Jacob Rohrbaugh 340

YCP Spring 2025

"I'm committed to making small, consistent choices that reduce my impact on the environment. Whether it's cutting down on waste, being mindful of what I consume, or supporting cleaner alternatives, I believe individual actions matter. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about doing better every day and encouraging others to do the same."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
835 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

116

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

34

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

3.3

pounds of paper

have been saved
UP TO

35

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

608

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

528

minutes

spent learning

Jacob's actions

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

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

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement

I will spend at least 20 minutes using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Learn About Renewable Energy

I will spend 15 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Core Values

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Adjust the Thermostat

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

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).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 15 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/22/2025 7:10 PM
As we near the end of the ecochallenge, I have begun to reflect a lot more. I am definitely glad that we did this. I learned a lot and also feel better about myself and what we, as a society, can do to cause meaningful change. This has been a very rewarding and satisfying experience.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

Why is it important to take care of pollinators?
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/20/2025 7:45 PM
Pollinators are important because they are essential for food production. Specifically, they promote plant reproduction and healthy ecosystems, as they move pollen. This, of course, allows plants to produce seeds and fruits

Read More
- yun bai 4/20/2025 10:10 PM
  Pollinated insects are an important part of maintaining biodiversity. Many wild plants also rely on pollinator insects for their reproduction. These plants form an important cornerstone of the ecosystem, providing habitat and food sources for other organisms. The decline of pollinator insects will lead to a decrease in plant populations, which will in turn trigger the collapse of the entire ecosystem.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/17/2025 1:37 PM
To reduce my electricity usage, I can do a few different things. I can turn off lights and appliances when I am not directly using them. I can take shorter showers. I can unplug devices when they are not in use. I can replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. And much more.

Read More
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/16/2025 4:16 PM
I am enjoying it still. It is a neat idea that I think could help motivate people more to change their habits.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/16/2025 4:14 PM
My trip (planned for later in the summer), was originally going to be by plane. But we will instead be travelling by car. The trip will be longer (it is about 7 hours by car versus 2 hours by plane), but we'll be able to travel on our terms and it is a net benefit for the environment.

In order to avoid more air travel in the future, the best thing to do would be to try to stay local (or, at least, relatively local where driving is still feasible).

Read More
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/12/2025 7:56 PM
It is going great so far! This is a fun way to have people make small changes in their lives.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

What are your top 3-5 core values? How did you narrow it down to those as being your core values?
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/09/2025 6:19 PM
If I had to say, my top three core values would be dependability, generosity, and compassion. I chose these because they’re things I feel every day. I think these values guide me and are a big part of who I am.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

What inspires you to act on sustainable energy and other energy issues?
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/09/2025 6:15 PM
I think we’re facing an energy crisis with our current infrastructure and the already dangerous conditions caused by climate change. Because of that, sustainable energy feels more important than ever. I think it’s important to act on issues that have long-term consequences for future generations.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

Reducing your paper mail can reduce mental clutter as well as physical waste -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/06/2025 7:22 PM
It feels good to use less paper as it means less to sort through, less clutter, and fewer things to worry about recycling. The next step in reducing my waste could be switching to reusable products—things like cloth towels instead of paper towels, stuff like that.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How does food sovereignty address the complex transition from localized food systems to modern global food systems?
Jacob Rohrbaugh 340 4/06/2025 7:16 PM
Food sovereignty centers around local control, cultural traditions, and sustainable practices. It offers a way to reconnect communities with how their food is grown, who grows it, and why that matters.

Read More