Kate Puszykowski

"To continue to grow and expand my individual independence from fossil fuels. To live a healthy life for myself and for my environment. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
279 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

28

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

45

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

5.0

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

134

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Kate's actions

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 5 minute(s)

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 1
DAILY ACTION

Water

5-Minute Showers

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Support Businesses Owned by People of Color

Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support businesses owned by people of color in my community whenever I shop.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Power Down the Computer

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.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 5 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 60 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Waste

RESEARCH LOCAL WASTE SITES

I will spend 5 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

What is the main water source in your region? If you don't know, how could you find out?

Kate Puszykowski 4/29/2021 9:40 AM

In Louisiana where I live, we get our water from the Mississipi River. Since we are at the bottom of the river and are downriver from Cancer Alley- a community along the border of the Mississippi River that is experiencing high numbers of cancer and death rates due to their proximity to several industries which pollute the air, water, and soil- I get my drinking water from a fill-up station where I bring 5-gallon glass jugs to refill.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Exercise Daily

How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

Kate Puszykowski 4/29/2021 9:35 AM

Exercise with a buddy! My husband and I live near a park with a small area of exercise equipment. We had a great time going and working out together and encouraging each other to expand our workout. For me, exercising with a partner is not only more enjoyable it also leaves room for accountability, which is sometimes the only way I will get up and move.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water 5-Minute Showers

Name some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?

Kate Puszykowski 4/29/2021 9:24 AM

The big thing that comes to mind is plastic pollution! Did you know only about 9% of plastic gets recycled? This allows for it to end up in our oceans and drinking water reservoirs, compromising not only the marine ecosystems which live there but also the water that we drink due to microplastics (small pieces of plastic-a grain of rice or smaller-that are byproducts of larger plastics).
While recycling is a better option than just tossing plastic into our trash can, the ultimate goal is to remove things from our daily lives that come in plastic. Choosing food items that come in glass or bringing our own re-fillable water bottles can be a small change with significant benefits for our environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity Limit Social Media

Social media can keep us connected with loved ones, make us laugh, and help us to learn new things. It can also create echo chambers and take more time than we realize or intend to give. After completing this action for a few days, how do you feel? What do you notice?

Kate Puszykowski 4/29/2021 9:16 AM

For me, social media is just a distraction, which can be both positive and negative. Reducing my time on social media has allowed me to spend my time being more active. Recently I bought sunflower seeds and have begun the process of getting them started in order to be planted somewhere permanently. I'm really hoping my "wanna be" green thumb comes through for this one!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Go get a check up

How do you practice self care?

Kate Puszykowski 4/29/2021 9:10 AM

Lately, I have been taking 30 minutes out of each day to sit outside on my deck and read. I just finished "Becoming" by Michelle Obama and am currently reading a memoir of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Happiness

How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?

Kate Puszykowski 4/13/2021 11:09 AM

Actively practicing gratitude helps me focus on myself and the things around me that are important. We can't always tell what our friends and peers are going through and sometimes a simple compliment or act of kindness can brighten up more than we know.

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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?

Kate Puszykowski 4/13/2021 10:08 AM

Unplug electronics that are not in use. Open doors and windows to circulate air during the day to reduce dependence on air conditioning. Use sunlight instead of artificial light. Eat more fresh fruits and veggies to reduce use of stove and oven cooking.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Power Down the Computer

What are other easy things you could do to save energy and reduce your environmental footprint?

Kate Puszykowski 4/13/2021 10:06 AM

I always turn off lights in rooms which aren't being used. I prefer natural light and often keep my blinds open to bring in the Vitamin D.
When electronic items are not in use, always unplug them. They still use energy when they are plugged in so simply unplugging them when you're not using them will reduce your energy consumption- microwaves, coffee makers, electric toothbrushes, phone/computer chargers, lamps, radios, blenders, toasters.

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Kate Puszykowski 4/13/2021 10:02 AM

I joined this team to support my great friend, Anna Baldwin, and be more active about my individual impacts. Small changes in our daily lives can translate to our social groups and greatly decrease negative impacts on our environments. My passion is to reduce waste; bring a bottle to re-fill, carry to-go containers when you eat out for leftovers, use clothe napkins, bring your own grocery bags, skip the straw. Together, these small changes make a huge difference! Good luck team!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Switch to Cold Water

What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?

Kate Puszykowski 4/13/2021 9:57 AM

I plan on expanding my individual efforts to live a more sustainable lifestyle. I would like to get an outdoor drying rack to reduce my dependence on the dryer and use natural sources to dry my clothes.

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