Ecochallenge.org

The People's Ecochallenge

October 6 - October 27, 2021

Randall Rieks

Hennebery Eddy Architects

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
884 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

360

minutes

of additional sleep
UP TO

30

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

lightbulb

replaced
UP TO

185

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

540

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched

Randall's actions

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

Do at Home

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

Do at Home

I will replace 4 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

Do at Home

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Adjust the Thermostat

Do at Home

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Turn It Off

Do at Home

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

Do at Home

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Family Game Hour

Do at Home

I will spend quality time with family and friends by playing low-tech game(s) and/or through the spirit of imagination.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

Do at Home

I will watch 2 documentary(ies) about systemic racism.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Healthy Sleep

Do at Home

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 30 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Work From Home

Do at Home

I will work from home 4 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

What did you learn about racial injustice in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of sustainability?
Randall Rieks 10/27/2021 7:04 AM
13th. How the criminal justice and prison systems in our country have created and exacerbated the inequality of racial identities.
The same can be true when it comes to dirty energy and other non-sustainable items and our independence on them. Our system (way of life) is deeply rooted with these non-sustainable items, it has become clear that the balance for equality on a sustainable front is more challenging day in and day out.

Read More
Randall Rieks 10/27/2021 6:56 AM
Well HEA'ers, it's the final day of the People's EcoChallenge. Great job over the past 3 weeks of making a difference. BRAVO!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

It takes the average worker in the United States 26 minutes to travel to work. One way to fix long commutes would be to make cities more affordable. An even simpler option: promote the use of telework. How have you used technology to replace in-person meetings or work this year?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 1:27 PM
By use of Microsoft teams and other virtual meeting programs, i have been able to attend meetings that otherwise would require either travel to the office or jobsite.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

How does being playful with others enrich your life?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 1:26 PM
The sense of friendship, togetherness, laughter allows me to fully appreciate family and friends who are a very dear part of my live.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

Switching out your lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 1:24 PM
Advocate to my clients who are looking at renovations to seriously look into LED replacement's throughout their facility.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 1:23 PM
Look at additional ways to make energy efficient changes in our household; better thermostat, more energy efficient appliances

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

How is creativity a necessary ingredient for practicing simplicity?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 7:12 AM
Having a simplistic approach to life and any problem usually benefits creativity and derives inspiration.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

Father Thomas Berry says, "... our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." What is your response to Berry's assertion?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 7:08 AM
Even though we did not see the sun or sunset everyday here in Oregon, I was able to find live webcams of places where you could see both each day. Mentally and physically watching one or both everyday puts you in a better mood.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 7:06 AM
Not only adjusting my thermostat but using less hot water and making sure lights and electronics that are not in use are either turned off or unplugged.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?
Randall Rieks 10/26/2021 7:04 AM
Not only turning off electronics and lights when not in use, I took another step and unplugged seldom used electronics and plugged more widely used electronics into a surge protector with an on/off switch.

Read More