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Welcome to The People's Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an The People's Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
The People's Ecochallenge
October 6 - October 27, 2021
Rachel Zarfas's avatar

Rachel Zarfas

PCC EcoPanthers

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 380 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    105
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    540
    minutes
    spent outdoors

Rachel's actions

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Do at Home

I will spend 90 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Tend a Garden

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Do at Home

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Take Control

Do at Home

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Upgrade My Windows

Do at Home

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go Get a Check Up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

De-Clutter My Home

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

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
    Transportation
    Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
    Rachel Zarfas's avatar
    Rachel Zarfas 10/25/2021 1:12 PM
    I've been researching and considering a hybrid or electric vehicle for a future car. I found out that the carbon footprint of my gasoline-powered car is fairly low (comparable to many electric vehicles actually). However, as more renewable energy sources start to feed the power grid, an electric vehicle will start to be the clearer, better choice for reducing emissions. That is said to happen by 2050. Another benefit of having an EV is that it makes you a great advocate for change, as others will naturally come to you to learn more them. My plan is to keep driving my car until it has reached its life span (maybe another 10 years) and then consider buying a used electric car or another very low emitting gasoline-powered car until the next car, which would then likely be an electric car. We will also consider going from a two to one car household in the next 10 years.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water
    How does your view on water consumption change after completing this action?
    Rachel Zarfas's avatar
    Rachel Zarfas 10/13/2021 2:25 PM
    I also calculated my water footprint today. This activity is bringing more mindfulness about my water usage, directly and indirectly. I can make an impact by taking shorter showers, feeding my cat smaller portions more frequently (so we waste less food from spoilage) and eating less meat throughout the week.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy
    After you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
    Rachel Zarfas's avatar
    Rachel Zarfas 10/13/2021 10:01 AM
    I calculated my household's carbon footprint today. We fall in the middle of the average US household. Even though the calculator tool provided is more basic, I do see that we could make a bigger impact by reducing our air travel, considering downsizing to one more fuel efficient vehicle and eating more vegetarian meals. 
    Read More
  • Rachel Zarfas's avatar
    Rachel Zarfas 10/07/2021 4:43 PM
    My friend (Cindy) and I built a new flower bed in our community garden to attract more beneficial insects and bees! "There's not enough flowers", we always say. So far we've added an aster, lavender and five grouping of daffodils to the bed, and can't wait to add more. Feeling real accomplishment and loving this challenge to get my hands dirty in the garden each day!!!
    Read More