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October 2 - October 23, 2019
Corey Efaw's avatar

Corey Efaw

EcoINL

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 553 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    19
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    136
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    450
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    20
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.7
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    5.8
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Corey's actions

Simplicity

Track my Purchases

I will spend 30 minutes each day maintaining a record of all my purchases and learning about my spending habits.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

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 Weekly Meal Planning
    An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money?

    Corey Efaw's avatar
    Corey Efaw 10/08/2019 3:47 PM
    It doesn't. I'd rather use this money to pay for rent or mortgage.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Track my Purchases
    What have you noticed about your purchases? Where are you inclined to make shifts, if any?

    Corey Efaw's avatar
    Corey Efaw 10/03/2019 10:17 AM
    I used the notes application on my cell phone to track all of my purchases. I've noticed that I don't really pay attention to how much I spend when I use my credit or debit card. Perhaps a shift I could make is to use cash to make small purchases, with hopes that this will make me more mindful of how much I spend.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle
    While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?

    Corey Efaw's avatar
    Corey Efaw 10/03/2019 10:09 AM
    Purchase a good water bottle and bring it to work - the habit will form to where you will refill it rather than sought out bottled water. If you struggle to remember taking your water bottle to and from work, then have a second one and leave it in your car. I bought aluminum water bottles that last a long time, and leave one at work while the other one stays in my car. I rarely ever use bottled water since I've done this.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Mug
    Maybe 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?

    Corey Efaw's avatar
    Corey Efaw 10/03/2019 10:06 AM
    INL provided us with a travel-ready mug when we are first hired. I use it whenever I'm at work. I also have a regular coffee mug and an aluminum water bottle that I reuse for coffee and water at work.

    It's nice using the same mug or bottle every day - it creates a good habit, that when I go outside of by using a single-use cup, it feels strange to do.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use Reusable Bags
    What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?

    Corey Efaw's avatar
    Corey Efaw 10/03/2019 10:04 AM
    I usually carry things out by hand if possible. If there are too many items, then I'll roll the cart to my car and unload there.

    Usually, I keep 1-2 reusable bags in my car at all times. That way, if I'm going to the store, farmer's market, etc, then I'll always be prepared to use a reusable bag.