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Danell Morales's avatar

Danell Morales

Human Ecology Summer 2021

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 236 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    of additional sleep
  • UP TO
    10
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    5.0
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    pounds of paper
    have been saved

Danell's actions

Water

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 5 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Meditate

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 3 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Turn it off

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Reduce refined sugar

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Healthy Sleep

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 10 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 1 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 2 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Choose Two-Sided Printing

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided when I have to print documents.

COMPLETED 2
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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Say No to Plastic Straws
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

    Danell Morales's avatar
    Danell Morales 7/20/2021 11:59 PM
    I usually use straws for most things I drank. Learning what straws to the environment and marine life. I am going to stop using plastic and buy a metal or silicone straw that is reusable.

    • Ricardo Chamale-Ventura's avatar
      Ricardo Chamale-Ventura 7/23/2021 7:54 PM
      Hi Danell, I used to do the same before I learned how damaging it was. Now, I just drink it without a straw. For the rest of the plastics I use, I try to make the most of all of them if I lose my reusable ones. Luckily, that only happened once.

    • Ibiyinka Ibitoye's avatar
      Ibiyinka Ibitoye 7/22/2021 12:45 PM
      Hi Danell
      I use straws, coffee cups, plastic bags regularly too and I also reuse bags too just to save money

    • Maverick Shreeve's avatar
      Maverick Shreeve 7/21/2021 1:24 PM
      Hey Danell,
      Straws have been a very big deal especially with all the waste they create and how much trouble they can cause if littered. Plastic bags have also been getting banned. I have not used plastic bags for a couple of years. I only ever use straws if I go somewhere to eat and never use them at home.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Turn it off
    How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?

    Danell Morales's avatar
    Danell Morales 7/20/2021 11:56 PM
    Everything is electric where I live, even stove and oven. I wish the complex could invest in some solar panels to help out the environment. It impacts every one due to the fact a bunch of people live in apartments and each apartment depending on the people of how much electricity they use a day in there house hold plus our leasing office likes to leave on the a/c and lights over night, that is very wasteful to our environment.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Meditate
    What would you like to invest more time in reflecting on?

    Danell Morales's avatar
    Danell Morales 7/14/2021 11:08 PM
    On how to reduce stress. Reflecting helps regulate stress and to release negative energy on the mind and body. I find meditating with crystals take away more of the negative energy in the body. I need to invest more time meditating, so each week I will add a minute until I reach my goal of minutes I want to meditate.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Choose Two-Sided Printing
    Choosing two-sided printing can be an easy adjustment on your computer settings. How can you help others make this same switch? Can it be encouraged company wide?

    Danell Morales's avatar
    Danell Morales 7/14/2021 11:00 PM
    By make them understand how it benefits the climate change. Printing double sided helps reduce the paper waste. Even though it only takes paper 2 to 6 weeks to decompose. It will also reduce the amount of trees being cut down, trees are apart of our source of oxygen. Yes it can be encouraged into companies, not only will it benefit the climate but also would save them money. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Adjust the Thermostat
    Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?

    Danell Morales's avatar
    Danell Morales 7/08/2021 7:23 PM
    I usually only put on air conditioning a little bit during the day until the house is cool and a little bit at night time until its cool. It usually only set at 78 degrees.

    • Daniela Galvez Cardenas's avatar
      Daniela Galvez Cardenas 7/10/2021 9:03 PM
      Hi Danell. I do the same with my air conditioning; however, mine is set to 60 degrees at night until it turns off. I do have it on Eco mode though so that's something right haha. Anyways, thanks for sharing. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Healthy Sleep
    Consider how many hours of sleep you get now. How would you like to shift your sleep patterns? What are you finding works for you to be successful in this action?

    Danell Morales's avatar
    Danell Morales 7/08/2021 7:19 PM
    I would like to go to sleep earlier to wake up earlier in the morning. Getting what I to get done throughout day earlier like classwork, etc. so I can be in bed by no later then 9:30/10.

    • Moreak Gomez-Diaz's avatar
      Moreak Gomez-Diaz 7/10/2021 5:21 PM
      Hi Danell, I find that sleep is very important when it comes to my own personal health, and it seems that you feel the same. Are there any studies that you have researched that may indicate just how important a proper sleep schedule is for a person's health?