Katelyn Hooks

I will volunteer 10 hours with a wetland restoration project in my region.

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

I will connect with a local nonprofit working on issues affecting women, girls, and/or trans and nonbinary people in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 300 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

I will plant 100 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

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

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

I will spend 60 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

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

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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 start a compost bin where I live.

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

I will spend at least 90 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

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 source 10 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 enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

I will spend at least 90 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

I will replace 20 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

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.