Omar Santiago

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

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

I will avoid buying toxic plastics - including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl - and instead replace them with durable non-plastic options.

I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

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

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 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.

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

I will organize one of Ecochallenge.org's discussion courses, such as 'Reconnecting with Earth', with my family, friends, coworkers, or classmates.

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

I will organize Ecochallenge.org's discussion course A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World with my family, friends, co-workers, or classmates.

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

I will replace inefficient heating and cooling units with energy saving units.

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 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).

I will spend at least 1 minutes assessing the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on fuel-efficient vehicles.

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

I will install an alternative energy system, such as solar electric systems or solar water heaters.

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

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

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 raise money to support Ecochallenge.org or another nonprofit.

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone who I may disagree with in at least 2 conversations.

I will host a watch party to screen a documentary about an issue that matters to me.