Sarah Berchtold

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about how our oceans support life on Earth by producing oxygen, regulating climate, and providing habitat, food, and jobs.

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

Through social media or on the Earth Day Ecochallenge feed, I will share my favorite environmentally friendly habit with my friends, even if it’s not an Earth Day action.

I will spend 20 minutes researching local organizations and businesses in my community, then support one of them by writing a testimonial or positive review, ordering curbside, making a donation to my favorite nonprofit, or supporting them in another way.

I will express my love and gratitude for our Earth by writing a love letter, poem, or song to Earth.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 15 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.

Bringing home unique souvenirs from trips you’ve enjoyed is meaningful, and giving people unique gifts from other places is fun. Seek souvenirs and gifts that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.

Plastic bags can be mistaken for food by many wild animals. If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

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

I will scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

Avoid beauty products with micro beads or harsh chemicals that will feed into the ground and your water supply.

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.