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Karmen Howard's avatar

Karmen Howard

Rush Green Employee Resource Group (ERG)

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 146 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    28
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    0.7
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    2.0
    random acts of kindness
    completed

Karmen's actions

At Home

Learn the Truth about Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

One Healthcare

Random Act of Kindness

I will promote a positive environment and uplift others by performing 1 random act(s) of kindness.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Brush My Teeth Without Water Running

I will save up to 4 gallons (15 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Compost Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

At Home

Needs Vs. Wants

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

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Shorter Showers

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

At Work

Turn It Off

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).

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

At Work

Last to Leave? Lights Out, Please!

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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?


  • Karmen Howard's avatar
    Karmen Howard 4/10/2025 11:34 AM
    I like this challenge. It makes me think about sustainability even more.

    • Arielle Hoisington's avatar
      Arielle Hoisington 4/10/2025 11:35 AM
      • DIY Enthusiast 🔨
      I agree. This challenge has really made me think about my print on the world.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    One Healthcare
    How did performing random acts of kindness make you feel? Were you surprised by any of the responses you received from recipients?

    Karmen Howard's avatar
    Karmen Howard 4/03/2025 11:05 AM
    It felt good to recognize one of my coworkers on how much she is valued and appreciated.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    How is creativity a necessary ingredient for practicing simplicity?

    Karmen Howard's avatar
    Karmen Howard 4/03/2025 11:02 AM
    When I use my creativity, I find myself repurposing things that I already have in my home or the office.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?

    Karmen Howard's avatar
    Karmen Howard 4/03/2025 11:00 AM
    I am new to composting. I have just been saving my vegetable and food scraps in the freezer. I plan to use it for my garden.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    Do you live in an area that is water secure or with water scarcity? What other actions do you take to use water more efficiently?

    Karmen Howard's avatar
    Karmen Howard 4/03/2025 10:55 AM
    I live in an area that is water secure. I also reuse the water that leaks out of my hot water heater for my plants instead of just flushing it in the toiled or pouring it down the sink.