Erin Kitt-Lewis

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day or 450 gallons (1,680 L) a month by installing a low-flow showerhead.

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

I will start a compost or worm bin where I live.

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

Using the Seafood Watch guide, I will feature a sustainable seafood ingredient in a new recipe.

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

I will plan ahead to use paper products only made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

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.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, including electronics and metals.

I will avoid buying and using 1 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will complete a plastics audit to see where plastics show up in my life and determine how I can reduce the use of single-use plastics.

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

Through social media (LinkedIn or Instagram), I will share what I've learned about Electricity Generation and tag Ecochallenge.org.

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

I will incorporate one of the UN SDGs into 1 classroom, clinical, or simulation lab.

I will spend 10 minutes researching and shopping from 1 businesses owned by women, people of color, or immigrants.