Gulshan Banaji
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 156 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO20lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO30minutesspent learning
Gulshan's actions
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Smart Seafood Choices
Ocean Farming
I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.
Transportation
Conduct Virtual Meetings
Telepresence
I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.
Transportation
Use Muscle Power
Multiple Transportation Solutions
I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.
Transportation
Go for a Daily Walk
Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 10 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Transportation
Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Zero-waste Cooking
Reduced Food Waste
I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Smaller Portions
Reduced Food Waste
I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Support Local Food Systems
Plant-Rich Diets
I will source 5 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.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions
Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants
Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders
I will spend 15 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.
Industry
Practice the 5 R's
Recycling
I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.
Industry
Launch a Recycling Program
Recycling
I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Eat Mindfully
I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Tend A Garden
I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Reduce Animal Products
Plant-Rich Diets
I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Electricity
Choose LED Bulbs
LED Lighting
I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Buildings
Replace Manual Thermostats
Smart Thermostats
I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.
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 QUESTIONFood, Agriculture, and Land Use Zero-waste CookingIn North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?
Gulshan Banaji 4/21/2021 6:45 PMI am trying to use an entire vegetable during some of my meals. For instance, I try to use a whole cucumber instead of peeling it. I also am doing research on how I can use the peels of vegetables and make it to good use. For instance, one great way is by using the peels to make your own garden compost.-
Fred Desai 4/21/2021 9:26 PMGulshan
Bakhtavar and I are starting composting as well. Susan our friend is guiding us.
Let us know if u r planning to do the same.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Choose LED BulbsChanging lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?
Gulshan Banaji 4/21/2021 6:19 PMSome ways that I have become energy efficient are by turning off lights and appliances when I don't use them. Turning off water when washing hands and brushing teeth and also trying to take shorter showers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood, Agriculture, and Land Use Smaller PortionsWhile dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?
Gulshan Banaji 4/17/2021 10:02 AMSome benefits that come from eating/serving smaller portions are:
1. Help eliminate the risk of over portioning which usually happens while serving larger plates.
2. Another benefit is that it helps with weight control.
3. Eating smaller portions also helps with improved digestion.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings Replace Manual ThermostatsHow do you anticipate replacing your thermostats for smart ones will positively impact your life?
Gulshan Banaji 4/03/2021 8:12 AMPositive impact - Schedule the thermostat temperatures during different times of day, be able to turn on or off the thermostat when I am away. Smart thermostat using my phone location also goes into eco mode when it detects I am not at home