Tom Peterson
"Collective efforts yield impactful results... "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 398 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO2.0documentarieswatched
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UP TO275minutesof additional sleep
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UP TO180minutesspent learning
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UP TO408minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO643minutesnot spent in front of a screen
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UP TO17plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
Tom's actions
Nature
Spend Time Outside
Do at Home
I will replace 15 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.
Community
Sign Up to Vote
Do at Home
I will make sure I’m registered to vote. While I’m at it, I’ll sign up to help others register too!
Action Track: Healing and Renewal
Healthy Sleep
Do at Home
Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 20 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.
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.
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.
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community
Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
Do at Home
I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community
Reduce Single-Use Disposables
Do at Home
Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate. I will keep 3 container(s) out of the landfill each day.
Simplicity
Less Screen Time
Do at Home
I will replace 20 minute(s) of screen time each day with other activities.
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?
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Tom Peterson 10/20/2020 10:51 AMI was on vacation last week, so didn't log on much. However, we traveled to Arizona to visit family. Usually we fly, but this time we drove (750 miles), mostly to avoid the airports during the pandemic, but it also had a benefit of reducing our airline impact. It's much cheaper to drive to Arizona that to purchase 4 round trip tickets. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Adjust the ThermostatYour 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?
Tom Peterson 10/20/2020 10:49 AMIt still gets pretty warm during the afternoons in my area, but I have found that by opening the house early in the morning and dropping the inside temperature, I can avoid using the AC at all during this time of year. It's usually in the mid 50s in the mornings and gets up to the 90s in the afternoons. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicity Less Screen TimeWhat did you notice in implementing this challenge? Was it hard to choose other activities over screen time? How did you decide to spend your time?
Tom Peterson 10/20/2020 10:45 AMI have stopped using my phone right before bed, which saves about 10-30 minutes of screen time and allows for more sleep. Instead of reading on my phone I will read a magazine or book, but don't make it too far before falling asleep anyways. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Healing and Renewal Healthy SleepConsider how many hours of sleep you get now. How would you like to shift your sleep patterns? What are you finding works for you to be successful in this action?
Tom Peterson 10/20/2020 10:44 AMI have found so far that not using my phone right before bed helps me fall asleep faster, which equates to about 10-30 minutes extra sleep per night. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Justice for the Whole Community Reduce Single-Use DisposablesWhat single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What did you substitute or could be substituted instead?
Tom Peterson 10/20/2020 10:43 AMI use plastic ziploc bags a lot when packing my son's school lunch. During this time of eco-challenge, I have used tupperwares for some of his lunch items instead, saving anywhere from 1-3 plastic bags daily. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Justice for the Whole Community Watch a Documentary about Racial InjusticeWhat did you learn about racial injustice in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of sustainability?
Tom Peterson 10/20/2020 10:41 AMI watched "A Life On Our Planet," and while it focuses more on the global health of our planet, it also speaks to the impact colonization has had on specific areas - for the people and for the animals that are indigenous to an area. An example is the oil palm fields in Borneo that have reduced the forests for orangutans so that they're population has fallen by about 1/2. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Justice for the Whole Community Watch a Documentary about Food SovereigntyHow does food sovereignty address the complex transition from localized food systems to modern global food systems?
Tom Peterson 10/20/2020 10:36 AMWhen food is grown, harvested and purchased locally, it supports a vast web of health and wealth within a specific community. It supports local growers, it reduces transportation and packing costs, and it's usually healthier for the ground/water nearby. -
Tom Peterson 10/07/2020 10:15 AMWorking from home mostly during this eco challenge season, so I will be saving a lot of water bottles and cups.