Kethry Burgins
"To do better for our children."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 488 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO9.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO84gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO85minutesspent learning
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UP TO3.3pounds of paperhave been saved
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UP TO9.0public officials or leaderscontacted
Kethry's actions
Waste
Research Local Waste Sites
Do at Home
I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
Water
5-Minute Showers
Do at Home
I will save up to 6 gallons (23 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
Water
Conserve Toilet Water
Do at Home
I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.
Water
Calculate My Water Footprint
Do at Home
I will calculate my Water Footprint to learn about my tap water use and "virtual water" use.
Energy
Choose Clean/Renewable Energy
Do at Home
I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.
Energy
Online Energy Audit
Do at Home
I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Energy
Support Resilient Powergrids
Do at Home
A community can be brought to its knees without dependable power, often affecting the most vulnerable. I will write 1 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for a more resilient power grid (e.g. microgrids, solar+storage).
Energy
Calculate the Carbon Footprint of my Household
Do at Home
I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.
Transportation
Improve a Bus Stop
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 some other small improvement.
Waste
Go Paperless
Do at Home
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
Action Track: Healing and Renewal
Learn About Constructive Communication
Do at Home
I will spend 30 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community
Advocate for Green Spaces
Do at Home
I will call or write 1 public officials per day to advocate for more green spaces around my town, particularly in neighborhoods that currently lack equitable access to green spaces.
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 QUESTIONWaste Research Local Waste SitesIn what neighborhoods or areas of your region are landfills or other waste sites located? Which communities are most affected by these locations?
Kethry Burgins 10/20/2021 12:59 PMHazardous waste is concentrated around Mayo, which is really no surprise, and a lot of the other concentrations of pollutants are in the poorest areas of the city. Again, no real surprises there. :( These are the areas with the most diversity in the city, and host many immigrants. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Online Energy AuditWhat most interested or surprised you about your own energy footprint? What changes did you make or will you make?
Kethry Burgins 10/20/2021 12:45 PMI'm not sure yet, I'm opting for the free consult through the county, which is scheduled for sometime in November. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Justice for the Whole Community Advocate for Green SpacesWhat services, benefits, or value does nature provide for you?
Kethry Burgins 10/16/2021 1:20 PMclean air and water, habitats for a diverse ecosystem of bugs and animals, peace & joy. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Support Resilient PowergridsWhat does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for that vision to become reality?
Kethry Burgins 10/16/2021 1:19 PM100% renewable energy powering my home, my city, and my state. More wind turbines and solar panels, and all-electric cars for RPT and home. Aka, money. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWater Conserve Toilet WaterWhat would a sustainable water future in your region look like? What needs to change?
Kethry Burgins 10/15/2021 12:13 PMAll water-consumption devices should be high-efficiency or low-flow. Lawns should be banned, and replaced with native, drought-resistant, and water-protective landscapes that are regenerative rather than depletive. There should be timers on faucets and showerheads, and rain barrels and greywater systems should be standard with all homes. Water is sacred and life-giving. We must show our children and neighbors how to protect it. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWater 5-Minute ShowersName some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?
Kethry Burgins 10/15/2021 12:06 PMRound-Up and other nitrogen-heavy fertilizers run off or trickle down from lawns into our water systems, killing animals and mutating their offspring. These are very delicate ecosystems. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Choose Clean/Renewable EnergyHow might you be able to get others involved in advocating for the shift to clean energy?
Kethry Burgins 10/13/2021 5:55 PMTalk about it with all my friends. I'm very passionate about clean energy. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWater Calculate My Water FootprintHow does your view on water consumption change after completing this action?
Kethry Burgins 10/13/2021 6:42 AMI immediately messaged my spouse to turn off the sprinkler system, and I am getting a shower timer so I can cut down on shower time. I think this may also finally be what pushes me to become a vegetarian.-
Kethry Burgins 10/15/2021 12:15 PMMaybe just pescatarian?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Go PaperlessReducing your paper mail can reduce mental clutter as well as physical waste -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?
Kethry Burgins 10/12/2021 7:28 AMI wish I could do this on behalf of all of my roommates. I'm glad to have at least taken care of my portion. I get a bit sad every time I sort the mail, seeing so much wasted paper! And depending on the junk, it can't even go in the recycling bin, because it has to be shredded, or it's the wrong kind of material. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Calculate the Carbon Footprint of my HouseholdAfter you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
Kethry Burgins 10/12/2021 7:26 AMI was a bit disappointed in how high the carbon footprint started out, just from living here in Rochester, MN. It didn't rise much more than that base line, thankfully, but I can definitely take steps to reduce my footprint, like ride sharing!