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October 2 - October 23, 2019
Sara Martinez's avatar

Sara Martinez

Zero Waste Los Alamos

"I believe with everyone making a change in how they live and how they see waste, it will help make the world a happier and healthier place. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 970 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    19
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    390
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    60
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    100
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    26
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    16
    pounds of paper
    have been saved

Sara's actions

Water

Collect Rain Water

I will create a rain garden or bioswale or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Upgrade My Windows

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Choose Two-Sided Printing

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper each day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 5 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

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 Collect Rain Water
    Trace the water that flows down the drain from your house to the largest body of water nearby. What is the route it takes?

    Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/23/2019 1:00 PM
    Outside of my house the rain collects on the roof and spews into the rain gutters that end one of two sides of my house. At one end it waters my rose bushes, and on the other it it being collected by our huge rain barrel that when it gets full I tip over to water my trees and lawn in my backyard. Then I have to clean it out if it gets gross, which with the water already there it is not a problem.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Upgrade My Windows
    How does improving your home's energy efficiency help you better live out your values?

    Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/23/2019 12:51 PM
    I put a new weatherstrip on my front door because I could feel the cold air come through the bottom and goodness what a difference it has made! I now can prolong turning on the heat in my home! Holding out until November 1st at the earliest! 

  • Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/22/2019 1:42 PM
    “When we reconnect with nature, we will be restore ourselves.” — Lailah Gifty Akita
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Explore My Area
    How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

    Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/22/2019 1:40 PM
    Spending time outside has made me feel happier and be a happier person. It has helped lower any stress I had collected that day and has helped me relax more. I hope to explore more hiking trails after this challenge (as well as during).

  • Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/20/2019 7:54 AM
    "A beautiful environment starts with you!" - Unknown
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Switch to Cold Water
    What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?

    Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/17/2019 3:20 PM
    With the money I save from making more energy efficient choices I will use to pay for more way to make my home more energy efficient. I want to get the rest of the house on LED light bulbs, look into solar panels and other things to help lower my utility bill.

  • Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/17/2019 3:17 PM
    "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Jane Goodall

  • Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/16/2019 7:53 AM
    After reviewing the actions you can take to do well in this challenge it has made me reallize I am doing a lot already. But then I see the big actions and realize I can do more. I want to do more. I will be looking into starting a green team for my kid's elementary school. They have one, or at least they say they do, but it just hasn't started. That will be my next step. I can't wait to start this journey.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Go Paperless
    Reducing your paper mail can be such a freeing action to take -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?

    Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/16/2019 7:49 AM
    I really enjoy not getting sooo many letter in the mail about my bills. I feel going paperless makes my bills more private. I don't need others to know what bills I am paying for or if I missed a payment and the company sends me the notice letter. Instead I get an email or a text that says hey don't forget your payment. Plus that is less trees to cut down and use to turn into paper. I am a plant lover and the more trees on this earth and around me there better! :)

  • Sara Martinez's avatar
    Sara Martinez 10/16/2019 7:46 AM
    "Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put all together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu