Earth Month Ecochallenge 2022: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2022

Mike Staffeldt

"Work consistently to model an eco-efficient lifestyle. Find ways to introduce these concepts to others without an overbearing or judgemental approach."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
525 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1,710

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

480

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

40

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

60

conversations

with people
UP TO

1,710

minutes

not spent in front of a screen

Mike's actions

Education & Livelihood

Engage In Active Listening

SDG #17 Partnerships

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, peer, or someone who has a different experience/identity for 1 conversations per day.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Education & Livelihood

Volunteer In My Community

SDG #11 Communities

I will volunteer hour(s) in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Health & Equity

Spend Time Outside

SDG #3 Health & Well-Being

I will replace 60 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 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Find out where your energy comes from

SDG #7 Energy

I will spend 20 minutes learning about where my energy comes from.

COMPLETED
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 24
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Induction Cooking

SDG #7 Energy

I will spend 20 minutes learning about induction cooking and consider if I could add this to my food prep methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What surprised you about the two produce lists? How will you use these lists for your grocery shopping? Have you used these lists before?
Mike Staffeldt 4/27/2022 6:24 AM
I remember a prior version of this list, and I think the reason the list changes is interesting. For example, eggplant was removed from the Clean 15 simply because it had not been tested in many years. I try to buy organically anyway, because it's also good for the environment, but these lists are helpful if an organic option is not available.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood

What is one thing you can do to help your community become more sustainable?
Mike Staffeldt 4/25/2022 6:16 AM
There are so many things. In this case, the beach cleanup helped beautify the community. It was also a way to reach out to community members and spread a good environmental message. Overall, it's the outreach part that seems the most important, and we will need to activate a wider swath of the public to achieve real change.

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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?
Mike Staffeldt 4/25/2022 6:14 AM
I've used plug in induction cooking, and I really appreciated it. I have a perfectly good gas stove top which I'm reluctant to replace soon. But when I do, I would love an induction stove top and air fryer over. Moving to electricity makes sense.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Economy & Communities

Where does the energy in your region come from? Which energy is a renewable source?
Mike Staffeldt 4/22/2022 5:57 AM
The state of IL is 7% natural gas, 30% coal-fired, 54% nuclear (highest in the nation) and 10% renewables (mostly wind, some solar).

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

What plastic or single-use items do you regularly use? What did you substitute or could be substituted?
Mike Staffeldt 4/21/2022 6:17 AM
If often fostered dogs, and in the city, it's hard to find a solution to handling dog waste. I know some of the bag options may be compostable in industrial facilities. A reusable bag has a yuck factor that seems daunting. Of course leaving it behind is not a community-friendly or hygienic option. Perhaps the best answer is some sort or industrial composting option that has convenient pickup like the regular trash.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health & Equity

What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time inside and on screens?
Mike Staffeldt 4/21/2022 6:13 AM
It's frightening to consider. It's also bad to be outside and on your screens. I think sometimes about the dystopian movie, WALL-E, where people were wheeling around with their phone stuck right in front of them, not even noticing the the world around them. That seemed scary then (2008), but the behavior is beginning to feel normal today.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Economy & Communities

How might you be able to get others involved in advocating for the clean energy shift?
Mike Staffeldt 4/18/2022 6:10 AM
I signed up for Community Solar

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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?
Mike Staffeldt 4/15/2022 6:17 AM
5 min seems too easy. In other countries, it's totally normal to use water for wet/rinse only (off in between). Also, we have some local variables to consider. Like using less water when we have heavier rainfall. Google MWRD Overflow Action Days.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood

How does practicing a work-life balance create a more sustainable life for you? How might it contribute to sustainability more broadly?
Mike Staffeldt 4/15/2022 5:27 AM
Work life balance builds up a reserve of energy. I do a lot of backpacking trips, and I'm often planning/hoping I get into camp with a reserve of energy, rather than draining every last bit out on the trail. That reserve means that, given conditions, I could push on for miles more to get to a safer/better camp. And back in the "real world", sometimes life throws things at us, and that reserve is needed to get us through short term over-exertion.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood

What was it like to actively listen to someone? How did both people and the conversation benefit from active listening?
Mike Staffeldt 4/07/2022 6:33 AM
I attended a town hall style, community engagement event, related to the Bally's casino's proposal in my neighborhood, at the Tribune property west of the Chicago River. I met fellow residents, listened attentively to the presentations, and made a public comment in the open Q&A at the end. Lots of active listening. And also, I tried to protect the future vision of the Chicago River as a place with green space, a more natural shoreline, with serenity, and without buildings that jeopardize birds. I'm clearly a "no" on the casino :-)

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