Ecochallenge.org

2020 People's Ecochallenge

October 7 - October 28, 2020

Jamie Damato

The Hartford Environmental Action Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
948 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

1.0

energy audit

conducted
UP TO

0.0

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

3,390

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

470

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

3,720

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

23

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

water collection system

installed

Jamie's actions

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Eco-Friendly Gardening

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Engage In Active Listening

Do at Home

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone who I may disagree with in at least 5 conversations.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Research Restorative Justice

Do at Home

I will spend 30 minutes learning about restorative justice and conflict resolution opportunities in my own community or state.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Learn About Constructive Communication

Do at Home

I will spend 30 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Forgiveness

Do at Home

I will begin, or continue, on the journey of forgiving myself and/or other(s). I may do this through journaling, meditation, prayer, and/or talking with a licensed healthcare professional.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Collect Rain Water

Do at Home

I will create a rain garden or bioswale or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Insulate Water Pipes and Water Heater

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Do at Home

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Install a Toilet Tank Bank

Do at Home

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Fix Leaky Faucets

Do at Home

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

Do at Home

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Research My Investment Portfolio

Do at Home

I will find out what stocks and bonds are in my investment account portfolio to determine if they align with my values (e.g. environmental, social responsibility, community).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Core Values

Do at Home

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

Do at Home

I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore My Area

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

Do at Home

I will spend 30 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Support Businesses Owned by People of Color

Do at Home

Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support businesses owned by people of color in my community whenever I shop.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Joyful Movement

Do at Home

I will spend 30 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Research Impact Investing

Do at Home

Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing and determine if it is right for me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Use an Energy Meter

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Power Down the Computer

Do at Home

I will power down my computer and monitor when not using it for more than 2 hours, saving up to (1.1) lbs of CO2 each day that I do this.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Online Energy Audit

Do at Home

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

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Do at Home

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.

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
Action Track: Healing and Renewal Joyful Movement

What's your favorite activity(ies) in which you experience joy while being active and moving?

Jamie Damato 10/08/2020 3:20 PM

I absolutely LOVE nature walks/hiking in the preserves and parks in my area. It is a truly serene experience to just unplug and listen to the sounds of nature and take in the beauty of the seasons all around me.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Who is most affected by environmental degradation and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?

Jamie Damato 10/08/2020 1:27 PM

I believe the "who" is more than just a human impact and extends to the many wildlife in our community. Wildlife is constantly affected by factors directly related to or caused by human action and I believe they are the #1 most affected. After that, I believe EVERYONE is in some way impacted by resistance, negligence and carelessness as it applies to how we treat the environment around us. One example is choosing to build a housing development in the very limited amount of open space left in a community, without an environmental impact assessment or consideration for the displacement of wildlife homes and elimination or obstruction of resources that the wildlife rely on to survive. The developers and town are solely focused on the economic benefits rather than the environmental loss, which causes the community to suffer.

Read More