Cyrus Qian

I’ve been relying on public transportation for my daily commutes for quite some time now. This week, I made sure to continue using the streetcar and buses, which have become my go-to options for getting around the city. While it's already part of my routine, I’ve noticed that it not only helps me avoid traffic but also reduces my personal carbon footprint. Sometimes, the challenge can be dealing with the crowds during rush hour, but I still prefer it over driving. I feel good knowing I’m contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle, and it connects well to the course's theme of making environmentally-conscious transportation choices.

During my middle school years, I participated in a 5-day agricultural learning program where we engaged in activities like plowing, weeding, watering, and harvesting, while also learning about sustainable practices such as using natural fertilizers and conserving water. One of the highlights was collaborating with classmates to cook meals outdoors using fresh ingredients, which taught us teamwork and the value of food. This hands-on experience fostered a strong sense of community as we collaborated, shared responsibilities, and learned from one another. It was a powerful reminder of life is a classroom and how collective efforts, even within a school setting, can promote sustainability, teamwork, and a deeper connection to nature.

Reducing Shower Time to Save Water

For this week's eco-challenge, I decided to connect our family’s Spring Festival food traditions with sustainability. Every year, my grandma makes 炸红薯丸 (fried sweet potato balls) and 手工花馍 (flower-shaped steamed buns), which are such important parts of our family’s reunion dinner, symbolizing togetherness and new beginnings.

Reducing Water Waste

This week, I focused on reducing my water waste. Specifically, I started by using a water-saving showerhead, which cuts down the flow of water without compromising the pressure. Additionally, I adopted the "shower timer" method, where I try to limit my showers to 5-7 minutes, which is about half the time I usually spend. I’ve been learning that water usage is one of those things we don't always think about, but it has a big environmental impact. According to some of the course materials, the average American uses around 80-100 gallons of water per day, and that’s a lot of waste when you really think about it. Since I take showers every day, I thought cutting down on time and flow would be an easy first step for me.

The biggest challenge was definitely breaking my old habit of long, relaxing showers. I usually take my time, especially in the mornings to wake up, and shaving or washing my hair can add a lot of minutes. However, using the timer helped me stay conscious of my time, and the showerhead was surprisingly effective! It wasn't as noticeable as I thought—it still felt refreshing. I saved an estimated 20 gallons of water over the course of the week just by reducing shower time and switching the showerhead. Plus, I found that I’m starting to feel more energized in the mornings without the extended shower. It’s a little thing, but it feels good to make a difference, even in this small way.

Reducing Food Waste

• What I Did: I committed to meal planning for the week and making sure I used up all leftover food to avoid unnecessary waste. I kept track of the items I had in my fridge to ensure I didn’t overbuy and ended up with forgotten produce that would spoil. I also made a conscious effort to only buy what I needed, using up any leftovers creatively (like making soups or smoothies). Additionally, I started saving scraps of fruits and vegetables (like carrot tops, potato peels, and apple cores) to feed my chickens. This helped me reduce waste and give my chickens a healthy, natural snack.
• Challenges: I found it challenging to resist impulse purchases when I went grocery shopping, but I made sure to stick to my list. Another difficulty was using up certain items quickly before they went bad (like leafy greens), but I ended up making a lot of salads and wraps, which was a delicious way to minimize waste! Feeding my chickens was a great way to repurpose scraps, but I had to be mindful of what I gave them to make sure it was safe for them to eat.
• Rewards: I felt more organized and mindful of my food consumption. Not only did I reduce waste, but I also saved money by using everything I had, and I felt good about not throwing away food that could have been used. Plus, the chickens seemed to enjoy their extra snacks, and it was satisfying to know that I was helping the environment by feeding them scraps that would otherwise go to a landfill.