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Matt Hucker's avatar

Matt Hucker

UK Environmental Sustainability BRG

"Helping colleagues lead happier, healthier and more sustainable lives"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,491 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1,870
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    600
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    710
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    4.0
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    42
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    1,070
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen

Matt's actions

Health & Equity

Spend Time Outside

SDG #3 Health & Well-Being

I will replace 30 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside exercising, enjoying the sunrise/sunset, gardening, journaling, or practicing gratitude for nature.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Education & Livelihood

Volunteer to Tutor

SDG #4 Education

I will volunteer to tutor in my community at least once this month.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

SDG #7 Energy

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Volunteer

SDG #1 No Poverty

In my community, I will volunteer at a community shelter, food pantry or soup kitchen.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Practice Mindfulness

SDG #3 Health & Well-Being

I will spend 15 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate & Ecosystems

Calculate Your Carbon Impact

SDG #13 Climate

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how lifestyle changes could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Reduce Animal Product Consumption

SDG #2 Zero Hunger

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Create A Readiness Plan

SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure

I will develop a readiness plan for my household in the event of an emergency.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Ecological & Xeriscape Gardening

SDG #14 & 15

I will do one or more of the following actions in my yard, or volunteer in my community: plant indigenous plants, landscape with water-efficient plants, add mulching, replace a lawn, and/or use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Learn About The Climate & Ecosystems SDGs

SDG #13, 14 & 15

I will spend 60 minutes learning about these SDGs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Learn About The Economy & Communities SDGs

SDG #7, 9 & 12

I will spend 60 minutes learning about these SDGs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Learn About Gender Diversity

SDG #5 Gender

I will spend 60 minutes learning about gender diversity.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Induction Cooking

SDG #7 Energy

I will spend 60 minutes learning about induction cooking and consider if I could add this to my food prep methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Online Energy Audit

SDG #7 Energy

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Find out where your energy comes from

SDG #7 Energy

I will spend 60 minutes learning about where my energy comes from.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Plan A Staycation in Your Community

SDG #11 Communities

For an upcoming vacation, I will plan a staycation in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Learn About The Education & Livelihood SDGs

SDG #4, 8, 11 & 17

I will spend 60 minutes learning about these SDGs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Learn About Participation and Representation

SDG #5 Gender

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the barriers to women and girl's equal participation and representation around the world.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Learn About The Health & Equity SDGs

SDG #3, 5, 10 & 16

I will spend 60 minutes learning about these SDGs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Learn About the Basic Needs & Security SDGs

SDG #1, 2 & 6

I will spend 60 minutes learning about these SDGs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Take 5-Minute Or Less Showers

SDG #6 Water & Sanitation

I will save up to 6 gallons (23 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers. Tip: Use a timer to practice or count to 60 a few times.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate & Ecosystems

Explore My Area

SDG #14 & 15

Each day, I will spend 10 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Education & Livelihood

Research Impact Investing

SDG #8 Work & Economy

Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing or my current investment portfolio to determine if they align with my values.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Learn About Invasive Species

SDG #14 & 15

I will spend 60 minutes learning about invasive species and ways to reduce their impacts.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed


  • Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/30/2022 2:01 PM
    Very sad that this is the last day of the challenge 😔 
    When I look back at what the team has achieved though I’m very proud at some of the actions we have taken and what we have accomplished together. 
    So pleased to have heard people’s stories individually, especially around behaviours that they are changing or trying to at least. Very pleased a few of our team actions have been taken on. Looking forward to hearing people’s stories on the quick ask I’m going to post on Tuesday so if you do see this post defiantly get your thinking caps on! Even if it is about how competitive I am 😊
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Economy & Communities
    How might you be able to get others involved in advocating for the clean energy shift?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/28/2022 4:36 AM
    By taking the time to review the plan I am now committing my supplier to provide me with cleaner energy. If others make the same step it will increase demand and focus suppliers on this area. Looking forward to seeing some others take the leep!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Economy & Communities
    Where does the energy in your region come from? Which energy is a renewable source?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/28/2022 4:34 AM
    Spent some really interesting time looking at where my own household energy comes from. Safe to say Eon seem to be doing a lot in the area. Also great to read about REGO certificates, and how they make energy traceable. Seems as though something we should be pushing for with ingredients at least if not componentary as well.
    I have also been looking at (admittedly for some time now) the option to reduce my reliance on the network and invest in some solar panels, amazing to see the price differences between several years ago and now so may consider in the near future. 

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Education & Livelihood
    What place in your region are you most excited to visit during your staycation?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/25/2022 5:57 AM
    while its a little outside my region. the family and I are off to Skegness for a few days, we will also be going with some friends who we will pick up on the way. Instead of going abroad this year we are opting to spend most of our leave this year vacationing within the UK as there is so much of it that we have yet to see. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Economy & Communities
    Would you consider using an induction cooking surface? If you have used one before, what do you like about induction cooking?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/25/2022 5:55 AM
    Its amazing the vast difference between the likes of Gas and Induction. I fortunately have an induction hob and it is so easy to use. The temperature gauges are much easier to use than gas. They also get hotter (and colder) faster. There is also the safety aspect, you can practically run your hand over the hob when its on and it also detects when there is nothing there even on the cheaper models and turns itself off. Its a great piece of kit and if your thinking about kitchen renovations then I would say its the way to go. Would highlight though that some models are not appropriate for people with pacemakers due to the magnets so just a quick safety tip. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Economy & Communities
    What most interested or surprised you about your energy audit?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/23/2022 8:50 AM
    I have started by checking my smart meter for how much energy single items use to try and understand where my largest energy impact comes from. First step like most of the team is to turn things off at the wall when they are not in use. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health & Equity
    What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time inside and on screens?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/22/2022 3:53 AM
    Just spent 30 mins outside exploring around D90. Went with our Grounds and Gardens team to see what we can do more on to improve Biodiversity on site, some great ideas on Trees, Bird Boxes, Reeds for the ponds and Bug house locations. Was great to see some wildlife, spotted a Mallard duck, Robins and of course the Rabbits! 

    Also Checking if people are reading this post, throughout May we have upcoming site walks with the Disability Alliance BRG, to connect with nature and improve mental health! More news coming soon on Teams
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Basic Needs & Security
    With 5-minute or less showers reducing your water footprint, what do you plan to add next to your water conservation habits?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/20/2022 8:58 AM
    This has been harder than expected. 
    I am trying to get myself into the shower before it warms up and get used to cold showers to save on the energy. 
    Additionally, I now want to try adding water butts to catch rainwater opposed to filling my watering can from the tap. Secondly I am guilty of wasting water from my condenser tumble dryer, yes i have one :-(, so I want to invest in a container of sorts that I can use as an internal water butt as I dont need the water instantly at the times I do use the tumble dryer. 


    • Baya D's avatar
      Baya D 4/20/2022 2:21 PM
      Amazing commitment Matt - keep it up! 

      I have a watering can on the windowsill of my shower to catch the cold water and use it for watering houseplants! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Education & Livelihood
    After learning more about investing, how can you increase positive impacts and decrease negative impacts?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/20/2022 8:50 AM
    So this is an interesting one for me. Maybe took it slightly off piste to where the challenge action is set but I looked at how different types of investment goes into "greener" companies. 

    The recent pensions article the BRG wrote opened my eyes to how much money can impact the world we live in. I have now planned on writing to L&G to ask them to do more towards this area. would highly recommend a look at https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/make-a-change/ if anyone is interested in knowing more about what their pension pot is really doing for them (and how its impacting your carbon footprint). 

    I also took some time to look at how my football teams ownership who own Hargreaves Lansdown run their investments. Which while researching makes me feel that even big outfits like football clubs should be calling on their ownership to be more sustainable. It could even be part of the Ownership testing, to make sure owners are invested in the right areas (tangent over). 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health & Equity
    What was it like to practice mindfulness? If this is a practice for you already, what was something new you understood in practicing during Earth Month?

    Matt Hucker's avatar
    Matt Hucker 4/20/2022 8:43 AM
    This is a new habit that I will definitely take forwards. I have tried to practice it just before bed, but having a 15 month old daughter occasionally hinders the attempts. As the challenge has progresses I have also now taken to do it during the work day whenever a time slot occurs. It has helped me find that mental reset button. It also helps now hearing the birds chirping in my front garden!