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Welcome to 2018 People's Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an 2018 People's Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
2018 People's Ecochallenge
October 3 - October 24, 2018
Julia Doty's avatar

Julia Doty

Northwest Housing Alternatives

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 446 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    7.0
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    0.0
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    10
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    90
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    90
    miles
    traveled by bus
  • UP TO
    51
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    14
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables

Julia's actions

Water

Install Greywater Catchment

I will install a greywater catchment system in my home.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Take Control

Both system and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Use Public Transit

I will use public transit 18 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to 10.18 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 5
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 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 10 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Turn it off

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

COMPLETED 8
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 8
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
    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?
    Julia Doty's avatar
    Julia Doty 10/24/2018 8:51 AM
    Rather than buying an existing product, I filled two old water bottles and put them in the back of the toilet tank, saving water each time we flush at home. We also abide by the "if it's yellow, let it mellow" rule, reducing water consumption further. Kind of gross but effective!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Take Control
    How do environmental health, community health, and your personal health intersect?
    Julia Doty's avatar
    Julia Doty 10/22/2018 12:55 PM
    Being a type 1 diabetic, I always have to be careful to think about my overall health. A lot of the activities I must engage in to maintain my personal health have a side benefit of being environmentally friendly, like walking and biking instead of driving places. Some other parts are more difficult and less environmentally friendly; meat is a very easy snack or meal option for me since there are no carbohydrates involved, and my life is all about carbohydrate counting, but the negative effect on the environment causes me some cognitive dissonance. However, there are lots of protein-rich food options that are not meat, so I am trying to incorporate those into my diet more along with increased fruits and veggies.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Turn it off
    How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?
    Julia Doty's avatar
    Julia Doty 10/17/2018 3:20 PM
    It is so much easier for me to turn my computer off each night when I leave work now that I have a new one! Turning it on and opening Outlook previously took over 7-8 minutes each morning, time which I did not want to take each day. Now that my computer turns on and opens programs quickly, it's so much easier for me to be environmentally friendly!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health More Fruits and Veggies
    What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How can we start shifting from a meat-focused food culture to a more plant-based one?
    Julia Doty's avatar
    Julia Doty 10/12/2018 9:52 AM
    The in-house fruit at NHA has definitely helped me avoid sweets and other junky food when I am feeling hungry in between meals!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Volunteer in my Community
    What is one thing you can do to help your community become more sustainable?
    Julia Doty's avatar
    Julia Doty 10/12/2018 9:51 AM
    Many of you might know that I am on the board of directors for Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) Team. I spend anywhere from 10-20 hours per month at PAW Team, soliciting donations, helping to plan events, serving on various committees, etc. I've been volunteering with them for about 6 years and on the board for just over 4 years. It's an incredibly rewarding experience, and it's been awesome watching the organization take off over the last few years. The impact on the clients we serve is tremendous and as always, the animals just radiate love nonstop the whole time :).
    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 zipcode, and in your state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
    Julia Doty's avatar
    Julia Doty 10/03/2018 12:49 PM
    My hear hasn't kicked on yet since I keep it at 62 regularly. Recently, on chillier mornings, it has been 64 degrees in my house. By sticking to the 62 degree rule, I am avoiding using heat so far this year. Additionally, I am hoping to replace my old furnace and oil tank with a new 96% efficiency furnace! I just have to magically find thousands of dollars first...
    Read More
  • 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 reuseable one but it's just hard to make the switch. Think about 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?
    Julia Doty's avatar
    Julia Doty 10/03/2018 12:47 PM
    I feel a lot of guilt over how many disposable cups and lids I go through. I typically buy coffee out 1-3 times per week, and that in and of itself is a habit I'd like to break. By drinking coffee in the office and avoiding buying out, I am both saving money and reducing my waste. In addition to this reduction, I am going to either stop using Starbucks' order ahead feature or figure out how I can use that in combination with my reusable mug so that I am cutting out disposable coffee cups entirely.
    Read More