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October 2 - October 23, 2019
ben Brown's avatar

ben Brown

EcoINL

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 413 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    tree
    planted
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    2.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    16
    miles
    traveled by foot
  • UP TO
    4.0
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    210
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    44
    miles
    traveled by bike
  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    4.0
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    0.7
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    47
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    60
    miles
    not traveled by car

ben's actions

Water

Install a Toilet Tank Bank

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water each day by installing a toilet tank bank.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Research Impact Investing

Simplicity

Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing and deterimine if it is right for me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Zero-Waste Cooking

Food

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY 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

Health

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics - including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl - and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 11 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to 8.07 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Advocate for Greener Vehicles

I will spend at least 15 minutes assessing the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on fuel-efficient vehicles.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Walk Instead

I will walk 4 mile(s) each day instead of driving and avoid sending up to 3.22 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Locally-Sourced Meals

I will source 1 meal(s) each day from local producers.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Launch a Recycling Program

I will start a recycling program at my workplace or school. If a recycling program exists, I will advocate for ways to improve and expand it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Online Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

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
    Health Eliminate Toxic Plastics
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/07/2019 1:26 PM
    Plastic bags at walmart, I've often wondered would a good substitue would be for those bags, because right now I know its bad to use them but they are too convinient to giv up. Maybe if they made the bags recycleable?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Install a Toilet Tank Bank
    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?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/07/2019 1:23 PM
    Overwatering our lawns, grass needs as much water as you give it, your grass will suffer initially but eventually it will learn to grow with less water.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    High Impact Action Track Plant Trees
    How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/07/2019 1:18 PM
    Mentally it is good to learn new things, physically its good to stay active and lawn care helps with that. Spiritually trees help you take things day by day and to be okay with small measures of growth over a long period of time.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Advocate for Greener Vehicles
    Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/07/2019 1:16 PM
    I like to save money on gas as well as get some exercise. Plus during rush hour its just as quick to ride a bike.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    High Impact Action Track Research Impact Investing
    How might impact investing help you better live your values?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/03/2019 1:07 PM
    Being aware of the little things and giving small contributions is what will make the differences.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Online Energy Audit
    What most interested or surprised you about your own energy footprint?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/03/2019 1:06 PM
    Turns out i can save over 3000$ by installing a 200$ smart thermostat, pretty cool.

    • hannah ovre's avatar
      hannah ovre 10/04/2019 9:00 AM
      How did you find this out? I was thinking about installing a smart thermostat but don't know much about them. Thanks!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Walk Instead
    Half of all trips made in the US are three miles or less; 72% of them are driven. Do you feel that this fact applies to you? If so, how might you incorporate more muscle-powered transportation in your daily life?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/02/2019 3:52 PM
    Walking is a great form of excerisice even though all of the buildings in town are easy to drive to, I will walk now.
  • 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?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/02/2019 3:51 PM
    Its cold, but its good excersise!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    High Impact Action Track 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?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/02/2019 3:51 PM
    Switching from paper bowls to glass ones, time to do those dishes
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Locally-Sourced Meals
    If you were to only eat what is in season locally, what would be the hardest food item for you to give up?

    ben Brown's avatar
    ben Brown 10/02/2019 3:50 PM
    I've resisted going local for a while due to costs, but I enjoy it now.