Minnie Mak

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

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

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

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 donate to Native American Rights Fund, which protects tribal natural resources and environmental rights and promotes Native American Human Rights.

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

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

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

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

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 make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.

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

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

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement.

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

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

I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.

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 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.

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.