Angie Ruhter

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 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.

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 keep 5 forks, spoons, and/or knives from entering the landfill by using reusable utensils when eating at work.

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

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

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

I will enjoy 1 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

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

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 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 10 coworkers to promote connectivity in my workplace.

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will attend or watch a recording of a webinar 1 minutes long covering one or more healthcare sustainability issues.

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 form a new green team or healthcare sustainability group.