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Welcome to Choices for Sustainable Living Discussion Course!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Choices for Sustainable Living Discussion Course expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
Choices for Sustainable Living Discussion Course
Laura Kratzer's avatar

Laura Kratzer

Actioneers of EVPP 480

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 501 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    14
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    15
    miles
    traveled by bus
  • UP TO
    163
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    42
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    person
    helped
  • UP TO
    3.0
    neighbors
    met
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    5.0
    petitions
    signed

Laura's actions

A Call to Sustainability

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Improve a Bus Stop

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or some other small improvement.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Use Public Transit

I will use public transit 15 mile(s) each day this week and avoid sending up to 163.0 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Pick Up Litter

I will pick up litter on my street and ask others to join me in taking care of our neighborhood.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Sign a Petition

I will sign a petition in support of an environmental or social initiative in my state.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Help Others

I will offer to help 1 person(s) who are in need this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Meet My Neighbors

I will meet 3 new neighbor(s) this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Say No to Plastic

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. This week, I'll say "no" to plastic bags at the store and plastic straws in all of my drinks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Watch The Story of Bottled Water

I will watch The Story of Bottled Water to learn more about bottled water's impacts on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Learn About My Watershed

I will find local resources for learning about my watershed and the particular water issues my region faces.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero waste each day this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 6 disposable plastic bottle(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate for More Food Options

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

I will source 1 meal(s) from local producers each day this week. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

A Call to Sustainability

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a movie about a sustainability issue I would like to know more about.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

A Call to Sustainability

Start a Sustainability Journal

I will start a sustainability journal, capturing my thoughts, concerns and learning about sustainability issues.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 20 mile(s) each day this week and avoid sending up to 297.13 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Walk Instead

I will walk 3 mile(s) each day this week instead of driving and avoid sending up to 46.04 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Try Carpooling

I will commute by carpool 15 mile(s) each day this week and avoid sending up to 188.2 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Locally-Sourced Meals

I will source 1 meal(s) from local producers each day this week.

UNCOMPLETED
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?

  • Laura Kratzer's avatar
    Laura Kratzer 2/26/2019 10:55 AM
    CSL 3 review Community:

    Though our initial discussion was short, I think we had a fairly good discussion about communities. It made me think about how involved I am in my own community because I just moved to an apartment in fairfax. I don't know any of my neighbors, but I don't really want to meet them to be honest. I knew all the neighbors in my old neighborhood, and ended up always getting stuck in small talk conversations with them. Obviously there are benefits, but I'm not living here very long. That being said, I had to ask my neighbor for help moving something the other day and it was a pleasant interaction. We talked about social media connecting people, but I really think the opposite is happening. People tend to have artificial interactions online, unlike the ones formed by physical bonds. It's been shown that social media has led to increased isolation and loneliness among people, and ultimately depression. I think social media is ripping apart our society, not connecting us. 
    Read More
  • Laura Kratzer's avatar
    Laura Kratzer 2/26/2019 10:41 AM
    CSL 2 Review: Ecological principles

    The "game" in the beginning was cute and informative, it showed us visually how big of an impact just a small ecological change can have on an entire ecosystem. We talked about our limitations towards sustainability, and most of us were limited in our diets and in transportation. I struggle with those the most because I can't afford to eat the nice, local farm meat that I would like to, and my car gets 11 miles a gallon but I can't afford a new one. We also mentioned how sustainability is being marketed now, and how some items are intentionally way more expensive than they should be just because people will buy them to try to make a difference. Hopefully this changes and sustainability becomes more affordable to the layman. 


    Read More
  • Laura Kratzer's avatar
    Laura Kratzer 2/26/2019 10:34 AM
    CSL 1 Review:

    Learning about how sustainability impacts everyone in different ways was interesting. I liked our conversation about the sustainability of native communities and about tragedy of the commons. The article written about native Americans was a little misleading. At one point, the author showed some data which ended up skewing her point to her view. I also think that we like to praise native communities where praise might not be due. Life was much more abundant back then, and they did not necessarily live as sustainable lifestyles as we think. 
    Read More
  • Laura Kratzer's avatar
    Laura Kratzer 2/26/2019 10:34 AM
    CSL 1 Review:

    Learning about how sustainability impacts everyone in different ways was interesting. I liked our conversation about the sustainability of native communities and about tragedy of the commons. The article written about native Americans was a little misleading. At one point, the author showed some data which ended up skewing her point to her view. I also think that we like to praise native communities where praise might not be due. Life was much more abundant back then, and they did not necessarily live as sustainable lifestyles as we think. 
    Read More