Heather Phelps

I’ll take a short pre-survey to share what motivated me to join — and earn 15 points! (If I already took the survey by email, I’ll just mark this action complete to get my points.)

I will naturally heat and cool my house, office, or dorm room by opening or closing my windows, curtains, and blinds, and by using fans.

I will replace inefficient heating and cooling units with energy saving units.

I will install an alternative energy system, such as solar electric systems or solar water heaters.

Whether it's by donating or volunteering, I will research the benefits of low-income solar and find out how I can support low-income solar initiatives in my area.

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.

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

The official task is a daily one, but there's one particular neighbor I've tried to meet but haven't quite yet, so this is just a singular goal to meet him.

I will replace 30 minutes of screen time each day with other activities.

Seeing where waste goes can change how we think about what we throw away. I will visit a local facility to learn more about the waste stream in my community and share what I learn with others and in the feed.

My utility has a couple of programs to try and shift demand to cheaper times of day. Once I have my battery turned on, I want to sign up for one of the programs to reduce the need to build new natural gas plants to meet demand.

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

I will repair at least one item that is broken, but is repairable. This might be items like garden tools, sewing machine, small appliances, electronics, clothing, and more.

Regular health check-ups help prevent problems before they start. I will schedule or attend a medical, dental, or mental health check-up to take care of my well-being.

I will replace 15 minutes each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

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

Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 20 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.

Producing 1 kg of beef emits as much greenhouse gas as driving 150 miles, meanwhile, 1 kg of veggies or grains leaves a much lighter footprint! This week, I’ll shrink my climate impact by having 1 meatless meals and/or 0 vegan meals each day.

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

I will use an energy meter to monitor my energy use and identify opportunities to save power.

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.

Attend a local meeting about a rewrite of the city's zoning code to connect with my community, participate in local government, and advocate for a more sustainable city.

Attend a community sustainability fair to learn about and from local organizations which are working on sustainability in my area.