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October 1 - October 31, 2024
Sarah Vigliotti's avatar

Sarah Vigliotti

Ghostbusters of Garbage

"I intend to make a positive impact in my own life to help improve the Earth."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,371 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    locally sourced meal
    consumed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    131
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    3.3
    pounds of paper
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    34
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    10
    pounds
    waste avoided
  • UP TO
    120
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    7.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    80
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    110
    minutes
    spent learning

Sarah's actions

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 20 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Share My Why

Share My Why

I will share my Ecochallenge story and why I'm taking action for the planet.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Improve a Bus Stop

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or some other small improvement.

COMPLETED
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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Engage In Active Listening

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone who I may disagree with in at least 10 conversations.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer During My Local Election

I will contact my local election office to volunteer during the upcoming election.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

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

COMPLETED 31
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 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Insulate Water Pipes and Water Heater

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Calculate My Water Footprint

I will calculate my Water Footprint to learn about my tap water use and "virtual water" use.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Go Paperless

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 5 disposable plastic bottles from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Repair a Broken Item

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Find / Join A Sharing Economy

I will research tool libraries and other sharing economy organizations in my area and rent instead of buy next time I need something they offer.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore My Area

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go Get a Check Up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

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

Energy

Turn It Off

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Online Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Calculate the Carbon Footprint of my Household

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

Energy

Calculate My Digital Carbon Footprint

I will calculate my digital carbon footprint and take steps to reduce my CO2 emissions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Support Native Communities

I will use the resource links provided and spend 20 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Sign Up to Vote

I will make sure I’m registered to vote. While I’m at it, I’ll sign up to help others register too!

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 Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
    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?

    Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/31/2024 11:43 AM
    Fuel-efficient vehicles are also simply cheaper. The cost of gas is ever increasing, so driving a vehicle that will cost me less in gas is a great motivator.

  • Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/31/2024 11:40 AM
    Happy Halloween! Make sustainable choices today, especially in regard to waste such as candy wrappers. Also, be sure to keep the good habits from ecochallenge in your life for the future.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Improve a Bus Stop
    How can you advocate for transportation systems which minimize environmental impact while also meeting human needs?

    Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/31/2024 11:38 AM
    Making public transportation more accessible is key to getting more people to use it. In the US, for example, most places do not have public transportation since towns and infrastructure are so far apart. For those in areas with public transport, providing deals on rides would encourage more use, but for those who cannot use public transport, a focus should be on more sustainable vehicle usage.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Support Local Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/30/2024 11:46 AM
    Pollinators produce our food, they brighten our gardens, and they help plants reproduce and thrive. They are incredibly important to the Earth and we should work to protect them.

    • Olena Sytar's avatar
      Olena Sytar 10/30/2024 2:06 PM
      I agree with every word. Pollinators are crucial for our survival.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Go Paperless
    Reducing your paper mail can reduce mental clutter as well as physical waste -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?

    Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/30/2024 11:39 AM
    I was happy to have the push to switch to paperless statements. Honestly, I have no need for paper statements so this was a good, and sustainable, switch.

    • Toby Sota's avatar
      Toby Sota 10/30/2024 2:50 PM
      I've also seen some companies offer discounts if you switch to paperless as well!

  • Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/30/2024 6:44 AM
    It’s almost the end of the month! Make sure to keep these habits after the end of the challenge!

  • Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/29/2024 9:30 AM
    Halloween is an especially crucial time for sustainability. Consider how one-time use plastic costumes, carved pumpkins, and candy wrappers can all be more sustainable. Maybe rewear a costume you already have, make sure to dispose of pumpkins in a sustainable manner, and perhaps terracycle your candy wrappers.

  • Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/28/2024 5:57 AM
    Take a moment to appreciate everything you have and how the earth helped you achieve that.

  • Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/27/2024 11:46 AM
    Reflecting back on the month, I am glad I chose the use a reusable water bottle daily challenge during this eco challenge. I feel that I have drank more water because of it and overall feel better.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Engage In Active Listening
    What was it like to actively listen to someone? How did both people and the conversations benefit from active listening?

    Sarah Vigliotti's avatar
    Sarah Vigliotti 10/26/2024 4:30 PM
    Active listening is important to diversify viewpoints and learn more about those who you are engaging with. Both people feel more respected and the conversation flows better with active listening.