Michele Sprague
"Trying to create better habits for the planet every day!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,665 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO66meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO627minutesspent learning
Michele's actions
Health & Equity
Learn About Equitable Food Access
SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities
I will spend 30 minutes learning about equitable food access and how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.
Health & Equity
Support Indigenous & First Nations Communities
SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities
I will spend 30 learning about the past and present indigenous communities in my regions and what I can do to be supportive.
Economy & Communities
Understand Your Climate And Natural Disaster Risks
SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure
I will spend 30 minutes learning about the climate and natural disaster risks in my area.
Climate & Ecosystems
Support Local Pollinators
SDG #15 Life On Land
At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 30 minutes researching which plants support local pollinators and plant some in my area.
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.
Basic Needs & Security
Get To Know Your Watershed
SDG #6 Water & Sanitation
I will spend 30 minutes learning about my watershed and the particular water issues my region faces.
Education & Livelihood
Work-Life Balance
SDG #8 Work & Economy
During the workday, I will schedule time for daily rest during work days to practice work-life balance.
Climate & Ecosystems
Learn About Invasive Species
SDG #14 & 15
I will spend 30 minutes learning about invasive species and ways to reduce their impacts.
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.
Economy & Communities
Mend Clothing
SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure
I will mend a piece of clothing for myself, family or friends.
Climate & Ecosystems
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
SDG #14 & 15
Throughout the day, I will note the single-use plastics I use and consider the reusable options available to me.
Education & Livelihood
Plan A Staycation in Your Community
SDG #11 Communities
For an upcoming vacation, I will plan a staycation in my region.
Basic Needs & Security
Know Your Produce
SDG #2 Zero Hunger
I will visit ewg.org to learn about and use their Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen produce lists.
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.
Economy & Communities
Find out where your energy comes from
SDG #7 Energy
I will spend 30 minutes learning about where my energy comes from.
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.
Economy & Communities
Induction Cooking
SDG #7 Energy
I will spend 15 minutes learning about induction cooking and consider if I could add this to my food prep methods.
Education & Livelihood
Share My Positive Actions With My Community
SDG #4 Education
Each day, I will make my sustainable actions visible through a lawn sign, bumper sticker, pin, t-shirt, social media or other ways.
Health & Equity
Learn About Participation and Representation
SDG #5 Gender
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women and girl's equal participation and representation around the world.
Health & Equity
Track My Purchases
SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities
Throughout the day I will track my purchases and then research the companies making these goods.
Health & Equity
Safe Disposal of Medications and Household Chemicals
SDG #3 Health & Well-Being
I will spend 30 minutes learning about how and where to dispose of medications and chemicals properly.
Basic Needs & Security
Support A Renters Bills of Rights
SDG #1 No Poverty
Of nearly 44 million U.S. renter households in 2019, more than 45% paid rent equal to 30% or more of their gross household income. I will spend 30 minutes learning about a renters bill of rights and affordable housing.
Basic Needs & Security
Reduce Animal Product Consumption
SDG #2 Zero Hunger
I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 2 vegan meal(s) each day this week.
Basic Needs & Security
Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement
SDG #6 Water & Sanitation
I will spend 30 minutes learning about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.
Basic Needs & Security
Calculate Your Water Footprint
SDG #6 Water & Sanitation
I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth & Equity Learn About Equitable Food AccessHow is food equity and access linked to a sustainable future?
Michele Sprague 4/30/2022 8:14 PMIt seems that equity and access are directly tied to sustainability; people who are food insecure by and large have significantly less healthy, fresh food available and instead often have highly processed, high calorie, and low nutritional value food choices that also tend to be less expensive. These highly processed foods are the opposite of sustainability initiatives, and affordability can make all the difference. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth & Equity Support Indigenous & First Nations CommunitiesWhy is it important to honor native and indigenous peoples and cultures? What have you learned that is important to you? If you identify with or are a member of an indigenous group, how does your community practice sustainability?
Michele Sprague 4/30/2022 6:53 PMIt is important to honor native cultures because for so long so many were completely disrespected and even actively destroyed. While I have no direct native ancestry of my own, I have family that does, and I see the respect they have for the earth. The story of Mother Turtle is one I have heard, and each iteration is mostly the same - mother earth is life. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth & Equity Learn About Participation and RepresentationWhat are some of the barriers that exist to women and girl's equitable participation or representation in your community? Do you experience these barriers?
Michele Sprague 4/30/2022 6:35 PMThe pervasive gender bias is so ingrained that often it goes unperceived simply because it is second nature. Take, for example, purchasing a car. I am the one making the purchase, but twice now questions were continually addressed to my significant other. It gets quite frustrating. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEconomy & Communities Create A Readiness PlanWhat was it like to create a readiness plan? Did you find other resources you could share?
Michele Sprague 4/30/2022 8:51 AMWith a young child it can be hard to talk about serious things, especially in the context of what-ifs. I found this website helpful: https://www.ready.gov/kids -
Michele Sprague 4/29/2022 4:45 AMLoving the sunshine!!! Seriously, is there any better feeling than sun and wind on your skin and a smile on your face?? -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEconomy & Communities Understand Your Climate And Natural Disaster RisksWhat are the climate and disaster risks in your region?
Michele Sprague 4/29/2022 4:43 AMIn upstate NY I was not the least bit surprised to see the highest risk hazard was snowfall. However, climate change has definitely impacted winters here, and they are very different from when I was a kid. The temperature variation and melt feel much higher than I can remember.
I was a little surprised wildfires and landslides each fell in medium hazard risk, because neither is particularly common in my experience. However, with changing scapes due to climate it does make sense that these could also see an uptick. -
Michele Sprague 4/28/2022 6:20 PMI am taking a mini road trip this weekend. My friends and I have decided to carpool and to use the car with the highest gas mileage. Every little thoughtful action is a step in the right direction!-
REBURTA MOFFITT 4/30/2022 6:32 PMHoping you’re having an awesome weekend! -
Colleen Wise 4/29/2022 10:39 AMEnjoy your road trip this weekend!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth & Equity Safe Disposal of Medications and Household ChemicalsDo you have any tips for others on finding locations that accept products for safe disposal?
Michele Sprague 4/28/2022 10:37 AMYou can find a plethora of resources online, so my advice is google and you shall receive! Many local hospitals and pharmacies are open to public disposal, and you can contact them directly to find out if they participate. If you are looking online, the DEA has a search tool to find local disposal locations HERE. You will also find that "Take Back" events run regularly through many public organizations and schools. I even pitched doing one on campus during Earth Month this year, but that may have to make next year's agenda to allow time to set it up. -
Michele Sprague 4/28/2022 8:12 AMI just got word - I have been accepted to a local community solar farm to help offset my electricity usage! Yippee!-
REBURTA MOFFITT 4/30/2022 6:34 PMThis is awesome! Good job Michele! -
Colleen Wise 4/28/2022 10:21 AMAwesome! Ours starts later this year, looking forward to the environmental impact & savings too :)
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REFLECTION QUESTIONEconomy & Communities Find out where your energy comes fromWhere does the energy in your region come from? Which energy is a renewable source?
Michele Sprague 4/28/2022 7:27 AMOur region uses a lot of various sources for energy, including some renewable and some non-renewable. I discovered that NYS is the third largest hydroelectricity generator in the country (behind Washington and Oregon). We also use wind, geothermal, solar, and biomass energy sources. I read that as of 2020, renewable sources combined with nuclear energy supplied 60% of all in-state generation. While there is some debate, I don't personally classify nuclear energy as "renewable"; while the carbon emission aspect is beneficial and there are some positive aspects to it, uranium is not unlimited, and there is a serious question about waste disposal - it is permanent, dangerous, and forever, and can't just go in a landfill.