Illinois Green Alliance

Eating meat is ingrained in our western culture. While it's what I was brought up on, I enjoy cooking, so personally I find it fun to try new recipes that don't revolve around meat and are balanced with other foods that make me feel healthier and are better for the planet, too.

Absolutely. During this time I have been more able to appreciate the changing of the seasons from winter to spring from bird songs to buds on trees. Watching those changes unfold has been truly beautiful and inspiring.  

Maintaining relationships is important now more than ever. Even though we can't be together physically, it makes me so happy to hear my family and friends over the phone or see them on the computer. It is definitely a highlight of the day, even if there isn't much new news to share. 

This ecochallenge stopped me from procrastinating on my walking, instead of using the car to go get the mail! Good for the planet and my health!

Is there some way to include the CO2 I saved by going solar? It is not showing up in my profile. Thanks!

I live in Oak Park and our investments in building and maintaining green ways, parks etc paid off. Social distancing forced people to walk and bicycle more during the current crisis and the community benefited from these investments. This crisis took us all by surprise but I believe more coordinated action to help local businesses...

This challenge has been really great and I'm glad to have been a participant in it! I've made quite a few large changes to my lifestyle that I know will translate regularly after the formal challenge is over. I think composting and water conservation strategies have been my favorite and most notable strategies through the month. 

I installed 7.5kw of solar panels at my house in April. That will reduce over 16,000 lbs of CO2 per year over its 15 year est. life time. 

I've learned a lot, including this: https://stopmicrowaste.com/en/tenfortheocean

I believe awareness and behaviors around water are the biggest impact items. One thing I often lament is the woefully inadequate storm water treatment capacity in our towns on bodies of water. We need to prioritize keeping our open water clean.