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 12
DAILY ACTIONS
Energy
Turn it off
I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.
COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS
Water
Use Reusable Bottles
I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
COMPLETED 12
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 12
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
Energy
How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?
Similar to my other task of powering down my computer, I chose to power down my other electronics. I'm not sure how electricity is generated. I will continue powering down my electronics when not in use to reduce my environmental footprint.
At the end of today's class, I powered down my laptop and did not use it until now (roughly 8:15 pm). This is a small change that makes a significant different not only to save energy and reduce my environmental footprint, but also to lengthen the duration of my laptop battery. This applies for all electronics. In addition to powering down my laptop, I can also do this with my phone and iPad overnight.
Although I do this task often, I did not use a plastic water bottle today and instead used my reusable water bottle. I have attached an image of a water bottle similar to mine which also shows the variety of colors so that anyone can have one that they like. This is a simple task that I believe everybody should take upon themselves. Why contribute plastic to the oceans when you can have a trendy water bottle you can have forever?
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?
After taking a 5 minute shower compared to my normal duration, which usually is 10-15 minutes, I realize the significant difference of water use between the two. I am able to clean myself within the 5 minutes and that is the purpose of a shower, not necessarily to relax. I will continue taking shorter showers and, in addition, I will take other small steps such as turning off the water when brushing my teeth and when doing dishes.