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April 1 - April 30, 2024
Jeff Babic's avatar

Jeff Babic

Buildings + Design

"Tread lightly!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,545 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    5.0
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    5.0
    water leaks
    reported
  • UP TO
    12
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    387
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    5.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    775
    miles
    traveled by EV
  • UP TO
    1.0
    hour
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted
  • UP TO
    10
    items
    donated
  • UP TO
    1.0
    local or diverse business
    supported
  • UP TO
    2.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    10
    healthcare connections
    made
  • UP TO
    1.0
    pint of blood
    donated
  • UP TO
    1.0
    well-being appointment
    made
  • UP TO
    45
    minutes spent
    learning
  • UP TO
    10
    greener purchases
    made

Jeff's actions

At Home

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending food waste to the landfill by composting my food scraps.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

One Healthcare

Climate Change Impacts on Health

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the ways climate change impacts health.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Adjust the Thermostat

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Learn the Truth about Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Work

Report a Leak

I will prevent water from being wasted by reporting one or more leaky faucets, toilets, or other water leaks to my organization's facilities team for repair.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Volunteer in My Community

I will volunteer 1 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

One Healthcare

Environmental Footprint of Healthcare

I will spend 5 minutes learning about the environmental footprint of the healthcare industry, how it impacts health, and ways I can help reduce it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

One Healthcare

Network for Change

I will make 5 new healthcare connections through direct outreach or by joining a green team or industry group to learn from my peers, share best practices, and see if there are opportunities for collaboration.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Well-being

Go Get a Check Up

I will make 1 appointments to support my health and well-being (primary care provider, dental, vision, etc.)

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Work

Stay Connected

I will schedule coffee breaks, lunches, and/or check-in meetings with 5 coworkers to promote connectivity in my workplace.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Support Diverse and Locally-Owned Businesses

I will promote equity and support my community by purchasing items at 5 diverse- and/or locally-owned businesses.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Advocate for Green Spaces

I will call or write 1 public officials to advocate for more green spaces around my town, particularly in neighborhoods that currently lack equitable access to green spaces.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and/or meat from a local farmers market or food co-op to make 5 locally-sourced meals.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Well-being

Learn About Constructive Communication

I will spend 5 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

One Healthcare

Medical Device Reprocessing

I will spend 5 minutes learning about the items my organization collects for medical device reprocessing and share this information with colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Work

Greener Purchasing

I will select a greener option when purchasing supplies, such as products that have environmental certifications, less packaging, or other environmental attributes, or come from local vendors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

One Healthcare

Sustainable Healthcare

I will attend or watch a recording of a webinar 5 minutes long covering one or more healthcare sustainability issues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Donate Items

I will help others in need and prevent useful items from going to landfill by donating 5 items.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Repair an Item

I will repair an item, such as clothing or an appliance, for myself, a friend, family member, or neighbor.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Needs Vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

One Healthcare

Donate Blood

I will donate blood in my community to make sure there are adequate supplies for routine medical services and emergencies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 1 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Plant Trees

I will plant 5 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard. Check out resources for which tree species are best to plant in your area.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

In Our Communities

Drive Electric

I will reduce my transportation footprint by driving 25 miles by EV instead of gas-powered vehicle.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

At Work

Prevent Recycling Contamination

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 5 minutes learning about which items are recyclable both at my workplace and at home since they may be different, and recycle only those items.

COMPLETED
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?


  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/30/2024 5:24 AM
    Climate change Is arguably the biggest problem facing humanity, and it’s largely driven by our collective use of fossil fuels. Anything and everything we can do to reduce our use of fossil fuels and in turn our carbon footprint will help mitigate climate change.

    I hope this Ecochallenge inspires us all to take another look at our energy use and consumption. I know this is preaching to the choir but more needs to be done to address climate change.

    Best wishes 🌞

  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/29/2024 5:05 AM
    Roughly 10 years ago I replaced our natural-gas fired furnace in our home with a earth-coupled (geothermal) heat pump. This included a de-superheater that heats our hot water. Eight years later I installed a solar array that according to our contractor’s calculations would provide over 90% of our annual electricity. It hasn’t quite made that claim but that is likely due to charging our EV at home, an EV which was acquired not quite a year after the array was commissioned into service.

    This has reduced our carbon footprint tremendously and the solar array has reduced our electric bill dramatically. For the past three annual cycles I’ve had to pay my monthly electric bill for the cloudy, cold months of January, February and March, and those bills are still reduced by what the solar array produces. For the sunniest months of the year, I’m building a credit on my electric bill under net metering, and drawing on it as the sunny days get shorter and our electric consumption increases again towards winter.

    Reducing one’s carbon footprint is easier and more affordable than ever. Don’t wait for someone else to take action. Take control of your energy consumption and production! ☀️

  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/29/2024 5:01 AM
    Producing your own energy is more affordable than ever. It reduces what you purchase from your utility and in turn reduces their greenhouse gas emissions. Making your own energy is one investment that pays for itself.


    Energy.gov: Residential Renewable Energy

    “Installing residential renewable energy systems, such as geothermal heat pumps and wind or solar energy systems, can save energy, lower utility bills, and earn homeowners money.”

  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/28/2024 10:53 AM

    Wikipedia: Sustainable Development Goals


    The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were created with the aim of "peace and prosperity for people and the planet..." – while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests. The SDGs highlight the connections between the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development. Sustainability is at the center of the SDGs.

    The short titles of the 17 SDGs are: No poverty (SDG 1), Zero hunger (SDG 2), Good health and well-being (SDG 3), Quality education (SDG 4), Gender equality (SDG 5), Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), Climate action (SDG 13), Life below water (SDG 14), Life on land (SDG 15), Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

    These goals are ambitious, and the reports and outcomes to date indicate a challenging path. Most, if not all, of the goals are unlikely to be met by 2030. Rising inequalities, climate change, and biodiversity lossare topics of concerns threatening progress. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to 2023 made these challenges worse. The pandemic impacted all 17 goals and emphasized the interconnectedness of global health, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Some regions, such as Asia, have experienced significant setbacks during that time. The global effort for the SDGs calls for prioritizing environmental sustainability, understanding the indivisible nature of the goals, and seeking synergies across sectors."

  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/28/2024 10:46 AM

    Wikipedia: Clean technology


    "Clean technology, in short cleantech or climatetech, is any process, product, or service that reduces negative environmental impacts through significant energy efficiency improvements, the sustainable use of resources, or environmental protection activities. Clean technology includes a broad range of technology related to recycling, renewable energy, information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, grey water, and more."


  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/27/2024 7:30 AM
    For a little exercise (and to avoid another trip on the elevator) I just climbed seven flights of stairs. Coming down was more pleasant than climbing up. :)

    In the process I got to study an interesting aspect of older buildings - stair tread wear. Look for divots where people climb up and rounded tread edges on the downside. A little silly, but it’s a measure of all the efforts of all the individuals who contributed.

    • Zoe Anastas (SWMC)'s avatar
      Zoe Anastas (SWMC) 4/28/2024 11:31 AM
      Seven flights is a good number! If I am walking with other folks I will ask them, "hey, you wanna take the stairs with me and we can talk?" Having conversation with others makes the climbing go faster and gain some exercise. It is such a drag to have to wait for the elevators as some people really need to take them for health reasons or if they have carts/beds/etc.

  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/27/2024 6:17 AM
    The blue text in the title is a link to the source article.

    Energy.gov: No Fooling - Energy Saving Do-It-Yourself Projects Can Be Easy and Affordable

    APRIL 1, 2022
    “Energy-efficient strategies don't have to cost thousands of dollars or require a contractor. You can change your home energy use with a few simple projects. Energy Saver has DIY projects available on the Do-It-Yourself Energy Saving Projects page.
    Each project details level of difficulty, potential energy savings, time to complete, and overall cost. There are also step-by-step instructions to make completing your DIY energy saving project a piece of cake.“

  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/26/2024 6:17 AM
    Wood Mackenzie reports on energy markets, and they have a podcast focusing on cleantech:

    The Energy Gang

    Our bi-weekly digest on energy, cleantech and the environment.

    Lots of good information on current events in the energy market. Give it a listen. :)

  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/25/2024 3:54 AM
    Energy Harbor has some tips on living a carbon-free lifestyle.

    52 Tips to Help You Embrace Your New Carbon Free Lifestyle


    “Around the Home:
    You might be surprised how big of an impact your house has on our climate. Everything from energy consumption to building materials can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
    There are many ways we can improve the energy efficiency of our homes and reduce our carbon footprint. We can install proper insulation, purchase energy-efficient appliances, or invest in renewable and clean energy sources, for example. And we can start by adopting a handful of these tips and creating more climate-friendly homes.

    1. Air Dry Clothes Once a Week
    Once a week if 129 million U.S. households air-dried one load of laundry per week, we could save 103 million pounds of CO2 a year. 1

    2. Stop Buying Paper Towels
    If the U.S. stopped using paper towels, we could save 270 million trees annually. 2

    3. Wrap Your Home in Energy Efficiency
    If every U.S. household updated their insulation, we could save close to 110 billion tons of CO2 from annual home energy leaking. 3

    4. Switch to Paperless Billing
    When you choose electronic bills and statements, you help save trees, conserve energy, and reduce water usage. You also help reduce waste, emissions, and transportation impacts associated with paper production. 4

    5. Light the Right Candles
    Lighting candles is a great way to reduce stress and relax – but burning candles also emit carbon into the atmosphere. What can you do? Choose candles made from sustainable materials, like 100% soy wax and cotton wicks. 5

    6. Recycle Old Lights
    Every year, over 20 million pounds of discarded holiday lights arrive in Shijiao, China – the Christmas Tree Light Recycling Capital of the World. There, bales of Christmas lights are pulverized, separated, and turned into everything from slippers to new gadgets. 6

    7. Adjust Your Fan
    Wait. Do ceiling fans have a winter mode? They sure do. In winter mode, ceiling fans rotate clockwise to help redistribute heat in your living space. As hot air rises, it gets “stuck” under the ceiling. Winter mode pushes the air downward, allowing for more even heat distribution without overworking your HVAC system. So, when it’s time, turn your fan to winter mode, save a little money, and help save our climate. 7

    8. Add a Humidifier
    In the winter, indoor air turns dry, making it difficult to retain heat. Using a humidifier moistens the air and allows for better heat conservation. 8

    9. Seal Insulation Gaps
    Improper insulation often results in the energy loss. Look and feel around doors and windows for leak signs. Temporarily fix gaps and holes with weather stripping or caulk, then choose a more durable solution once weather permits. 9

    10. Create a Green Home
    Conserve energy use and lower your carbon footprint by making your home do the work for you. Make sure it's adequately insulated, install energy-saving windows, use a programmable thermostat, and light your way with energy saving lighting. 10

    11. Save The Rain
    Collect rainwater and save it to use for watering your plants later. Doing so reduces the carbon cost of water extraction and transportation. 11

    12. Use Organic Soaps
    Opting to purchase or make your own organic soap promotes both health benefits and sustainability efforts as the soap is made from products that have not encountered pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. These often contribute to pollution and global warming. You can even go above and beyond and add your organic soap slivers to the next bar! 12

    13. Stop Junk Mail
    Unnecessary mail contributes, in part, to deforestation and wasted resources. The Federal Trade Commission provides consumers with ways to stop junk mail from marketers. Do this and you can help environmental sustainability efforts by lowering the need for paper production and consumption. 13

    14. Save Your Lint, Save the Planet
    Save your dryer lint in an old paper towel or toilet paper rolls. Use them as a handy fire starter for the fireplace or campfire. It also makes a great addition to a compost pile. Stray sweater fibers make a good snack for the bacteria typically found in soil.
    But don’t save it for the birdies. Contrary to popular belief, lint CANNOT be used for nesting material since some fibers will crumble when wet. 14



  • Jeff Babic's avatar
    Jeff Babic 4/24/2024 12:13 PM

    NASA Earth Observatory:

    2023 Fire Season in the Northern Hemisphere


    Whether sparked by lightning, intentional land-clearing, or human-caused accidents, wildland fires are burning longer and more often in some northern latitudes as the world warms.

    The NASA webpage linked in the title includes satellite imagery of various wildfires from 2023.