Whitney Peterson

My home currently uses oil for heating, and electricity for everything else. I have 2 wood burning fireplaces. Switching to Natural Gas seems like the right thing to do, but what options do I have, what rebates are available, what are options I'm not aware of?

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.

I will replace 6 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in recycling dumpsters or my curbside bin.

I will use the resource links provided and spend 45 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

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.

I will sign up for a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).

I will start each day with 15 minutes of stretching or yoga.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

I will host a watch party to screen a documentary about an issue that matters to me.

I will spend 45 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

I will replace 60 minute(s) of screen time each day with other activities.

I will spend 30 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

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

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

There is a serious blood stores shortage in our area. I pledge to attempt donating blood during the month (hopefully I my iron levels will not be too low to accept me this time...)

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how Portland local government works, and how I can contribute and make my voice heard to make a difference in our community