Teemu Virkki

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water each day by installing a toilet tank bank.

I will replace my lawn with a drought-tolerant landscape and save the water, money, and time I used to spend cutting the grass.

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

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.

Organizations have a responsibility to make sustainable business decisions. To understand how to improve sustainable practices, it’s important to start with understanding the current impact. I will share the Tradewater Business Carbon Calculator with my organization.

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.

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

I will spend 15 minutes researching the impact of old harmful refrigerants on our environment.

I will use the resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

I will plant 3 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

I will not travel for meetings and will instead conduct them virtually.

I will sign up for a car-sharing service, or organize car sharing with my neighbors, to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road.

I will spend 5 minutes learning about food apartheid and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice and environmental racism concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

I will use the resource links provided and spend 15 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.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

Greenhouse gases found in old refrigerants are up to 10,900 times more potent than carbon dioxide. I will help eliminate these gases through the purchase of offset credits to ensure we all have a planet we can thrive on.

I will spend at least 5 minutes finding out what local laws, policies, and practices keep people from voting in my community.

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.

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

I will avoid sending 4 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

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

I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

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 1 container(s) out of the landfill each day.