Skip to main content
April 1 - April 30, 2020
Ali Burk's avatar

Ali Burk

Deloitte GWA

"My mission is to learn about the day-to-day things we can all do to increase sustainability."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 688 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    7.0
    miles
    traveled by foot
  • UP TO
    19
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    8.4
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1,020
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    7.0
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    1,260
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    24
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    18
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed

Ali's actions

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Oceans

Smart Seafood Choices

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Oceans

Learn about Our Oceans

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about how our oceans support life on Earth by producing oxygen, regulating climate, and providing habitat, food, and jobs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate

Use Muscle Power

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 60 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside that follows CDC guidelines for preventing disease spread.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Forests

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area while following CDC guidelines for social distancing.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Oceans Smart Seafood Choices
    Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?

    Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/10/2020 8:52 AM
    Sustainable seafood choices is not something I had ever considered and through research, I learned that some of my favorite seafood is not sustainable. Going forward, I will reduce my consumption of these foods and ensure that when I eat them, they are from sustainable sources.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Explore My Area
    How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

    Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/10/2020 8:28 AM
    I have found that spending a lot of time indoors has a negative effect on both my mental and physical health. By spending time outdoors, I feel my sense of both self and sense of place enhanced by reinforcing my relationship with the world around me.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate Use Muscle Power
    How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

    Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/10/2020 8:28 AM
    I have found that I am far more aware of my natural surrounding when I walk. When driving, I find myself so focused on safety and the road in front of me (especially in DC/Virginia traffic) that I can't focus any of my attention on the people and nature around me.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Spend Time Outside
    Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?

    Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/09/2020 11:21 AM
    A connection with the outside world is crucial to development. Without nature, humans wouldn't exist, but without humans, nature would prosper. It's important to maintain connection with the natural world to cultivate due feelings of respect and admiration for the world around us.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

    Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/09/2020 9:16 AM
    I have found my go-to meals for breakfast are naturally vegetarian, and at lunch it is relatively easy to go vegetarian. Dinner has been a bit trickier. My next goal is to transition one meal a day (breakfast or lunch) to completely vegan!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Use a Reusable Mug
    Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?

    Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/09/2020 9:10 AM
    It has not been hard to use reusable mugs when working from home, the tricky part will be transitioning to reusable mugs in the office. While at home, I have worked to only use reusable Keurig filters instead of the K-cups that create so much plastic waste!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Compost Food Waste
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?

    Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/09/2020 9:08 AM
    I am noticing that I am composting so much food! I have had to take my compost bin outside multiple times a day and didn't realize how much I was throwing away that should be composted.

  • Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/08/2020 6:08 AM
    I've found some of the research-based one-time activities are fun 10 minute breaks throughout the day. I wish there was a better way to track partial completion of one-time activities because I'd rather do the research in pieces instead of all at once!

  • Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/07/2020 6:05 AM
    What is everyone doing to get outside and away from screens while we're all working from home?

  • Ali Burk's avatar
    Ali Burk 4/03/2020 12:59 PM
    What are some custom challenges you added to your activities? Looking for more small ways to live sustainably!