Victoria Houdeshell

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

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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 replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will buy organic cotton and foods grown without the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

Greenhouse gases found in old refrigerants are up to 10,900 times more potent than carbon dioxide. I will help eliminate these gases through the purchase of offset credits to ensure we all have a planet we can thrive on.

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

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 45 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

Individual actions are important, but people and organizations working together can make a real impact. I will share a carbon calculator with a friend and invite them to calculate the carbon footprint of their household.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.