Rachel Meihack
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 326 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO14disposable cupsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO112gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO42meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO14plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO28plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO96pounds of CO2have been saved
Rachel's actions
Energy
Turn it off
I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.
Waste
Use Reusable Bags
I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.
Waste
Use a Reusable Mug
I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.
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.
Waste
Skip the Straw
Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
Waste
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.
Water
Say No to Plastic Straws
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 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.
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.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
I will enjoy 3 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day this week.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Switch to Cold WaterWhat do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Reduce Animal ProductsWhat 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?
Rachel Meihack 4/29/2019 6:29 PMI think Americans are very focused on getting a high amount of protein in their diets everyday and we are convinced that there is a huge amount of protein in beef. We can start shifting a meat-focused food culture by educating people on what the over-production of beef does to the environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Use a Reusable MugMaybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reuseable one but it's just hard to make the switch. Think about what stands in your way of making this a habit. By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?
Rachel Meihack 4/29/2019 6:27 PMI feel like it is not that hard to keep your own coffee mug in your car at all times so that when you do get coffee you can use it then. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Skip the StrawHow could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?
Rachel Meihack 4/29/2019 6:26 PMRefuse buying single use plastic items, reduce the amount of times I get coffee to go, repair ripped jeans, shorts, etc. reuse clothes by buying second hand, and repurpose by using empty containers for things around the house. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Use a Reusable Water BottleWhile water bottles serve an important role in places for health and safety, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. Can you identify the barriers in making this a new habit? How can you set yourself up for success in making this a permanent change?
Rachel Meihack 4/29/2019 6:25 PMStop buying single use water bottles. Buy one reusable water bottle and stick to using that instead. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Use Reusable BagsWhat do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reuseable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to establish this a successful habit?
Rachel Meihack 4/29/2019 6:24 PMCarry it out with my hands if I am able to carry it all. I will always keep a reusable bag in my car trunk. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWater Say No to Plastic StrawsWhat single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Rachel Meihack 4/29/2019 6:24 PMCoffee cups, straws, plastic grocery bags, etc.
Reusable mug, metal straws, reusable bags.