Cori Dougher (SWMC)

I will form a new green team or healthcare sustainability group.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will spend 30 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.

I will make 2 appointments to support my health and well-being (primary care provider, dental, vision, etc.)

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

I will help others in need and prevent useful items from going to landfill by donating 10 items.

I will purchase produce and/or meat from a local farmers market or food co-op to make 10 locally-sourced meals.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

I will plant 3 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard. Check out resources for which tree species are best to plant in your area.

I will call or write 3 public officials to advocate for more green spaces around my town, particularly in neighborhoods that currently lack equitable access to green spaces.

I will volunteer 10 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

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.

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

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

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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

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.

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

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.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 30 minutes learning about which items are recyclable both at my workplace and at home since they may be different, and recycle only those items.

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

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the items my organization collects for medical device reprocessing and share this information with colleagues.

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.

I will attend or watch a recording of a webinar 30 minutes long covering one or more healthcare sustainability issues.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the ways climate change impacts health.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the environmental footprint of the healthcare industry, how it impacts health, and ways I can help reduce it.

I will turn my computer monitor(s) off at my work station when not in use to save energy (I will follow my organization's IT instructions for keeping on, turning off, or restarting computers).

Lighting makes up approximately 10% of hospitals' energy use on average. I will save energy by turning off unnecessary lights when not in use and when I am the last one to leave a space.

I will recycle 5 items at work and/or at home each day, making sure I review recycling program guidelines and only place accepted items that are clean, empty, and dry in the recycling bin.

I will keep 2 forks, spoons, and/or knives from entering the landfill by using reusable utensils when eating at work.

I will keep 2 disposable cup(s) and/or bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle, cup, or mug.

I will only use disinfectants where recommended and required by my organization's Infection Prevention and Control department.