Ecochallenge.org

Campus Ecochallenge

Angelina Zhao

EJ and Ecospirituality, Spring 2026

POINTS TOTAL

36 TODAY
36 THIS WEEK
623 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

miles

traveled by foot
UP TO

2.0

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

1.0

energy audit

conducted
UP TO

137

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

3.0

pounds

waste avoided
UP TO

350

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

45

minutes

spent learning

Angelina's actions

Health

Go Get A Check Up

Regular health check-ups help prevent problems before they start. I will schedule or attend a medical, dental, or mental health check-up to take care of my well-being. I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Switch To Cold Water for Laundry

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Turn Off Lights and Electronics

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

COMPLETED 8
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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Learn About and Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 45 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Walk Instead of Driving

I will walk 2 miles each day instead of driving.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise or Sunset

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Learn to Grow Plants My Way

I will spend 5 minutes exploring how I can grow plants in my space—whether it’s a dorm windowsill, apartment patio, or a shared campus garden.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore a New Trail or Nature Walk

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

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 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Reflect on My Needs Versus Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Support Businesses Owned by People of Color

Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support businesses owned by people of color in my community whenever I shop.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Host A Watch Party

I will host a watch party to screen a documentary about an issue that matters to me.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Build Healthy Work-Life Balance Habits

I will create healthier school-life balance habits by setting boundaries around classwork, study time, and rest to support my well-being.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Share Rides with Others

I will sign up for a car-sharing service or coordinate ride shares with roommates, classmates, or campus peers to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Learn How to Save the Pollinators

I will spend 60 minutes learning which plants support local native pollinators and grow some in containers, a campus garden, or at home if space allows.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Calculate my Digital Carbon Footprint

I will calculate my digital carbon footprint and take steps to reduce my CO2 emissions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Complete an Online Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

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 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Angelina Zhao 2/11/2026 12:47 PM
Even though it's a small decision, I convinced myself not to buy boba on my walk today. My mom has been telling me to drink more water and fewer sugary drinks, which I agree I need to be more mindful of. Also, I think this drink consumption, like many coffee drinkers, creates a lot of waste from the cups and straws we use, as well as spending a lot of money on a drink. There are so many alternatives, and definitely water is the healthier option. This makes me think about how, if people did not buy coffee from a store or chain every morning, how much money would they theoretically save? Although I rarely even buy boba once a week, the prices still slowly stack up. I wonder if there is a way for me to gauge the finances related to my drink consumption.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

Father Thomas Berry says, "... our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." What is your response to Berry's assertion?
Angelina Zhao 2/11/2026 12:42 PM
I think Berry's assertion is very true to my life as well. As semesters pass, I see myself constantly trying to adapt to a better sleep and work schedule depending on the season and time of day. The beginning of the year and spring semester might be my favorite, as we slowly get more and more sunlight. I'm slowly shifting my sleep schedule to be healthier, aiming to sleep before midnight and wake up right after the sun has risen. I take time out of my day to watch the sunset or sunrise while eating, and I try to have a siesta as I would when I lived in Spain. Taking a power nap in the middle of the day, even when it's not hot out, still proves to be incredibly helpful in resetting my body a bit.

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Angelina Zhao 2/08/2026 7:15 AM
I notice that every time I'm either on a time crunch or really need to study or do homework, I spend the first 30 minutes to an hour just decluttering my space or room. It's the time I do all the chores that I put off before for some reason. I think it could be a reflection of my mind, getting it prepared and in "the zone" before I sit down for a longer period of time and focus deeply on something. Cleaning my space could be getting my mind prepared to hold new information by getting rid of the old one, or already getting my brain used to focusing on a task. Still, this time takes away from the time I actually do my work, but then again, actually starting my tasks is the hardest part for me. Once I push myself enough to start, it goes pretty smoothly from there.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

How might practicing work-life balance lead to a more sustainable life for yourself? How might it contribute to sustainability more broadly?
Angelina Zhao 2/07/2026 7:48 PM
Planning out a better work-life balance can create much healthier habits, and plan out what materials/food I'd need. It would be better for things like meal prep and to save time on thinking or finding something last minute.

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Angelina Zhao 2/05/2026 11:13 AM
Also took a Lyft with two other friends last night, from the Regal movie theatre downtown back to campus. It was around $21, so $7 per person. I feel like car-share rides are much more justified when there are multiple people using them. Otherwise, it can get pricey even to travel within the city.

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Angelina Zhao 2/05/2026 11:09 AM
I forgot to post this last night, after dinner with my roommates. Sitting next to the window was my favorite because I experienced the sunset going into blue hour, my favorite time of day. Don't be surprised if this isn't the first blue hour picture I post!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

How can you prevent yourself from accumulating more things in the future?
Angelina Zhao 2/03/2026 5:09 PM
I am a very prime example of accumulating a bit too many trinkets than I should. From my time at Georgetown alone, I've accumulated too many stickers, merch items, and small mementos from events and people. At the end of every semester, having the time to move out a lot of the things I don't use daily is very helpful. Also, I've been getting better at weighing what things are useful for me to have, or if I just like them as a decoration.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

Are you a gardener or house plant lover? Why or why not? What do you need to elevate your plant care skills?
Angelina Zhao 2/02/2026 8:25 PM
This past year, I adopted an heirloom from Club Fencing, which is a propagated aloe plant. I keep it on my windowsill and water it once a week. I grew many larger aloe plants at home, so it's a nice reminder!

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