daniela arcia

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

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

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

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 60 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

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

I will source 80 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 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 take a walk for 60 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

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

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

I will start a compost bin where I live.

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

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

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 host a virtual film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.

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

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

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

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

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

I will spend 25 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

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

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

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

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 fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities. Fixing leaky faucets can save up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day or 450 gallons (1,680 L) a month by installing a low-flow showerhead.

I will spend at least 40 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.