2020 People's Ecochallenge

October 7 - October 28, 2020

Leslie Imhoof

"Team Imhoof continues to commit to reducing, re-using and recycling with a focus on deeper knowledge and action on sustainable energy. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
361 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

2.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

2.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

180

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

30

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

42

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

3.0

pounds of paper

have been saved

Leslie's 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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Action Solar

I have called several solar companies and organizations to learn more about solar energy and to investigate the cost of installing a solar system on our house.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Happiness

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Choose Two-Sided Printing

Do at Home

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided when I have to print documents.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

Do at Home

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Support Native Communities

Do at Home

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Donate to or Volunteer for Low-Income Solar Initiatives

Do at Home

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

Do at Home

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

Leslie Imhoof 10/26/2020 7:46 AM

This past week, I have spent a great deal of time learning more about renewable energy and how to invest more in it. I have reached out to TIAA-CREF, eTrade and other sources to learn more about tracking companies who are public.

Read More
Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 9:22 AM

Today I reached out to a local solar energy company to inquire about investing in home solar energy.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 9:19 AM

I have talked to our local grocery store about ways to reduce packaging in a safe and healthy way including charging customers (like other states) for plastic bags. It's astounding how many people still don't take the time to simply bring a bag to the grocery store. That action alone would save millions of animals, clean our water and help create a healthier environment for all of us.

Read More
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?

Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 9:11 AM

I exercise in order to enjoy music. I play tennis frequently with my son (he's much better than me) simply to enjoy time in movement with him and to enjoy being outside. Playing tennis or running or walking outside clears my headspace, reminds me that we are designed for movement and also allows my creative problem-solving often to find the solution to problems once I'm done.

Read More
Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 8:58 AM

I'm excited about the EcoChallenge, and was thrilled to see so many participants at SU! Thank you for the encouragement and the feeds you're all posting!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Support Native Communities

Indigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?

Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 8:56 AM

Balance is important to sustainability because our ancestors are animals...we originate from humans and animals. And to not honor all types of our ancestors is ignorant and in-just. I'm proud of the (albeit) small percentage of indigenous heritage I still have in my family and have always enjoyed hearing and learning from the stories of how humans and our animals ancestors co-exist.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

How might you be able to get others involved in advocating for the shift to clean energy?

Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 8:50 AM

I watched the videos provided through the EcoChallenge about the program Grid Alternatives in CA and am so proud that organizations like Touchstone Energy and Wells Fargo are supporting these efforts. Communities and investors are beginning to recognize that being environmentally conscious is just as well as a financially sound investment. I called Grid Alternatives to get more information.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Adjust the Thermostat

Your 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?

Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 8:46 AM

Our family has adjusted our thermostat to have it cooler in our house. We actually have a working, wood fireplace that we use almost daily during the colder months. It allows us to turn our heat down considerably and conserves energy because it heats the main area where we gather in the winter.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Reduce Single-Use Disposables

What 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?

Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 8:40 AM

We have eliminated vegetable bags (refusing them at the store), refusing to use coffee filters, refusing straws...(why do we need them again?)....

Our family uses reusable bags, when needed beeswax paper, paper sandwich bags. We use silicone based bags and glass containers from IKEA for food storage.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Donate to or Volunteer for Low-Income Solar Initiatives

Equitable access, environmental justice and creating employment opportunities are just a few advantages of low-income solar programs. Can you think of other benefits that could come from initiatives like this? Which advantages of low-income solar do you find the most compelling?

Leslie Imhoof 10/12/2020 8:35 AM

This past week I researched and invested some of my retirement dollars in a social-justice mutual fund that includes solar and wind energy.

Read More