Vickie Haugen

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or vegan meal(s) each day this week.

Your voice matters! Help us improve the One Healthcare Ecochallenge by taking our survey, available starting April 23rd.

Hand washing dishes can use more energy and hot water than running a full dishwasher. To save water, I will scrape instead of rinsing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher, and only run it when it is full.

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

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 15 minute(s) each day. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)

I will keep 10 forks, spoons, and/or knives from entering the landfill by using reusable utensils when eating at work.

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).

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

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.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 15 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 pledge to take one action that improves the sustainability of my organization in 2025. It can be an action from this challenge or another action that improves resource stewardship.

I will work from home 20 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

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 save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

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