Jennifer Teeple

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

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

I will spend 15 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

I will spend 20 minutes researching environmental justice and environmental racism concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

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

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

I will volunteer 1 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

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

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 20 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

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

I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 5 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

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

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

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and POC-majority neighborhoods. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

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

I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.

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

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 replace 12 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.