Mary Hoeschen
"To green up my daily activities, and in this way lessen my impact on the world I love. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 923 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO560gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO238pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO2.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO34milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO26milestraveled by bus
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UP TO1,855minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO6.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO15random acts of kindnesscompleted
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UP TO1.0pint of blooddonated
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UP TO2.0well-being appointmentsmade
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UP TO140minutes spentlearning
Mary's actions
At Work
Use Public Transit
I will use public transit 8 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
One Healthcare
Climate Change Impacts on Health
I will spend 60 minutes learning about the ways climate change impacts health.
One Healthcare
Environmental Footprint of Healthcare
I will spend 60 minutes learning about the environmental footprint of the healthcare industry, how it impacts health, and ways I can help reduce it.
One Healthcare
Random Act of Kindness
I will promote a positive environment and uplift others by performing 1 random act(s) of kindness.
At Work
Work From Home
I will work from home 4 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.
At Home
Practice the 5 r's
I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.
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.
At Home
Repair an Item
I will repair an item, such as clothing or an appliance, for myself, a friend, family member, or neighbor.
At Home
Shorter Showers
I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
At Home
Choose LED Bulbs
I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
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.
At Home
Needs Vs. Wants
I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.
Health & Well-being
Do Nature Activities
I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 20 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.)
One Healthcare
Donate Blood
I will donate blood in my community to make sure there are adequate supplies for routine medical services and emergencies.
In Our Communities
Volunteer in My Community
I will volunteer 6 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.
Health & Well-being
Go Get a Check Up
I will make 2 appointments to support my health and well-being (primary care provider, dental, vision, etc.)
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAt Work Use Public TransitWas using public transit to get to your destination easier or more difficult than you expected? How did your experience using public transit differ from your experience driving in a car? What do you think are the biggest barriers to more people using public transit in your area?
Mary Hoeschen 4/25/2024 8:51 AMRiding the bus is nice, because I can sit back and listen to music or a podcast and watch the world go by. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAt Home Repair an ItemWhat was the last item you repaired? How did you do it and what was the outcome? What are your favorite resources for learning how to repair items yourself?
Mary Hoeschen 4/25/2024 8:33 AMI mended a fraying collar on my shirt with some colorful embroidery floss. It's now looking better than ever. #visiblemending -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAt Home Adjust the ThermostatWhat other steps can you take each day to heat and cool your home more efficiently?
Mary Hoeschen 4/25/2024 8:31 AMFor cooling, we have planted trees to shade the house from the hot western sun. For warming, we keep the house at 64 if we're home, and wear sweaters. Also, a dog on my lap helps when I'm WFH. :) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONIn Our Communities Volunteer in My CommunityHow did volunteering in your community make you feel? What is one thing you can do to help your community become more sustainable?
Mary Hoeschen 4/23/2024 6:55 AMVolunteering twice this month has been both rewarding and doable! I plan to make it a habit, and have joined the Friends group of my local park. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONOne Healthcare Donate BloodWhy do you donate blood?
Mary Hoeschen 4/22/2024 7:03 AMIt's an easy way to help, and having Versiti so close to MCW makes it super convenient. The staff are always friendly, and I don't mind the cookie afterwards! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAt Home Needs Vs. WantsHow is creativity a necessary ingredient for practicing simplicity?
Mary Hoeschen 4/16/2024 7:57 AMGreat question! Creativity can definitely play a role in repurposing items I already have, rather than throwing them away. I've recently learned about 'visible mending' of garments, which is creative, green, and also quite beautiful. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth & Well-being Do Nature ActivitiesWhat did you observe while spending time outside -- through sight, sound, smell and/or touch? How did you feel after spending time outdoors?
Mary Hoeschen 4/12/2024 1:00 PMI decided to take a nice walk to and from work. In those eight miles, I enjoyed the sunshine immensely, and was surprised to see a few butterflies back already. I will definitely repeat this on nice days this spring, but next time with better shoes!-
James Howard (SW) 4/12/2024 2:28 PMThat is very ambitious, 8 miles. Mine is 6 one way so a bit much to walk but I hope to fix my bike and ride to work.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAt Home Shorter ShowersName some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?
Mary Hoeschen 4/08/2024 6:16 AMI live in Milwaukee, and have signed up for MMSD's water drop alerts. I have disconnected my house's downspouts from the storm sewer, and created a rain garden. This is all an effort to keep water in place, rather than overwhelming our water treatment facilities. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAt Home Practice the 5 r'sWhich of the 5 R's was easiest for you? Which was the most difficult? How did practicing the 5 R's help you reduce more waste than recycling alone?
Mary Hoeschen 4/08/2024 6:12 AMReusing is something I like to do. I'm a gardener who loves to start her own seeds, and also a coffee lover. I find that coffee bags make great plant pots if you cut off the top, and poke holes in the bottom. -
Mary Hoeschen 4/05/2024 10:09 AMInvite me to anything green, and I'll try to join. Love being outside, hence I love helping the earth in ways I can.