Richard Gilliam
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 2,705 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO73disposable cupsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1,280gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO20milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO20milestraveled by foot
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UP TO1,075minutesspent exercising
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UP TO60minutesspent learning
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UP TO2,905minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO1,830minutesnot spent in front of a screen
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UP TO16pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO72more servingsof fruits and vegetables
Richard's actions
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.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Support a Sharing Economy
I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, neighbors or classmates.
Health
More Fruits and Veggies
I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 3 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.
Waste
Use a Reusable Mug
I will avoid sending 3 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.
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.
Transportation
Walk Instead
I will walk 1 mile(s) each day instead of driving and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
Nature
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 30 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.
Waste
Tour A Waste Management Facility
I will spend at least 30 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.
Nature
Go for a Daily Walk
I will take a 10-minute walk outside each day.
Water
5-Minute Showers
I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
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 QUESTIONWaste Use a Reusable MugMaybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?
Richard Gilliam 8/15/2021 9:48 PMCovid has complicated the practice of bringing your own cup. Pre-covid you could refill your reusable coffee cups, buy most businesses have discontinued that practice during the pandemic. However, I make a pot of coffee the night before work and fill my reusable cup. This allows me to have a large iced coffee every morning for work. The additional benefit is that I save between $15-30 every week by not buying coffee everyday. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Support Businesses Owned by People of ColorA recent Keen Independent Research Foundation study found that Minority Businesses Enterprises (MBEs) are more likely to have difficulties in receiving loans or city contracts. In what ways can you work to address systemic racism like that demonstrated in this study?
Richard Gilliam 8/02/2021 11:31 PMI think it is important to understand that not all minorities experience the same hardships or barriers to enterprise; this is especially true in a diverse city like San Diego. Black business owners have a significantly smaller footprint in this city than Asian and Latino businesses. For this reason I think it is important to seek out and go out of my way to support black businesses, hire black contractors, hire/refer black real estate agents, etc. As business increases and money circulates in black communities, business opportunities will increase and barriers to enterprise will decrease.-
Professor Morrell 8/03/2021 10:15 PMGood localized approach!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Building Resilience Support a Sharing EconomyWhat are some of the barriers to sharing economies? What is your plan for supporting or creating one in your community?
Richard Gilliam 8/02/2021 11:22 PMI don't think there are too many barriers to sharing economies on a communal scale. Individual reluctance is probably the most notable barrier; people not wanting to participate. I currently support a community Buy Nothing group; I predominantly post goods that I no longer use or need and occasionally browse through what others are looking for to see if I have anything to share or give-
Professor Morrell 8/03/2021 10:15 PMLove those groups!
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Richard Gilliam 7/13/2021 9:57 PMI've been going on significantly less walks outside, and spending less time outside in general as summer temperatures have risen. But at least I've been doing pretty well at limiting air conditioning use and relying mostly on fans and open windows for cooling the house.-
Professor Morrell 7/14/2021 9:04 PMSave the walks for dusk! Best time for them IMO!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Tour A Waste Management FacilityField trip! What a fun way to learn about our impact and consumption! What facility did you tour? What did you learn?
Richard Gilliam 6/27/2021 6:12 PMI toured the San Diego Biosolids facility in Kearny Mesa. I learned about how they turned waste water into biosolids for use in fertilizers and other soil treatment uses. Also the plant is able to generate electrical power and serves a secondary function as a cogen facility.-
Professor Morrell 7/09/2021 10:53 PMReally cool! Tell the class about it next time!
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Richard Gilliam 6/24/2021 10:06 PMA new challenge is trying to get my wife to limit showers to 5-minutes. That one isn't going so well. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Adjust the ThermostatYour 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?
Richard Gilliam 6/24/2021 10:03 PMUsing the standard oven instead of a convection toaster oven is often more energy efficient. Switching all lightbulbs in the house to LED. I bought energy efficient appliances for my house. The whole family typically occupies the same room together throughout the day, this minimizes the amount of lights and devices running throughout the house. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportation Walk InsteadHalf of all trips made in the US are three miles or less; 72% of them are driven. Does this statistic describe your own transportation habits? If so, how might you incorporate more muscle-powered transportation in your daily life?
Richard Gilliam 6/17/2021 10:31 PMMost of my driving consists of commuting to and from work, about 45 miles round trip. However, we do make trips to the grocery store that are around 3-5 miles round trip, but I don't think walking or bicycling to Costco is a viable alternative. The biggest habit I can cut out are the occasions when me or my wife take our son for a drive so that he can fall asleep for his naps. -
Richard Gilliam 6/17/2021 10:23 PMThe transportation based actions have definitely been the most challenging for me so far. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNature Spend Time OutsideRachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?
Richard Gilliam 5/26/2021 9:15 PMThere is definitely a level of freedom to be appreciated while outdoors and enjoying nature. I never truly understood how valuable that feeling was until my first underway onboard a submarine. Going weeks on end without sunlight or fresh air changes your perspective. I think that cultures that spend most of its time indoors miss out on a lot of the world's beauty.