Rach`ell Couch

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

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.

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.

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

I will replace inefficient heating and cooling units.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I will take a walk each day.

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

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

I will not eat seafood.

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

I will enjoy 5 meatless meal(s) per day.

I will replace 120 minute(s) of screen time per day with other activities.

I will not purchase anything but food and water.

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

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

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

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

I will adopt a diet free of animal products.

I will spend 15 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

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

I will take a 120-minute walk outside each day.

I will replace 60 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

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

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

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

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

I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream.

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

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

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

I will maintain a record of all my purchases.

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

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

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero waste each day.

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

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

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

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.

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.

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

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

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.

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

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

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

I will engage in nature-based activities with my kid(s) for 90 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.)

I will enjoy 5 meal(s) per day free of processed foods.

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

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

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

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

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

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

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

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

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