Monica Ahlers

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

I will research and tell 1 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

I will source 60 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

I will start a compost bin where I live.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 120 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Earth Month Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

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

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

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

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will set up a visit or a virtual tour of a green roof in my city, and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.

I will contact 3 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws, as well as the rights of local people to protect and restore the land in their communities.

I will replace 6 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

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

I will replace or remove from my current diet the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products that are known to contribute to deforestation.

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.