Ecochallenge.org

Campus Ecochallenge

Bebe Yang

University of St. Thomas DFC

"To keep the world healthy."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
560 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

102

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

100

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

14

miles

traveled by bike
UP TO

185

minutes

of additional sleep
UP TO

640

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

104

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

70

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

70

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

16

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

108

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

14

whole food meals

consumed

Bebe's actions

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 10 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 10 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Drive Less

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 4 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Joyful Movement

I will spend 60 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Healthy Sleep

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 15 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

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

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Food Lifestyle

I will enjoy 2 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Meet My Local Farmers

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those around the world who produce my food in order to make better choices when I shop.

COMPLETED
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 Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Where are your nearest natural bodies of water? How might they be affected by runoff?

Bebe Yang 4/23/2021 1:29 PM

The nearest body of water from where I live, are lakes. Lakes and other bodies of water could be affected due to sediments and pollutants piling upon runoffs. When sediments from the runoff continues to build up in the body of water, it can cause aquatic plants to stop growing, poor water quality, and a more difficult water treatment process—which makes it harder to produce drinking water.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Go by Bike

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience differ while walking, riding transit, biking, or driving?

Bebe Yang 4/20/2021 2:08 PM

I feel like our transportation choice can affect our engagement in our community by simply being out there and influencing/motivating others to take on that same transportation method. Not only does it make us appear more in our community but it allows us to want to be more active or eco-friendly.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Drive Less

How has your access to various kinds of transportation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?

Bebe Yang 4/20/2021 2:06 PM

I use to take public transportation all the time. It was hard to always wake up earlier to get to my destination on time compared to driving a car to commute. But as I see others taking public transportation, it makes me remember all those great habits I had when I used to take public transportation—such as waking up earlier without a worry, always planning things ahead of time, and always being prepared (like the weather). It had influenced great habits overall but it made me realized how healthy it feels to the environment as well.

Read More
- Jennifer Santiago 4/22/2021 1:09 PM
  
  I totally agree with you! Commuting without a car has helped me with my other habits of planning ahead and estimating.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Support Pollution Reduction

What environmental factors affect human health in your region, and how do they affect it?

Bebe Yang 4/20/2021 1:57 PM

Within my research, I learned that many people in Minnesota has come across poor air quality/pollution. People who are exposed to these poor air quality/pollution are more likely to have chronic health conditions. These pollution can be caused by wildfires from nearby states that swift into Minnesota and erosion.

Read More
- Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:36 AM
  
  We get a lot of local air pollution from factories in the cities still. We need to pressure the government to enforce environmental regulations.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Weekly Meal Planning

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four in the US spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money?

Bebe Yang 4/20/2021 12:14 PM

Yes, that does surprise me. I feel that the money being spent to food (that went to waste) should have either been towards charity (like Feed My Starving Children), or something that will be more beneficial in the long run. Not only is food being thrown out, but money is too. We should learn how to efficiently spend and save money.

Read More
- Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:37 AM
  
  This is something that really bothers me too. We have so many hungry people right here in the US too.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Joyful Movement

What's your favorite activity(ies) in which you experience joy while being active and moving?

Bebe Yang 4/20/2021 9:22 AM

There isn’t any specific activity that I experience joy in. I am able to experience joy by simply being active or in an activity with a friend or family member. I often go jogging and biking with my family, in which I believe it is most enjoyable to be active with those you care and love most.

Read More
Bebe Yang 4/20/2021 8:32 AM

Though I am currently not on campus, I still feel connected to other students and faculty staffs who also participated in the ecochallenge. It’s great to know that many of us are striving to learn more about our health and appreciating what the earth (ecosystem) has to offer.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Happiness

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

Bebe Yang 4/20/2021 8:30 AM

I think being able to practice and have gratitude can give you a positive outlook on your current life. Because we are either very focused on the future or stuck in the past, showing and having gratitude is what makes us appreciate the present. Being able to focus on the present allows us to realize about the current issues that could be fixed and to be more aware. Because we are more aware of the present, we are able to see what’s ahead and plan the steps on how to get there. Meaning, if we are aware of the current issues of the world now, we now know how to make a better world.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Meet My Local Farmers

When you know who produces your food, you are connecting personally to your complex regional food system. What are the advantages of knowing who produces your food and where it comes from? How can knowing their food producers enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?

Bebe Yang 4/17/2021 9:41 AM

I know someone who owns a farm, though she isn’t the farmer who are paid to give their harvested crops to stores, she participated in farmers markets. I spent time knowing her and participated on helping her harvest crops to sell. It was repetitive work and it was especially hard during a hot or warm day. Some advantages of knowing where it comes from and the producer, was the first hand perspective on what it’s like to have a farm and sell crops that you harvest. It makes me feel very appreciative to farmers who spend many years providing for everyone.

Read More
- Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:38 AM
  
  Cool! Which farmer's market?
  
  Read More
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?

Bebe Yang 4/15/2021 8:37 PM

As I consider my current hours of sleep, I feel that I often feel tired some time through the evening. I can assume that is because of the time I usually wake up, because I once slept a little early that led to me waking up earlier. The day I woke up early, I realized I did not feel tired during the evening and was able to use my day more productively. Due to this, sleeping in a bit early to wake up earlier is much more successful.

Read More