Wendy Olmstead

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

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

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

I will spend at least 15 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 enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will attend our campus Earth Month event, a screening of Kiss the Ground, a full-length documentary narrated by Woody Harrelson that sheds light on an “new, old approach” to farming called “regenerative agriculture” that has the potential to balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. A panel of experts will discuss the film and sustainable approaches to agriculture immediately following the educational screening of the film. I will register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kiss-the-ground-screening-panel-discussion-tickets-141072093429

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

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.

I will take a walk for 60 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

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 spend at least 30 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

I will write 30 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or representative to advocate for policies that protect wetlands.

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

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings Solutions.

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out if my city, region, state, or country offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

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.

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 fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities. Fixing leaky faucets can save up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

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

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

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 240 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

I will spend 30 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

I will spend at least 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

I will contact 1 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws, as well as the rights of local people to protect and restore the land in their communities.

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

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

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 spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

I will host a virtual film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

I will spend 30 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

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

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.

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 10 friends, family and/or colleagues.

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

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

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

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

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 5 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will spend at least 15 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 30 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

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 spend at least 30 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

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

I will contact a local installer/distributor to see if a solar water heater makes sense for my house.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

After researching the incentives at the federal, state, utility, and local levels, I will contact a local installer/distributor for a solar panel installation consultation on my house.

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 spend at least 30 minutes researching how people can build with carbon-storing materials - including agricultural byproducts - and discuss it with my peers in person or by posting to social media.

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

I will spend 30 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

I will write or call 1 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

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.