Amanda Ketchum
4/30/2021 10:32 AM
Looking into replacing our window AC units with more energy efficient models.
Amanda Ketchum
"Challenge myself to learn more about sustainability. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 844 TOTAL
participant impact
-
UP TO555minutesspent outdoors
-
UP TO3.3pounds of paperhave been saved
-
UP TO35meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
-
UP TO60minutesspent learning
-
UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
-
UP TO3.0lightbulbsreplaced
Amanda's actions
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Keep Track of Wasted Food
Reduced Food Waste
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.
Electricity
Support Microgeneration in Low Income Countries
Small Hydropower, Micro Wind Turbines, Microgrids
I will make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.
Electricity
Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
Methane Digesters
I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).
Transportation
Conduct Virtual Meetings
Telepresence
I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.
Electricity
Choose LED Bulbs
LED Lighting
I will replace 6 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Tend A Garden
I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.
Electricity
Calculate My Carbon Footprint
All Drawdown Solutions
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.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Reduce Animal Products
Plant-Rich Diets
I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
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.
Buildings
Online Energy Audit
Multiple Solutions
I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Industry
Recycle Everything I Can
Recycling
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.
Industry
Go Paperless
Recycled Paper
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.
Land Sinks
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 90 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
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.
Participant Feed
-
Amanda Ketchum 4/30/2021 10:35 AMI spent a lot of my free time in April focusing on planting a garden. While the weather isn't quite ready to transfer my sprouting vegetables into the ground. Since moving to Chicago, I have been missing having a garden for fresh produce and am excited that we found a solution this year that works with the space we have and have alignment with our neighbors. I'm so excited to upgrade from an indoor herb garden last year to a small selection of produce and herbs this year! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricityChanging lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricityWhat stood out to you most about your carbon footprint? What surprised you or sparked curiosity? Where can you take most immediate action?
Amanda Ketchum 4/27/2021 8:27 AMMy carbon footprint is quite a bit smaller than the average for my household. I can have the most impact in the goods that I purchase/keep for my home. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildingsWhat are your next steps for saving energy?
Amanda Ketchum 4/27/2021 8:21 AMSet thermostat lower for winter/cooler weather and AC higher for summer/hot weather. Switch to energy efficient lightbulbs and ensure windows are properly closed when heat or ac are running. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood, Agriculture, and Land UseWhy do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?
Amanda Ketchum 4/22/2021 6:57 AMPeople in richer countries are able to eat more meat because it is more widely available and part of an industry instead of locally sourced. Meat can have both positive and negative impacts on our health and bodies, but the industrialization of the meat industry has had a significant negative impact on the planet and environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONIndustryWhat are some more "R's" you could add to your daily practice to reduce your waste?
Amanda Ketchum 4/18/2021 5:07 PMI have reduced the amount of stuff in my home. I recycle whenever possible. I reuse takeout containers for leftover meals. I donated clothes I don't wear as well as dog toys/blankets/collars that my dogs don't need so that they all can be repurposed and used by others. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONIndustryHow could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?
Amanda Ketchum 4/18/2021 5:05 PMI believe that my husband and I incorporate the other R's into our habits pretty well. Over the last year we have both gone through and decluttered quite a bit and have donated clothes, duplicate or extra kitchen utensils, and blankets. I think an area I can really focus on is repurposing old items that I no longer see a need for. Before donating or throwing them out, really think and determine if they can be used in place of a new gadget or article of clothing. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood, Agriculture, and Land UseAn average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. How would you rather use this money?
Amanda Ketchum 4/18/2021 5:00 PMI would rather put the $1,500 towards a vacation than in food waste. Even before this challenge, I was very mindful to plan out my meals to reduce my food waste. This has been a good reminder that it can add up quickly and not only have an environmental impact but also a direct financial one too. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCoastal, Ocean, and Engineered SinksMany states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Amanda Ketchum 4/18/2021 4:58 PMThe current advisories in place for Illinois do not impact my consumption on fish and seafood. However it is helpful to understand as we do shop for seafood at some markets that locally source their product to ensure I am not indirectly consuming too many pollutants via my food choices. Also, it's eye opening to see how many species are on the list due to pollution and water contamination. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportationHow can you ensure that your virtual meetings honor your values and your company's culture?
Amanda Ketchum 4/18/2021 4:48 PMBy understanding how the companies values and culture translate into the digital world. By allowing time after asking a question for others to process and respond and using different functions and features within Teams to share ideas or praise others.