Skip to main content
October 3 - October 24, 2018
Bruce Mathew's avatar

Bruce Mathew

Green Cavs

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 883 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    48
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    5.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    7.0
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    23
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Bruce's actions

Waste

Recycle Everything I Can

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 15 minutes researching and recycling all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 2
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

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

Water

Fix Leaky Faucets

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Insulate Water Pipes and Water Heater

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Simplicity

Work-Life Balance

I will not work more than 8 hour days each day to practice work-life balance.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Turn it off

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

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Replace Manual Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

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
    Energy Choose LED Bulbs
    Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?

    Bruce Mathew's avatar
    Bruce Mathew 10/18/2018 11:51 AM
    Now that I understand I can select different ratings for the LEDs to get a similar warmth of light, the LEDs aren't has harsh for different environments.  A garage is much different than a kitchen or living room for the warmth of the light.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Power Down the Computer
    What are other easy things you could do to save energy and reduce your environmental footprint?

    Bruce Mathew's avatar
    Bruce Mathew 10/18/2018 11:49 AM
    This is easy for me.  I not only do this to conserve energy, but I also make sure to do this to enhance my security of my system.  If it's left on for hackers to try to break, then the longer they get to try, the more chances they may be successful.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Turn it off
    How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?

    Bruce Mathew's avatar
    Bruce Mathew 10/18/2018 11:48 AM
    Turning off lights and other appliances was something that I had instilled in me at an early age.  It was to conserve and reduce our electric bills back then.  But it's something that I still believe today.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Work-Life Balance
    Is practicing work-life balance difficult to do? How does it feel when you first begin? How does this feel for you after 21 days?

    Bruce Mathew's avatar
    Bruce Mathew 10/18/2018 11:46 AM
    I see many people who don't use their vacation time.  They wonder why they feel tired and burned out from work.  Everyone needs to take some time off for themselves and re-charge their batteries.  Most of take a great deal of pride in our work, but we must also take care of ourselves.

  • Bruce Mathew's avatar
    Bruce Mathew 10/09/2018 6:03 AM
    Love the the new LED lights I put in my garage!!  Very bright.

    • Roxanne Smothers's avatar
      Roxanne Smothers 10/14/2018 5:47 AM
      Hey Bruce,
      Right on!!  My hubby switched over to 8-foot LEDs in his shop; BLINDING!  All the better to see those little car parts.  On to the garage side of things this fall!!
      Rox
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Replace Manual Thermostats
    How do you anticipate replacing your thermostats for programmable ones will positively impact your life?

    Bruce Mathew's avatar
    Bruce Mathew 9/25/2018 11:50 AM
    It makes my home more efficient