April 1 - April 30, 2020

Joe Walter

"EcoChallenge 2020: commit to measurable, attainable, sustainable goals to participate in the challenge and make an impact. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
735 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

pounds

waste composted
UP TO

150

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1,320

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

3.0

trees

planted
UP TO

1,320

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

41

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

25

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

35

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill

Joe's actions

Action Track: Building Resilience

Support Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 60 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Connect While Social Distancing

I will connect with at least 2 person/people a day through phone call or video chat to support mine and other’s mental and emotional health during this challenging time.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Forests

Plant Trees

I will plant 1 native tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 30 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

Fresh Water

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Oceans

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate

Energy savings for the home office

Now that we're all working from home, energy bills could go up. Take some time to evaluate your home office space (even if it's the kitchen table!). Many utilities offer home efficiency kits (LED bulbs, shower heads, etc.) - visit your electric utilities website to see if they offer any of these solutions. The links below will also help you find energy efficiency opportunities in your own space.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate

My Carbon Footprint

Use an online tool (links below) to calculate my carbon footprint and see what changes would make the most difference. Each calculator varies, but you'll typically need to gather: utility records, the flight history for the last year, and annual mileage and fuel efficiency of your vehicles.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

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

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

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.

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?

Joe Walter 4/30/2020 1:47 PM

The next time you are able to get out to large events (haha) and go to a Home Show, check out any electric supply companies offering renewable sourced electric generation. I went with a company called Green Mountain 6 years ago at a home show. I get 100% wind power for a rate that is only $0.01 higher than my electric utility company price to compare. So that is a win in my book for 100% renewable!! You have to get a 6 month or 12 month contract, it can be fixed for that long. Variable scare me if they are month to month. But all you have to do is call them when your contract is expiring and renegotiate a new one to keep your rate low. Been working for me a long time. Once I missed the renewal for maybe 2 or 3 months, saw the higher rate on my bill and called them to renew. So you do have to keep an eye on it, but seems that is with everything these days.

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- Courtney Groszhans 4/30/2020 6:01 PM
  
  Thank you for sharing, that is really neat!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate My Carbon Footprint

What was most surprising to you about your carbon footprint?

Joe Walter 4/30/2020 1:42 PM

We have natural gas heat, central AC, and gas hot water heater. Our electric bill is lower than average, and I get my electric generation from 100% wind power supplier. So that is a big reduction on my "Carbon Footprint". I signed up for that at a home show 6 years ago. The rate is a little higher than my standard electric utility co rate, but not much at all and well worth it to me. You can keep negotiating the rate every 6-12 months with them. I have been w/ the same company for all 6 years and love them. Gas use in my home is only higher in winter and that is for heating the house so that is expected. We are a family of 2 and a small dog, keep the heat set back to 68 in winter and the AC set to 74 in summer. My report shows we are below the avg for household of 2 people, so I am thrilled!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Forests Plant Trees

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

Joe Walter 4/24/2020 1:39 PM

Planting in general is great for mental health and well being. My wife and I plant a vegetable garden every year, we also have some mulch beds with plants in them, and this year we are adding some native plants to our landscape. Planting and gardening is therapeutic to me, it relaxes me and makes me feel closer to the earth and the natural world. Plus I think about that I am growing my own food so I know what I am putting in my body. So it makes you feel a little healthier! And you have to buy less produce at the grocery store or market, so it is also a money saver! Seeds and small plants do not cost a lot and can produce a lot of food for you and your family! It just takes some hard work and sweat early on to get a great garden going.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Earth Day Together! Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

What environmentally friendly habit have you most recently implemented? How do you ensure that you are successful in creating or changing a habit?

Joe Walter 4/23/2020 2:37 PM

We had 1 rain barrel I got 5 or 6 years ago and had along our garden for collecting rain water to water plants with. Last fall we got 2 more through our township municipal event promoting rainwater and storm water runoff control. Got them at a huge discount for attending a seminar. Now they are installed along with our first one, so 3 rain barrels at 3 of our downspouts. This helps to collect and divert rain water coming off our rooftop. This benefits the environment as less impervious surface that water has to travel over and less water into the storm management system of the township.

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- Joe Walter 4/23/2020 2:48 PM
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Building Resilience Support Pollinators

Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

Joe Walter 4/23/2020 2:32 PM

Pollinators are an integral part of most of our grown food and flowering plants proliferation. Without them, our food crops would be adversely effected and much of the farming and garden foods we rely on would be impacted. I looked up local native plants in my region and also supported a local non profit organization whose business is land conservation in Pennsylvania. They ran a Spring Native Plant Sale in my area, so I ordered 9 different local native plants to plant in our garden and around our yard. I will pick them up on Sunday and plant them!!

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- Courtney Groszhans 4/24/2020 10:54 AM
  
  That is really cool! I have been researching more about native plants. As part of a CLEAResult volunteer event last year, we went to a park and pulled Old English Ivy, an invasive plant that is non-native to Oregon. I spoke at length with one of the volunteer coordinators about the native plant society in Oregon and her process of incorporating more native plants into her yard. It was really fascinating learning more about it! Now, I see Old English Ivy everywhere though! I use to think it was pretty, but now I know the harm it does to native plants!
  
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Joe Walter 4/23/2020 2:28 PM

LETS GO TEAM CLEARESULT!! We hit #5 in the Teams listing. We can push higher!!

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Joe Walter 4/22/2020 5:28 AM

HAPPY EARTH DAY! Try to consider every day as Earth Day. These EcoChallenges are a great way to do that. Seasonal events to keep habits regular throughout the year really help.

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- Angelique Quinn 4/22/2020 6:00 AM
  
  And it's the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Just like that first Earth Day, it feels like the world is waking up again!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Building Resilience Connect While Social Distancing

How does connecting with others help your own mental and emotional health? How can it help support others?

Joe Walter 4/03/2020 2:02 PM

Connecting with others helps you to talk through challenges you are facing as well as just share happy experiences with others. It can also help others when you keep in touch with them. Maybe they have something going on that they need or want to talk about but do not reach out themselves. Whether it is work teammates, friends, or family connecting helps both parties in numerous ways. And in the current social health crisis it is even more important to keep in touch with those important to you!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Oceans Say No to Plastic Straws

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Joe Walter 4/03/2020 1:57 PM

I am doing well with plastic bags, take my reusables to the store with me. I try to decline the straws when I can, and use a travel coffee mug. Still struggle with the produce plastic bags sometimes needed, though I try to limit them as much as possible.

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- Courtney Groszhans 4/06/2020 9:41 AM
  
  My friend bought me reusable produce bags made out of thin cotton. They are nice and you can wash them easily, if you want to try those!
  
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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?

Joe Walter 4/02/2020 6:01 AM

My wife and I garden and we keep trying to expand what we grow, so we have been composting for a while now. I was amazed at first what you can compost. Anything green basically from the kitchen scraps of veggies - toss them into a bin and collect it over a few days and then put outside in a compost pile or a composting container, Great for gardening and making your own organic soil!!

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- Courtney Groszhans 4/02/2020 9:57 AM
  
  That is really awesome that you have noticed your trash can volume go down! Also how it changes what you buy, very interesting! Thank you for sharing.
  
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- Joe Walter 4/02/2020 6:08 AM
  
  But you can also compost egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit peels and waste, and lots of other things too. No meat, and no seeds or roots as you may get something growing in there. We are a family of 2 and a dog, but even so our weekly trash can volume is oddly low compared to most of our neighbors trash to be picked up. Composting what you can really makes a difference in waste you put to the landfill, and assists you in better gardening which in turn reduces your food PURCHASING at the store produce section!! WIN - WIN!
  
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