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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Alex Dees's avatar

Alex Dees

The University of Vermont Medical Center

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 725 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    23
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    20
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    380
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    390
    minutes
    spent learning

Alex's actions

Community

Host a House Party

I will host a house party with 20 friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on an environmental issue that matters to me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Meet My Local Farmers

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those who produce my food in other regions of the world to make better choices when I shop.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 19
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

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Turn it off

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

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Improve a Bus Stop

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or some other small improvement.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Smart Seafood Choices

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

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
    Food Smart Seafood Choices
    Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?

    Alex Dees's avatar
    Alex Dees 10/24/2018 2:18 PM
    Many of my diet choices fall in the guidelines for healthy fishing.  The main reason is my limited fish diet, but also when I do eat fish I tend to make sure I'm eating certain types of fish that fall within the guidelines.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Turn it off
    How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?

    Alex Dees's avatar
    Alex Dees 10/17/2018 5:47 PM
    Where I work, all electricity is renewable (but a significant portion is a wood burning plant).  Where I live, energy comes from a variety of sources that are hard to track down, but definitely some from wind, solar, hydro-quebec, and fossil fuels.  The co-op where I live strives to receive feedback from the community (especially when it comes to generating more renewable energy).  They, however, do not allow for net metering which is an economic disincentive to producing energy with ones land and home.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Power Down the Computer
    What are other easy things you could do to save energy and reduce your environmental footprint?

    Alex Dees's avatar
    Alex Dees 10/05/2018 6:23 PM
    Turn lights off when not in the room, and walk to the grocery store.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Meet My Local Farmers
    When you know who produces your food, you are connecting personally to your complex regional food system. What are the advantages of knowing who produces your food and where it comes from? Do you think this might enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?

    Alex Dees's avatar
    Alex Dees 9/24/2018 2:59 PM
    I buy Milk and dairy from the farm up the street at a supermarket, I'd like a chance to go meet the people and cows where my milk comes from.