Nicolette Matz
"I hope to educate myself more and others about the changes happening to our earth."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,041 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO3.0conversationswith people
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO5.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO30locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO52meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO11milestraveled by bike
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UP TO438minutesspent exercising
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UP TO320minutesspent learning
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UP TO90minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO45minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO55plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO42pounds of CO2have been saved
Nicolette's actions
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions
Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives
All Electricity Solutions
I will research and tell 1 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.
Action Track: Climate Resilience
Learn More about Biomass
Biomass Power
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.
Action Track: Climate Resilience
Tend A Garden
I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.
Health and Education
Learn about the Need for Family Planning
Health and Education
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.
Land Sinks
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 1 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
Buildings
Replace Manual Thermostats
Smart Thermostats
I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.
Electricity
Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
Methane Digesters
I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).
Land Sinks
Buy Bamboo
Bamboo Production
When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.
Land Sinks
Forest-Friendly Foods 1
Tropical Forest Restoration
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.
Land Sinks
Learn More about Silvopasture
Silvopasture
I will spend at least 10 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.
Land Sinks
Learn about Temperate Forests
Temperate Forest Restoration
I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.
Land Sinks
Choose Better Wood Products
Forest Protection
I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.
Land Sinks
Forest-Friendly Foods 2
Tropical Forest Restoration
I will replace or remove from my current diet the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products that are known to contribute to deforestation.
Industry
Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion
Multiple Industry Solutions
I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.
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
Reduce Single-Use Disposables
Bioplastics
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 3 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.
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.
Health and Education
Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants
Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders
I will spend 10 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.
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 25 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Transportation
Go by Bike
Bicycle Infrastructure
I will commute by bike 3 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
Transportation
Advocate For Greener Vehicles
Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars, Efficient Trucks
I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on electric and fuel-efficient vehicles
Transportation
Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars
I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.
Transportation
Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail
High-Speed Rail
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.
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
Explore Other Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions
All Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Composting
Composting, Reduced Food Waste
I will start a compost bin where I live.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
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
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.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Reduce Animal Products
Plant-Rich Diets
I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Support Local Food Systems
Plant-Rich Diets
I will source 20 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.
Electricity
Explore Other Electricity Solutions
All Electricity Solutions
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.
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.
Electricity
Learn More About Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Power
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.
Electricity
Support Companies Leading in Green Energy
Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics, Distributed Solar Photovoltaics
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.
Health and Education
Explore the Deloitte WorldClimate Hub
Spend 15 minutes browsing the new World Climate Hub website, hosted by Deloitte US Sustainability!
Health and Education
Get your family involved in greening the dot!
If you have kids at home, encourage them to create a logo for Deloitte NPSI using scrap paper and any crayons, markers, or materials you have in your home. Email a photo of the final product to Emma Howe (emhowe@deloitte.com) for a chance to be featured in our Earth Month recap email and potential future internal communications!
Land Sinks
Sign up for Plant Your Change
Sign up for Plant Your Change to round up your purchases and plant one tree for every transaction on your personal credit card. Link to sign up found below!
Health and Education
Explore the Deloitte World Climate Hub
Spend 15 minutes browsing the new World Climate Hub website, hosted by Deloitte US Sustainability! Link to be added soon.
Health and Education
Donate to the NPSI Earth Month Giving Campaign
NPSI will be hosting a month-long giving campaign during April. Donate via the NPSI philanthropy cloud website linked below!
Health and Education
Attend the NPSI Intersections Panel on April 28th
On Wednesday, April 28th, Deloitte NPSI is hosting a panel with senior leaders at the firm to discuss the intersections between climate, health and justice. Invite to be added soon!
Transportation
Stay on the Ground
Telepresence, High-Speed Rail
Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).
Transportation
Improve a Bus Stop
Public Transit
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.
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
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 QUESTIONLand Sinks Learn about Temperate ForestsAs you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?
Nicolette Matz 4/30/2021 11:24 AMMany parts of climate change are incredibly overwhelming, but one thing I have learned after watching countless documentaries and reading books about it is that a lot of people do not understand how our actions impact the earth. Nobody wants to feel villainized for their actions but many small steps can have a huge impact. Particularly with consumerism there is a lot of opportunities for people to make conscious choices that can have a positive impact on our earth. This makes me hopeful that we can collectively be more cognizant of these changes to make positive impacts in the future. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Climate Resilience Tend A GardenHave you ever had a significant experience in nature that altered your perspective or focus? If so, please describe it.
Nicolette Matz 4/30/2021 11:21 AMSpending time in a city for while makes you even more appreciative of nature when you get the chance. I lived in Madrid for 5 months and had an apartment at the center of the city. The toll that the city air and bustle takes on you is not apparent until you get a chance to go away. I had the chance to go away to the coast and I sat by the water for hours enjoying the fresh air. Even though a large population of people live in cities, it is important to understand how critical the wilderness and nature really are to our earth and to us. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportation Conduct Virtual MeetingsHow can you ensure that your virtual meetings honor your values and your company's culture?
Nicolette Matz 4/30/2021 11:19 AMVirtual meetings are a useful way to connect with people you aren't physically near. It is important to set boundaries as to how meetings will be conducted and ensure that everyone has a good forum to communicate. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportation Go for a Daily WalkWhat have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Nicolette Matz 4/30/2021 5:29 AMDaily walks are a great way to decompress after a busy day at work. It is easy to get stuck in the cycle of staying inside all day or for several days without ever leaving but going outside makes a huge difference in how I feel. More pedestrian cross-walks or cross-walk lights would be helpful for my walks, I live near many busy intersections that don't have stop signs or stoplights to help with crossing and it can be dangerous to do so during traffic. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONIndustry Recycle Everything I CanHow 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?
Nicolette Matz 4/30/2021 5:26 AMThe options outside of recycling can be more important than recycling itself. Consumerism leads to an increased waste and the ability to work with what you already have goes a long way for a sustainable lifestyle. I like that some companies also embrace these ideals and work to make their products high quality and offer options to repair. A great example of this is Patagonia, that launched a campaign to tell people to buy less of their clothing in an effort to curb the waste that follows excessive consumerism. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCoastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Smart Seafood ChoicesMany 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?
Nicolette Matz 4/30/2021 5:23 AMI did not previously know that many states and countries had advisories on eating fish, I investigated further and found that my diet choices do fall within the recommendations of US. It is something interesting to consider when traveling to other countries. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Education Learn about the Need for Family PlanningWhat did you learn about the need for family planning? How do the needs of different people in different places compare to each other?
Nicolette Matz 4/28/2021 9:01 AMIn many parts of the world family planning is not an option, but the ability to choose when and how many children to have is a privilege sought by many. Societies that have more resources tend to have a lower number of children per family, signaling an increased quality of life for each child. In places where family planning is not available, families have many children may need to work from a young age to support their families. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings Replace Manual ThermostatsHow do you anticipate replacing your thermostats for smart ones will positively impact your life?
Nicolette Matz 4/21/2021 7:19 AMSmart thermostats allow for control outside of your house, so if the weather warms up or cools down you can make a change to your temperature without even being inside your home. This will allow for better efficiency and hopefully lower electricity/ gas bills related to heating and cooling. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONIndustry Reduce Single-Use DisposablesWhat single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Nicolette Matz 4/20/2021 10:48 AMFor many of the listed items, I have reusable alternatives that I have been using. Due to the pandemic, I haven't been able to use some of my reusable produce bags or coffee cups but I hope to return to using those in the near future to help reduce the amount of single use items. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Education Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or ImmigrantsGlobally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. What have you done in the past to support women-owned businesses? How can you better support communities by supporting women?
Nicolette Matz 4/20/2021 10:46 AMI often try to order items from Etsy when I can, predominantly from women-owner small business. Esty has a lot of artists and in the past year I have ordered a number of items such as paintings, dishware, and jewelry as opposed to buying these items from big box retailers