Kiana Bjorem

SUS 304 Fall 25

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
65 THIS WEEK
434 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

63

miles

traveled by bus
UP TO

63

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

-1.7

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

8.0

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

36

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

20

minutes

spent learning

Kiana's actions

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottles from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cups to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Use Public Transit Instead of Driving

I will use public transit 4 miles each day and avoid sending CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Switch To Cold Water for Laundry

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Donate Food in My Community

I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will shop at a farmers market or food co-op to support local farmers and businesses. By doing so, I may be able to learn more about who produces the food I eat and goods I buy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Track My Purchases and Spending Habits

I will spend 10 minutes each day maintaining a record of all my purchases and learning about my spending habits.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Take 5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 6 gallons (23 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

What did you notice about your habits or routines when limiting your showers to five minutes? What changes — if any — do you think you’ll continue long-term?
Kiana Bjorem 10/12/2025 8:48 PM
To be honest I would get comments that I shower fast, but I get it. My habits don't really change and it doesn't really impact my routine? I know that's an uninteresting answer but I don't really notice anything, and I can't notice anything fiscally because all the apartment units on my row get a flat fee because they don't track each individual unit.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?
Kiana Bjorem 10/12/2025 8:45 PM
It's making me feel good, but also making me feel bad when I think about all the teas and drinks I would get before using my cup. Nothing really stands in the way of making this a habit, it's just a minor inconvenience like with carrying the water bottle, but it's 100% worth it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

The US spends roughly 20% of its federal budget on defense. In contrast, 2% goes to education, 20% goes to social security and just 3% goes to transportation infrastructure. Do these numbers surprise you at all? Why or why not? How would you adjust them if you could?
Kiana Bjorem 10/12/2025 8:44 PM
It does surprise me honestly, especially when I started to pay attention to how many people use the bus in the U.S. I know people with cars that use the bus system, and I think there should be more focus and resources allocated towards transportation infrastructure. I'd also raise the amount gong towards education because it is ridiculous that 2% is all that's being put towards it, and with recent discourse on public education (my experience with public education too so I have first-hand experience), it should be prioritized.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?
Kiana Bjorem 10/12/2025 8:36 PM
Honestly, it is just the slight inconvenience of carrying it everywhere but it's truly not bad at all. The bottle I use has a straw and doesn't really close and I don't need/want to get another one so I just have to be careful.

Read More