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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar

Wei-Hsing Wang

The Hartford Environmental Action Team (HEAT)

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 935 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    1.0
    locally sourced meal
    consumed
  • UP TO
    44
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    20
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    230
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    22
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    145
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    2.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Wei-Hsing's actions

Transportation

Work from Home

I will work from home 5 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of C02 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate for More Food Options

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 1 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Join a Local CSA

I will sign up for a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Recycle Everything I Can

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 5 minutes researching and recycling all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 22
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
    Food Choose Organic Ingredients
    Can organic farming feed the world? Which side of the argument do you fall on? Why?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/24/2018 8:56 AM
    I think on a small scale, organic farming can be sustainable.  However, on the a larger global scales, I don't think so, not yet.  We need to spend more on R&D, to enable scientists to develop natural herbicides and pesticides, so that everyone can benefit from organic products. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Advocate for More Food Options
    Given the impact of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers on both the natural world and our food systems, what do you think about the use of these products in agriculture?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/24/2018 8:52 AM
    I believe we should be growing our foods organically as much as possible. However, I do understand we cannot eliminate pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers all together.  I think we should explore all options of not using these harmful chemicals.  We should enable scientists to develop natural pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, spend more dollars on R&D. 


  • Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/24/2018 8:43 AM
    The Eco-Challenge has been completed.  I am so glad I participated in this challenge.  I've learned so much! I am more aware of what I can do to make the earth healthier for all of us.  Thank you!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Switch to Cold Water
    What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/24/2018 6:33 AM
    My refrigerator is getting on its year.  When it eventually stops working, I will use the savings and buy an energy efficient one. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Recycle Everything I Can
    What have you learned about what is accepted by local haulers for recycling, what you can drop off or ship to certain places, and what is not recyclable in your area? What is the most difficult part of recycling for you?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/23/2018 7:55 AM
    Recently our recycling place stop taking plastic bags.  This is so unfortunate!  This is the one thing which I hope would change back.  within 2 weeks of time, I've gathered many recyclable plastic bags from packaged foods, pretzels, breads, and etc.  I would love to know what others do with these bags. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Compost Food Waste
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? Do you know how your compost will be used and the benefits it has on the environment?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/22/2018 9:55 AM
    Ever since I started to throw food away to composting, I've noticed that the amount of trash has reduced significantly.  I would say by half.  So half of my food are now being composted!  This is really eye opening for me.  As for my compost, I will use the compost next year to enhance my garden and my vegetable garden.  Not only am I producing less trash, I am looking forward to vigorous growth of my plants and flowers AND a bountiful harvest of the vegetables.  It's a win-win!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than in other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/12/2018 8:33 AM
    It's such an interesting fact that people in North America eat more meat than in any other places.  I believe this is partially due to the fact of land mass.  Both Canada and US have the acreage (The Plains) to raise cattle/stock compared to other nations. Because of this, consuming meat is part of our diet as it's plentiful.  I love Meatless Monday! It would be great if this program was more prevalent, including school lunches and meals. Hopefully, this will encourage the younger generations to bring this idea home with them. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Plant an Herb Garden
    Consider the ways you can garden: a plot of land? a patio container? hanging basket? windowsill gardens? What would work best for your living situation and lifestyle?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/11/2018 8:38 AM
    Since I already have a raised bed where I grow my vegetables, I think for the next growing season, I want to expand growing some vegetables in patio containers on my back porch.  I can grow lettuces, arugulas, and spinaches in patio containers.  This way, I can free up more space in my raised bed to grow more vegetables. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Buy From a Farmers Market
    What is one food choice that you make, or could make, that would do more good and less harm?

    Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/10/2018 8:02 AM
    Local fruits and vegetable whenever possible.  After speaking with local farmers and understanding their business better, I've come to realize how "buying local" impacts me at so many levels.  The obvious one is that local produce tastes better.  This is because the farmers harvest the produce at the right time.  The store bought produce were harvest prior to ripen to prolong shelf life.  And most importantly, less CO2 footprints.  The produce at the grocery stores are flown in and then trucked in from far away compared to the small amount of CO2 created driving from the farm to the market.

  • Wei-Hsing Wang's avatar
    Wei-Hsing Wang 10/09/2018 6:37 AM
    I've always thought that I am a pretty eco-friendly person.  I recycle, compost and etc.  With a week into the challenge, I know I can do better.  I will do better.