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Susan G's avatar

Susan G

UFV Ecochallenge 2025

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 224 THIS WEEK
  • 966 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    21
    whole food meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    24
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    215
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    9.7
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    33
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    88
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    175
    minutes
    of additional sleep
  • UP TO
    1,611
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    571
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    40
    minutes
    spent learning

Susan's actions

Health

Prioritize Getting Enough Sleep

Good sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. I will prioritize getting 7 hours of quality sleep each night and develop a bedtime routine that supports rest and relaxation.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Feedback Survey

Take the Campus Ecochallenge Feedback Survey

Tell us what you thought! Take a short survey about your experience to help us improve future events. It only takes a few minutes — and when you complete the survey, you'll earn points!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Exercise Daily

Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 20 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Repair a Broken Item

I will repair at least one item that is broken, but is repairable. This might be items like garden tools, sewing machine, small appliances, electronics, clothing, and more.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Feedback Survey

Take the UFV Ecochallenge Feedback Survey

Share your feedback and experience with the Office of Sustainability! Complete by October 31st

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottles from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost My Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to 0.42 lbs (0.19 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day by composting my food.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Power Down the Computer

I will power down my computer and monitor when not using it for more than 2 hours, saving up to (1.1) lbs of CO2 per day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

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

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go For A Daily Walk in Nature

I will take a 20-minute walk outside each day around my campus, neighborhood, or local green space to connect with nature.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Follow a Whole Food Diet

Processed foods can be less nutritious for our bodies and take more energy and water to produce, which can create more waste, pollution, and may offer fewer health benefits. I will enjoy 1 meals per day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Visit A Local Farm

I will visit a nearby farm to pick my own fruits and veggies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Feedback Survey

UFV Sustainability Culture and Literacy Assessment

Complete the UFV Sustainability Culture and Literacy Assessment by October 17th

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Declutter My Living Space

I will declutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my dorm room, apartment, or home to create a more peaceful and organized living space.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Learn How Voter Suppression Affects My Community

I will spend at least 20 minutes finding out what local laws, policies, and practices keep people from voting in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will try to shop at a farmers market or food co-op, if one is accessible, to support local farmers and businesses. By doing so, I may be able to learn more about who produces the food I eat and goods I buy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Buy Used Clothes Instead of New

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the perils of fast fashion and will choose thrift stores, clothing swaps, or second-hand options when I shop for clothes.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Meditate or Create a Moment of Silence

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 5 minutes each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health
    Consider how many hours of sleep you get now. How would you like to shift your sleep patterns? What changes did you make to improve your sleep, and how did they affect your day?

    Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/22/2025 9:15 PM
    This action has been a difficult one for me to meet consistently, I go to bed too late and get up too early. What does help me go to sleep better though is turning off my screen at least 30 minutes before bedtime, dimming the lights, lowering the temperature in the bedroom and reading a good book!

  • Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/22/2025 9:06 PM
    We're getting close to the end of this great challenge....I'm just trying to get caught up on some of my actions and reflections!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy
    What are other easy things you could do to save energy and reduce your environmental footprint?

    Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/22/2025 9:03 PM
    I've started unplugging alot more small things when they aren't in use such as the kettle, electric toothbrush, USB chargers and other small appliances and electronics. According to BC Hydro, these "energy vampires" can account for 10% of your hydro bill when plugged in all the time even when turned off!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health
    How did exercising each day impact your physical or mental well-being? What activity did you enjoy most, and why?

    Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/22/2025 8:48 PM
    For me, daily exercise helps reduce stress, keeps the weight off and makes my clothes feel like they fit better. I love lifting weights, but also enjoy yoga for the stretching and relaxation!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste
    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?

    Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/22/2025 8:42 PM
    I've been composting for years and the change I've noticed is since my municipality has introduced weekly curbside compost collection, no food goes into the garbage. The food I used to throw out (meats and fish waste) can now go in the curbside compost bin. To avoid a stinky compost bin, we freeze the meat/fish waste in a paper bag and put it in the bin on collection day. Our compost is used to fertilize our vegetable gardens.

  • Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/17/2025 2:42 PM
    Over halfway through the challenge and I'm meeting most of my daily actions with the exception of getting enough sleep (only meeting this one on weekends 🫢) and decluttering my space (only once!).
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Michael Pollan states that “it is better to pay the grocer (our edit: or the farmer!) than the doctor.” What are your thoughts on this assertion?

    Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/03/2025 10:53 AM
    I think it means it's healthier to consume whole foods and stay away from eating preprocessed and fast foods. Though I've noticed the freezer sections in many grocery stores almost entirely dedicated to preprocessed frozen foods, and the frozen vegetable section shrinking. Shopping in the produce section or local farm markets are a healthier option.

  • Susan G's avatar
    Susan G 10/01/2025 12:00 PM
    Always enjoy learning new things in this challenge....I see some new actions and look forward to learning about plogging and plalking!