Ecochallenge.org

Campus Ecochallenge

Shealyn McMahon

UWL green team summer 2020

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
791 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

672

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

2.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

1,440

minutes

of additional sleep
UP TO

720

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

75

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1,560

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

3.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Shealyn's actions

Community

Support Native Communities

I will use the resource links provided below and spend 45 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Learn About Renewable Energy

I will spend 30 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

De-Clutter My Home or Dorm Room

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home or dorm room.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Do Nature Activities

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 30 minute(s) each day. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Healthy Sleep

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 60 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

Shealyn McMahon 10/29/2019 2:42 PM

Speaking of working at Banana Republic (Gap INC), we get almost 10,000 cardboard boxes and 100,000 plastic packages EVERY SINGLE WEEK. The store DOESN"T recycle nationally because it "costs too much". I met with many higher-ups in the mall to mandate EVERY store must recycle. I also met with management of BRF to make them understand the damage they are doing. This entire thing makes me so upset. I'm aiming to continue pushing upper management until it is a sustainable company.

Read More
Shealyn McMahon 10/29/2019 2:39 PM

I work at Gap INC. and I know that the company is very problematic for fast fashion and children labor. I don't know what to do about working there. I have been for 4 years. I hate working for a company that causes so much harm to our planet.

Read More
Shealyn McMahon 10/29/2019 2:37 PM

I recently purchased a bike! Now, I will be able to get places without taking a car.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Support Native Communities

Indigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?

Shealyn McMahon 10/21/2019 10:08 PM

I think balance is very important in sustainability. We can't go back to how our Earth once was because of the damage we have done. If we care more about preserving the Earth, we can postpone the terrible impacts.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Express My Support

What sustainability issues are most pressing or prominent on your campus? In your hometown? Where you live currently?

Shealyn McMahon 10/21/2019 9:59 PM

I think that for UWL's campus we should stop selling plastic water bottles. It's such an unnecessary use of plastic. We have water fountains everywhere and reusable water bottles save the environment and our wallets!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Choose LED Bulbs

Switching 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?

Shealyn McMahon 10/21/2019 9:52 PM

I try to take my bike, or walk as much as I can. I don't want to use a car if I don't have to! And it's healthier to walk outside and just enjoy the fresh air.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Learn About Renewable Energy

What inspires you to act on sustainable energy and other energy issues?

Shealyn McMahon 10/21/2019 9:51 PM

Something that inspires me about sustainable energy is that we are using natural resources at a rapid rate, and I want to combat my negative contribution to that.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Do Nature Activities

What did you observe while spending time outside -- through sight, sound, smell and/or touch?

Shealyn McMahon 10/21/2019 9:48 PM

Today, I was able to take a nice walk in the neighborhoods around campus. I noticed the colors of the leaves changing, parents bringing their kids home from school, the rustling of squirrels on the grass, and the rush of wind.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Go Paperless

Reducing your paper mail can reduce mental clutter as well as physical waste -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?

Shealyn McMahon 10/21/2019 9:43 PM

I've been researching what type of plastics can be recycled. I didn't really know what things exactly could be recycled, and now, I have been able to recycle more than I did before!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity De-Clutter My Home or Dorm Room

How can you prevent yourself from accumulating more unnecessary things in the future?

Shealyn McMahon 10/13/2019 10:53 PM

I am very bad at letting things go. This past year I have been getting rid of a lot of things that I do not need. For example, clothes that I haven't needed or worn in years I gave away or donated. I can't just keep things that I don't use when others could use it instead. As I continue to stop myself from accumulating things, I need to reevaluate what I own every month or so.

Read More