Samantha Cooper

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

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

I will spend at least 15 minutes using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 4 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

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 save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

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 each day that I do this.

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

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.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 10 minutes researching and recycling all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

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

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.