Skip to main content

Modal Title

Modal Description

Welcome to 2019 People's Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an 2019 People's Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
2019 People's Ecochallenge
October 2 - October 23, 2019
Philippe Gallagher's avatar

Philippe Gallagher

BWL Green Guardians

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 269 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    10
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    8.0
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    65
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    tree
    planted

Philippe's actions

High Impact Action Track

Plant Trees

Nature

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Waste

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per 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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 1 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 0
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
    Food Zero-Waste Cooking
    In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?
    Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/24/2019 1:12 PM
    Yes, in fact, my family usually uses the entire vegetable, skins and all. My sister is an excellent cook, and for the last 6 months, since she moved back from California, she cooks most all of our evening meals. She makes the most delicious veggies! I love the fried potato she makes. I remember my mom telling me when I was a child to "eat the potato skins"! She would explain that that is where all of the vitamins are. I was such a picky eater that I refused to listen. But, now, I will eat most anything which allows me to try food that I usually do not eat, like skins!
    Read More
  • Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/16/2019 6:41 AM
    My challenge to become more friendly to the environment is going amazingly. I am learning so many other ways to help keep our planet healthy. Even though I would have considered myself eco friendly before starting this challenge, I am now aware of my other responsibilities. And even though I knew of these tasks before starting this challenge, like planting trees, washing in cold water, clothes that is (bath water is much cooler too), etc., having them put in the forefront of my mind is extremely helpful. The thought of doing my part to keep our planet green is never far from my thoughts.
    Read More
  • Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/11/2019 1:29 PM
    I actually started the challenge because my coworkers invited me, and I wanted to be a part of the group! But I am and have always been a supporter for doing environmentally-friendly things. I choose the actions I did because they were the ones that I would and could do so easily, and were ones that I wanted to do...i.e. plant a tree!!!!
    Read More
  • Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/09/2019 9:44 AM
    My challenge is going well! I have always been conscience of my actions and if and how they might effect our environment. The biggest undertaking to date that I have accomplished is doing all the leg-work and financials with helping my daughter purchase an electric car! I bought it in PA and drove it to Florida. I stopped only 2 times to get gas and made a planned effort to go through convenient small towns or off-major highway roads so I would not use the gas. And also, I automatically charged my car during these detours every time I used my car brake, which saved time not having to stop to
    charge my vehicle!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Switch to Cold Water
    What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?
    Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/09/2019 9:24 AM
    The money that I am saving since becoming more green and energy-efficient  will be put into my savings account!
    Read More
  • 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?
    Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/09/2019 9:20 AM
    No one was going to be home last, so I called my sister before she left for the night and asked her to turn our thermometer down before leaving. It is still at 62 degrees. I might have to turn it up for a little while if there is a chill when I get home, but I will turn it back down when the chill is gone. The sun is probably heating up my house right now...so maybe I will not have any chill at all!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Choose LED Bulbs
    Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?
    Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/08/2019 1:03 PM
    I changed the 3 lightbulbs in the lamps in my family room! I don't want to get overwhelmed so I am planning on doing 2, 3 or 4 bulbs at a time. I may have to change my goal of 10 lightbulbs. I never thought about how many are in my home. There are many more than just 10!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Power Down the Computer
    What are other easy things you could do to save energy and reduce your environmental footprint?
    Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/08/2019 1:01 PM
    I powered down 5 computers before I went to sleep last night! Working on trying not to forget to do it tonight!
    Read More
  • Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/07/2019 12:13 PM

    Read More
  • Philippe Gallagher's avatar
    Philippe Gallagher 10/07/2019 12:13 PM
    Read More