Holly Cunningham
"Aiming to make small changes that will have a big impact."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,308 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO45disposable cupsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO22gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO4.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO2.0locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO148minutesspent learning
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UP TO60minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO57plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO69plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO26plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO24poundswaste composted
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UP TO808pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1.5pounds of paperhave been saved
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UP TO6.0treesplanted
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
Holly's actions
The Great Outdoors
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 30 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
The Great Outdoors
Plant Trees
I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.
Buildings
Research Retrofitting Incentives
I will spend at least 5 minutes finding out if my city, region, province, or country offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.
Buildings
Tour a Green Roof
I will set up an in-person or virtual tour of a green roof in my city, and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.
Buildings
Fix Leaky Faucets
I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 11 liters of water per faucet every day.
Buildings
Research Heat Pumps
I will spend at least 5 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.
Buildings
Research How to Insulate your Home, Local Arena or Sports Complex
I will spend 5 minutes learning about how to make my local arena, community centre, sports complex or home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.
Energy
Support Companies Leading in Green Energy
I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.
Energy
Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).
Energy
Learn More About Geothermal Energy
I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.
Energy
Switch to Cold Water
Do at Home
I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 725 kgs of CO2 over the course of the next year.
Energy
Choose Clean/Renewable Energy
Do at Home
I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.
Energy
Choose LED Bulbs
Do at Home
I will replace 1 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Energy
Encourage my team, school, company and/or organization to measure and manage their carbon footprint
Do at Home
Organizations have a responsibility to make sustainable business decisions. To understand how to improve sustainable practices, it’s important to start with understanding the current impact. I will share the Tradewater Business Carbon Calculator with my organization.
Energy
Calculate the Carbon Footprint of my Household
Do at Home
I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.
Transportation
Explore Other Transportation Solutions
I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other sustainable Transportation Solutions.
Transportation
Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
Do at Home
I will spend at least 25 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.
Transportation
Stay on the Ground
Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).
Food
Buy From a Farmers Market
I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Food
Composting
I will start a compost bin where I live.
Food
Meet My Local Farmers
I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those around the world who produce my food in order to make better choices when I shop.
Waste
Personal Waste Audit
I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.
Waste
Launch a Recycling Program
I will start a recycling program at my workplace or school. If a recycling program exists, I will advocate for ways to improve and expand it.
Waste
Go Paperless
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 1.5kg a month or 18.6kg a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
Waste
Compost Food Waste
I will avoid sending up to .31 kg of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.
Waste
Advocate For More Food Packaging Options
I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.
Waste
Use Reusable Bags
If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.
Waste
Skip the Straw
Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
Waste
Research Local Waste Sites
I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
Waste
Swap or Buy Used Equipment
Instead of buying new equipment, I will swap or buy used equipment to minimize waste and save money.
Waste
Use a Reusable Mug in Those Cold Arenas
I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.
Waste
Use a Reusable Water Bottle for Your Sport Events
I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.
Energy
Research Electric Zamboni
I will research what it would take to replace my arena's fossil fuel powered zamboni with an electric or renewable energy zamboni.
Energy
Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy
I will spend at least 2 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.
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 QUESTIONEnergy Support Companies Leading in Green EnergyEvery dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?
Holly Cunningham 11/30/2021 4:19 PMWe can make choices in our day-to-day product spending based on companies that support bad use green energy sources. In doing some online research I found that many brands that are household names are leading in this area, such as: Unilever, Apple, Google, Microsoft -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Meet My Local FarmersWhen you know who produces your food, you are connecting personally to your complex regional food system. What are the advantages of knowing who produces your food and where it comes from? How can knowing their food producers enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?
Holly Cunningham 11/30/2021 3:54 PMWhen you choose local producers, the proximity allows you to have important conversations about sustainability and ethics. You can personally chose what type of food industry your spending dollars are supporting. This also allows food producers to focus on producing quality goods instead of on shipping goods and all of the energy and processing involved in preparing foods to ship. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Encourage my team, school, company and/or organization to measure and manage their carbon footprintWhat else can you do to hold your organization accountable to implement sustainable practices?
Holly Cunningham 11/30/2021 3:46 PMIn order to hold an organization accountable to implement sustainable practices, it is important to get many patrons on board. Community members need to put pressure to show that they except sustainable practices. Organizing a team of volunteers to implement a program at somewhere like a school or a community centre will encourage peers to get involved. Organizers can lead by example and set the standard for community involvement in the program. -
Holly Cunningham 11/30/2021 3:40 PMI’m glad to have participated in this challenge. I learned a lot and made some beneficial changes to my regular routine! -
Holly Cunningham 11/29/2021 6:57 PMHome stretch! Way to go team! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings Tour a Green RoofWhat did you learn on your green roof tour?
Holly Cunningham 11/28/2021 5:13 PMI visited the green roof at Qualico Family Centre in Assiniboine Park. This is a site that I visit on a regular basis and I had not previously noticed the green roof. Because it is winter, the roof is snow covered but I will go back to check it out in the spring. Researching it online, I found that it is planted with local prairie grasses. I learned that green roofs are energy efficient as they block solar heat in the summer to keep the building cool and provided insulation in the winter months. It also adds a unique and attractive building to the park landscape. It was very interesting to learn about all of the design features of this building that make it more energy efficient. -
Holly Cunningham 11/28/2021 1:57 PMI was stumped (pun intended) how to plant a tree in Winnipeg winter. I came across these seeds so my son and I have planted 6 seeds and hope to have some seedling ready to plant outside when the weather improves. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings Fix Leaky FaucetsWhat are other easy and low-cost ways to reduce your water usage at home?
Holly Cunningham 11/28/2021 1:45 PMYou can reduce your water use at home firstly by changing your water use habits. This could include taking shorter showers, not leaving the faucet running, only running your dishwasher and washing machine on full loads, and not watering your lawn.
Secondly, you can reduce your water use by upgrading your washing appliances to newer, more water efficient models. You can also upgrade your toilet, faucets and shower heads.
Lastly, you can collect rain water for use in your garden rather than use water from the hose. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONThe Great Outdoors Plant TreesHow is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Holly Cunningham 11/28/2021 1:33 PMMany people feel a spiritual connection to nature. Spending time in green spaces can help reduce stress and improve mental health. Trees can help combat air pollution leading to better physical health. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Choose LED BulbsSwitching out your lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?
Holly Cunningham 11/28/2021 1:22 PMWe can exercise our civic duty to protect the environment in so many ways! Around the holidays I am really trying to rethink my consumer habits by considering what type of products I bring into my home. I always try to pose the question "how soon will this end up in a landfill?" This way of thinking really helps me to reduce the amount of wasteful products we use and refuse to buy/accept items that have a short or one time use.