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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Melissa von Borstel's avatar

Melissa von Borstel

DOWA - IBI GROUP

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,202 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    community events
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    62
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    40
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    8.0
    donations
    made
  • UP TO
    8.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    133
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    90
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    20
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill

Melissa's actions

Energy

Upgrade My Windows

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Replace Manual Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Organize a Course

I will organize one of NWEI's discussion courses, such as 'Reconnecting with Earth', with my family, friends, coworkers, or classmates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Ditch the Lawn

I will replace my lawn with a drought-tolerant landscape and save the water, money, and time I used to spend cutting the grass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Host a House Party

I will host a house party with 12 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

Community

Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support Northwest Earth Institute or another local nonprofit.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Forage for My Food

I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 6 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 8 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and ending unwanted subscriptions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 20
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?


  • Melissa von Borstel's avatar
    Melissa von Borstel 10/22/2018 4:18 PM

    Speak up for Oregon’s high desert.

    Every one of us must be an advocate for the lands and wildlife we love or risk losing them forever. Take action today to help protect Oregon’s high desert for the future!


  • Melissa von Borstel's avatar
    Melissa von Borstel 10/22/2018 10:35 AM
    #from my yard yesterday... The hummingbirds are loving the pineapple sage

    Providing wildflower-rich habitat is the most significant action you can take to support pollinators. Adult bees, butterflies, and other pollinators require nectar as their primary food source, and female bees collect pollen as food for their offspring. Native plants, which are adapted to local soils and climates, are usually the best sources of nectar and pollen for native pollinators. Incorporating native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees into any landscape promotes local biological diversity and provides shelter and food for a diversity of wildlife. Most natives require minimal irrigation, flourish without fertilizers, and are unlikely to become weedy.

    http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2017-048_MaritimeNorthwestPlantList_Dec2017_web-3page.pdf

  • Melissa von Borstel's avatar
    Melissa von Borstel 10/19/2018 3:48 PM

    Microplastics were found in sea salt several years ago. But how extensively plastic bits are spread throughout the most commonly used seasoning remained unclear. Now, new research shows microplastics in 90 percent of the table salt brands sampled worldwide. _ NatGeo

  • Melissa von Borstel's avatar
    Melissa von Borstel 10/19/2018 9:47 AM
    The EcoChallenge has helped me to get back into spin class...

  • Melissa von Borstel's avatar
    Melissa von Borstel 10/17/2018 9:37 AM
    More than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans. _- National Geographic 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Ditch the Lawn
    What is the main water source in your region?

    Melissa von Borstel's avatar
    Melissa von Borstel 10/16/2018 5:52 PM
    Brown is this the new green

  • Melissa von Borstel's avatar
    Melissa von Borstel 10/08/2018 10:07 AM

    As we all have become more mindful in our first week of the Eco Challenge the difficulties of asking for a to-go cup or container and the single use life that it has, but the impact that we have is huge! Continue the great work as the children that we design for depend on it.