sara mileni

I will work from home 1 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

I will plan more homemade meals and less going out to fast food restaurants.

i will learn about mental health and well-being and what to do to help improve mental well-being.

I will become more sustainable by planting & maintaining 5 different vegetables that my family can use for meals.

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

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 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 spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

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

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

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 30 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 recycle 10 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.

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 schedule coffee breaks, lunches, and/or check-in meetings with 2 coworkers to promote connectivity in my workplace.

I will purchase produce and/or meat from a local farmers market or food co-op to make 4 locally-sourced meals.

I will replace 4 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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

I will spend 20 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.

I will promote equity and support my community by purchasing items at 1 diverse- and/or locally-owned businesses.

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

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

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

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the items my organization collects for medical device reprocessing and share this information with colleagues.

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.

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

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

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

I will learn about the pros of planting perennial gardens over annual gardens, then design and plant a perennial garden.

I will make 2 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 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.