Sarah Burke
"To make our society more sustainable, one action at a time."
Points Total
- 0 Today
- 0 This Week
- 1,605 Total
Participant Impact
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up to1.0locally sourced mealsconsumed
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up to290pounds of CO2have been saved
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up to1.0waste auditsconducted
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up to416gallons of waterhave been saved
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up to1,980minutesspent exercising
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up to60minutesspent outdoors
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up to330minutesspent learning
Sarah's 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.
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.
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.
Food
Buy From a Farmers Market
I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.
Health
Happiness
I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.
Transportation
Choose a Carbon Offset
If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.
Simplicity
Go for a Daily Walk
I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day.
Waste
Personal Waste Audit
I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.
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.
Food
Try a New Way to Prep
I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.
Simplicity
Track my Purchases
I will spend 10 minutes each day maintaining a record of all my purchases and learning about my spending habits.
Health
Exercise Daily
Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 60 minute(s) each day.
Health
Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home
I will spend 30 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.
Nature
Forage for My Food
I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.
Nature
Explore My Area
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.
Feed
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Sarah Burke 10/24/2018 8:23 PMWay to go team UNO Sustainability! -
Sarah Burke 10/24/2018 9:48 AMOn this last day of the EcoChallenge, I can't be more proud of our team as they commit to making small changes in their daily lives that will have a last effect on themselves and their community. #GoMAVS -
Sarah Burke 10/22/2018 8:30 AMWe are in the final stretch of this year's EcoChallenge. I am so proud of our team and the impact their actions have made. I hope you all have found this challenge rewarding and have developed new habits that you will maintain even after this event is over! -
Sarah Burke 10/15/2018 11:43 AMWe are halfway through the EcoChallenge and I am so happy to see my teammates engaged and making a difference in their lives and their communities. -
Reflection QuestionWaste Launch a Recycling ProgramHow might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems differently?
Sarah Burke 10/10/2018 9:08 AMSome of our big system problems require thinking creatively to be able to change a long standing tradition. For example, how might you address waste issues with adding to over-consumerism? It appears to me that we are now creating a new market for reusables, in place of single-use items, and encouraging people to purchase those items, without thinking about the issue of needing the item in the first place (example plastic straws replaced with metal...but really the question is "Do you need a straw in the first place?". -
Reflection QuestionTransportation Choose a Carbon OffsetA round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2—per person. That’s a lot of carbon! What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?
Sarah Burke 10/08/2018 8:18 PMThis is a difficult question, because I love to travel and see new places. However, one way a person could reduce the number of flights that they take each year, in regards to work, is to do more meetings virtually instead of traveling to those locations. -
Reflection QuestionWater Install a Low-Flow ShowerheadHow can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?
Sarah Burke 10/08/2018 4:32 PMOur region should start paying more attention to how to utilize our water and conserve as much as possible, especially since one of the biggest forecasted climat change problems for our area will be drought and high temperatures. -
Reflection QuestionWater Install a Toilet Tank BankName 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?
Sarah Burke 10/08/2018 4:31 PMOne of the major contributors inpacting our water systems is over fertilizing our commerical agricultural system. To help with this, on a personal level, is to purchase organic, local foods as much as possible. -
Reflection QuestionWaste Personal Waste AuditWhy is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?
Sarah Burke 10/06/2018 2:31 PMWe are selfish creatures so only think about what is easy and quick for ourselves without think of the consequences to others. This challenge is making me focus and become more aware of my behavior and how it can impact others.-
Monica Martin 10/06/2018 2:52 PMIt does seem that we live in a society that tends toward quick and easy and inward focused. It saddens me a bit and I often wonder what can be done to shift this in a positive direction. I think this challenge is a good start!
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Reflection QuestionNature Explore My AreaHow can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?
Sarah Burke 10/06/2018 2:29 PMSpending time outdoors ipens your mind that we are part of this world and not separate.