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October 2 - October 23, 2019
Jacob Mathews's avatar

Jacob Mathews

Ford SE&SE

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 401 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    195
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    10
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    144
    miles
    traveled by carpool
  • UP TO
    93
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    192
    miles
    not traveled by car

Jacob's actions

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

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

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

Turn it off

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Insulate Water Pipes and Water Heater

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Collect Rain Water

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Work from Home

I will work from home 3 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Try Carpooling

I will commute by carpool 48 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to 3.95 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED -1
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
    Transportation Work from Home
    It takes the average worker in the United States 26 minutes to travel to work. One way to fix long commutes would be to make cities more affordable. An even simpler option: promote the use of telework. Are you in an industry that would allow you to work from home? What are some obstacles you might find yourself facing while working from home?

    Jacob Mathews's avatar
    Jacob Mathews 10/14/2019 9:25 AM
    Sometimes you just need to connect with your co-workers in-person rather than using an instant messenger, phone or email. Although this is not a huge obstacle, it does require a bit of consideration of which tasks can be successfully accomplished while working remotely
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Online Energy Audit
    What most interested or surprised you about your own energy footprint?

    Jacob Mathews's avatar
    Jacob Mathews 10/10/2019 11:33 AM
    It was interesting to note all the standby power being consumed by devices such as clocks, computers, appliances, cellphones, alarm systems, etc. while everyone was asleep. Minimizing this standby power consumption could save hundreds of dollars over the year!

    • Kim Gamble's avatar
      Kim Gamble 10/15/2019 6:39 PM
      I had not considered the cost of standby power but now I am aware!  Thank you!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Turn it off
    How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?

    Jacob Mathews's avatar
    Jacob Mathews 10/10/2019 11:29 AM
    DTE Energy is the utility company in my area and while the energy is presently being generated using Nuclear, fossil fuels and renewables, their goal is to have net-zero carbon emission by 2050. DTE has made significant investments in reducing their emission which has had a positive impact on the environment, animals, and humans.

    DTE has wind, solar and other renewable energy projects in various stages of development throughout Michigan. These projects will provide economic benefits to local communities, and help improve our State's air, water, and overall environment.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Power Down the Computer
    What are other easy things you could do to save energy and reduce your environmental footprint?

    Jacob Mathews's avatar
    Jacob Mathews 10/10/2019 11:12 AM
    The annual savings for shutting down your computer vs placing it in sleep mode is approximately $1.30. Granted this number multiplied by hundreds of millions of computers would add up to very large number, it would have been weighed against the loss of productivity while waiting for the machine to fully boot up. Using an average American wage of $59K per year, daily  2min boot-up time would cost ~$1. The annualized savings would be completely wiped out on day 2, not accounting for the frustration built up while waiting to start work!
  • 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?

    Jacob Mathews's avatar
    Jacob Mathews 10/10/2019 9:59 AM
    Unplug USB chargers from the wall outlet once the phone is charge. Add motion sensors to each room to turnoff lights when empty