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October 14 - October 28, 2016
Lauren Groves's avatar

Lauren Groves

ACHS Students & Faculty: Academic All-Stars

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 2,791 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    840
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    0.0
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    822
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    10
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    14
    letters or emails
    sent to public officials or leaders
  • UP TO
    10
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    16
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    30
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    0.0
    miles
    traveled by foot
  • UP TO
    900
    minutes
    of additional sleep
  • UP TO
    420
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    6,540
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    900
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    14
    neighbors
    met
  • UP TO
    45
    organic meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    14
    outdoor meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    14
    people
    helped
  • UP TO
    14
    phone calls
    made to public officials or leaders
  • UP TO
    36,120
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    10
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    16
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    3.2
    pounds of paper
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    45
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Lauren's actions

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 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Install Alternative Energy

I will install alternative energy systems, e.g., solar electric systems or solar water heaters.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Work-Life Balance

I will not work more than 8 hour days each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Buy Food and Water Only

I will not purchase anything but food and water.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Lobby for Reusables

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

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
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a documentary film about food with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Have a Garage Sale

I will have a group garage sale with friends, family, and/or neighbors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2400 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Containers

I will only use reusable containers for my lunches at work or school.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Disconnect from Email

I will disconnect from my email when not at work.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Online Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 0 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 15-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 8 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Eat Mindfully

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Leave No Trace

I will practice the seven principles of leave no trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a walk each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Have Meetings Outside

I will schedule 60 minute(s) of work meetings or phone calls outside each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate for more Food Options

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

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

De-Clutter my Home

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Fix Leaky Faucets

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and/or unsubscribing from catalogs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Products In My Home

I will research toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Meet my Neighbors

I will meet 1 new neighbor(s) per day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero waste each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Sign a Petition

I will sign a petition in support of an environmental or social initiative in my state.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 30 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Set up Recycling

I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Visit a Local Farm

I will visit a nearby farm to pick my own fruits and veggies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Recycle all Recyclable Materials

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 300 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Healthy Sleep

I will commit to getting 60 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 3 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will learn about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Turn it off

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Waste

Avoid Disposables

I will not use any disposable plates, cups, or cutlery.

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 per day that I do this.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Track my Purchases

I will maintain a record of all my purchases.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Less Screen Time

I will replace 60 minute(s) of screen time per day with other activities.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Eat Meals Outside

I will eat 1 meal(s) outside each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Avoid Refined Sugar

I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Choose Two-Sided Printing

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided at work.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Work from Home

I will work from home 7 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Tend a Garden

I will tend to a garden each day, or work on starting one.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Community

Talk to my Friends

I will decide which social or environmental issue in my community is most important to me and tell 60 friends per day about the issue.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Become a Master Recyler/Composter

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

More Fruits And Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 3 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Start Composting

I will start a compost collection at home, work, or school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Ditch the Lawn

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Disable Screen Savers

I will disable screen savers and will put the computer to sleep instead, saving up to 28% % more energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share my Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible with a lawn sign or bumper sticker, or by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Eat Meatless Meals

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Do Nature Activities

I will engage in nature-based activities with my kid(s) for 60 minute(s) each day. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Buy in Bulk

I will only purchase bulk food items and avoid all single-package items.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Needs vs. Wants

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Write Letters

I will write 1 letter(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies or something else I believe in.

COMPLETED 14
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

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

Transportation

Just Drive Less

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Food Diet

I will enjoy 3 meal(s) per day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Say No to Seafood

I will not eat seafood.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

I will exercise daily for 30 minute(s) per day for two weeks.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Advocate for Greener Vehicles

I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on fuel-efficient vehicles.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Install a Toilet Tank Bank

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water per day.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Join an Outdoor Project

I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Upgrade Heating & Cooling Units

I will replace inefficient heating and cooling units.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Host a House Party

I will host a house party to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on an 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 nonprofit.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

100-Mile Diet

I'm up for a serious challenge! I will only eat food that has been raised and cultivated within a hundred-mile radius of where I live.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Go Get a Check Up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Use an Energy Meter

I will use an energy meter to monitor my energy use and identify opportunities to save power.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Collect Rain Water

I will create a rain garden or bioswale, or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Install Greywater Catchment

I will install a greywater catchment system in my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore my Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Know My Health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Join A Quit-Smoking Program

I will join a smoking cessation program and post my daily progress on my EcoChallenge feed.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Visit a Waste Management Facility

I will visit a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about the waste stream.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Car Share

I will sign up for a car-sharing service, or organize car sharing with my neighbors, to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road.

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

Community

Join my Neighborhood Association

I will join my neighborhood association or another local group.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 10 hour(s) in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Keep a Nature Journal

I will journal each day about my experiences in nature.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Pick up the Phone

I will make 1 phone call(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate community or planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Consider Switching to an Electric Vehicle

Research or test drive an electric car or bike.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Help Others

I will offer to help 1 person(s) who are in need each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook New Recipes

I will cook a new recipe every day that features organic and/or local ingredients.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Connect with a Nonprofit

I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Take Control

Develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Organize a Course

I will organize NWEI's discussion course 'Voluntary Simplicity' with my family, friends, coworkers, or classmates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Express my Support

I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Locally-Sourced Meals

I will source 1 meal(s) per day from local producers.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day for two weeks that I am grateful for or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Organize a Course

I will organize one of NWEI's discussion courses, such as 'Powering a Bright Future', with family, friends, coworkers, or classmates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Heat and Cool Naturally

I will naturally heat and cool my house, office, or dorm room by opening or closing my windows, curtains, and blinds, and by using fans.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Walk Instead

I will walk 0 mile(s) per day instead of driving and avoid sending up to 0.0 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Organize a Course

I will organize one of NWEI's discussion courses on food sustainability, 'Menu for the Future' or 'Hungry for Change', with my family, friends, coworkers, or classmates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Join a Local CSA

I will sign up for a local CSA (consumer-supported agriculture).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Conduct Virtual Meetings

I will not travel for meetings and will instead conduct them virtually.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Create Your Own Action

NON-GMO

Make an effort everyday to elimate any GMO products still around the house. Not just food, but those found in cleaners, detergents, and even cosmetics.

COMPLETED 15
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?


  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/24/2016 5:01 PM
    Doing my best today, think it will be first day I will miss a few of my daily challenges, but I'm sick so that's OK. Naps are important.

    • Lauren Groves's avatar
      Lauren Groves 10/27/2016 6:08 AM
      thanks Paul! That made me laugh...I needed a good laugh!

    • Paul Ventura's avatar
      Paul Ventura 10/25/2016 3:35 PM
      Too bad naps aren't an action for the Eco-Challenge. Sleeping likely emits less CO2 than using your computer! In fact, TreeHugger had a post a few years ago (2010) on "What's the Carbon Footprint of Sleep?"
      http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/whats-the-carbon-footprint-of-sleep.html

      The author quotes someone writing in 2006 that "The 5 per cent of Britons who regularly grab less than five hours sleep utilise 16 per cent more electricity, 9 per cent more gas and consume and burn over 1.5g more fat in each 24 hours than the 6 per cent of Britons getting over nine hours in the land of nod."

      In any case, enjoy your rest and recovery. You deserve it!

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/22/2016 5:19 PM
    I've completed most of my one-time challenges! One more to go....It will have to wait a few days though

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/19/2016 7:48 AM
    I have been working for years to make changes like this in my life. I can complete most all of the challenges easily because it is how I live every day. But there are a few challenges that I cannot complete at this time, so this has given me some new goals to work towards!

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/19/2016 7:41 AM
    I have many hobbies I enjoy doing, one of them being glass work. I made 6 mason jar style mug with each family members name permanently etched into the side of the glass. The kids are now drinking a lot more water with their personalised glass mugs. They love them and they love filling them up from our water filter. No more plastic bottles in this house...ever!

    • Paul Ventura's avatar
      Paul Ventura 10/19/2016 8:44 AM
      What a neat, inspiring idea: it hatches two birds with one egg! You avoid plastic bottles and encouraging drinking more water!

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/18/2016 6:29 AM
    Good morning all! How is the challenge going for you?

    • Paul Ventura's avatar
      Paul Ventura 10/18/2016 9:47 AM
      I'm doing well with my daily challenges. I'm hoping to buy the remaining LED bulbs I need this weekend to replace the CFLs in my light fixtures at home.

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/17/2016 5:04 PM
    In our rural area, a regular garage or yard sale would be nearly impossible to hold, so our family is completing the challenge by holding an online sale through eBay, Mercari, and Amazon.

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/17/2016 4:02 PM
    Some thoughts and reflections on today: we are a family of six. It is utterly amazing how many things can work their way into your house. We are also a homeschooling family. There are so many books in this household! Today I began sorting books out. Some are going to be donated and others sold. Amazingly, I only listed 10 for sale so far and have sold 3 of them! This will definitely help our family save some money towards our goals and help simplify our home and lives.

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/17/2016 6:39 AM
    Morning check in! Love this challenge! I do wish it ran for a bit longer though. I think it would have a more lasting impact for some if it was a minimum of 3 weeks. It takes about 21 days of consistently doing something new for a human to develop a lasting new habit. 

    • Paul Ventura's avatar
      Paul Ventura 10/17/2016 9:14 AM
      I appreciate your point, Lauren. Though the Eco-Challenge is only two weeks, it's intended to get us into a routine which can last a lifetime. Think of it as the stretching you do before a long workout!

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/16/2016 9:29 PM
    I threw out every last cosmetic I own. So did my teenage daughter. We spent an hour trying to search for the ingredients and msds on them on our phones and found some disgusting, toxic, and even GMO products in them. We rarely wear makeup anyway...but now we are going to search for better choices. If I'm going to wear it for a special occasions I might as well make sure that it is special itself! 

  • Lauren Groves's avatar
    Lauren Groves 10/15/2016 9:20 AM
    I am really enjoyong this. its helping motivate me to start or continue with changes and goals.