Transportation
Stay on the Ground
Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).
Waste
Prevent Recycling Contamination
Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 10 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.
Waste
Advocate For More Food Packaging Options
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.
Waste
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.
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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REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportation Stay on the GroundWhat was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/15/2021 8:29 PMSometimes air travel is necessary. Over seas or cross country trips are sometimes just not feasible with a car. I drove on a recent trip which was only five hours and will be driving 8 hours later this month . -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Prevent Recycling ContaminationWhat have you learned about what is accepted by local haulers for recycling, what you can drop off or ship to certain places, and what is not recyclable in your area? What is the most difficult part of recycling for you?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/15/2021 8:27 PMIn the area they accept many recyclable items which is very nice. On our campus we have a single stream recycling but the issue is that so many things are not recyclable. Also things that still contain food in them cannot be recycled. This is a terrible thing and we do not instruct or educate people on how to properly recycle. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Advocate For More Food Packaging OptionsWhat concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/15/2021 8:26 PMThe most concerning this is the denial. We had an administration that for the last four years has completely denied the existence of global warming. The administration defunded the EPA and negatively affected the environment. We need stronger laws to stop companies from polluting here and around the world. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Use a Reusable Water BottleWhile water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/15/2021 8:24 PMMany people have an aversion to tap water. In many places, tap water can taste rusty or have other metals that people do not want to ingest. Using water purifiers can help to make the water taste better. Additionally, we sell so many water bottles in stores that it becomes convenient for people to just use these. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth More Fruits and VeggiesHow does eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat positively affect yourself, other people, and our planet?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/14/2021 8:50 AMMany fruits and vegetables provide the same nutrients that meat can provide. Fruits and vegetables create fewer pollutants than meat production. If more people had greenhouses or gardens, then fewer trucks would have to ship these products. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth Exercise DailyHow can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/14/2021 8:46 AMAlong with working out for physical fitness, mental fitness is good to exercise too. Fitting time into your day to spend time with friends or to take walks in nature areas. Taking one hour out of your day to exercise your body and mind can greatly improve your quality of life. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Reduce Animal ProductsWhy do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/14/2021 8:42 AMThe meat industry is an expensive industry. This means that meat is expensive for consumers to buy. The meat industry is a huge polluter. While poultry is the best for sustainability, red meat causes massive amounts of greenhouse gases. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Whole Food LifestyleMichael Pollan states that “it is better to pay the grocer (our edit: or the farmer!) than the doctor.” What are your thoughts on this assertion?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/12/2021 8:56 PMFrom an economical approach, the farmer is always in a harder situation. With ever changing prices that farmers have to pay for feed and seed and how much they can sell their product for, farmers often amass huge debts until harvest. Modern "sharecropping" from companies like Pilgrims Pride put farmers millions in debt with no way out. Government subsidies need to be better administered to all farmers who need it most. But, we still need doctors. Like Biden is proposing, those in the top 1% wealth bracket need to be taxed millions of dollars more than they are now. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Choose LED BulbsSwitching out your lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/12/2021 8:43 PMYou can write the local government or petition for replacing street lamps with LEDs which are bright and more energy efficient. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Host A Watch PartyWhat did you learn about in the documentary you watched? How did it make you feel?
Brandyn Kirchhoff 4/12/2021 8:37 PMI learned that trash pollution does not just gather in the oceans but in many rivers too. This puts many environments in danger and many species.