Missy Lucas
"Make the world go round a little greener, a little brighter 🌎✨"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 881 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO220gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO520milestraveled by bus
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UP TO240minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO893pounds of CO2have been saved
Missy's actions
Transportation
Use Public Transit
I will use public transit 40 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 6.55 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
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 that I do this.
Transportation
Choose a Carbon Offset
If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.
Waste
Use Reusable Containers
I will only use reusable containers for my lunches at work or school.
Food
Buy From a Farmers Market
I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.
Community
Connect with a Nonprofit
I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.
Food
Watch a Documentary
I will watch a documentary film about food with family and friends and talk about what we learned.
Health
Happiness
I will write down three things every day for two weeks that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.
Nature
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 60 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.
Waste
Needs vs. Wants
I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.
Water
5-Minute Showers
I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
Energy
Choose Clean/Renewable Energy
I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.
Simplicity
Eat Mindfully
I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.
Energy
Turn it off
I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.
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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Missy Lucas 10/27/2017 5:14 PM#EcoChallenge complete! I’m thankful for being able to take some small steps towards a more mindful and sustainable lifestyle over the past 2 weeks, along with my awesome teammates. 🌎 👑 🌱
Some things I learned:
💦 Showering for less than 5 minutes is pretty easy and a good practice for only using as much water as you need (though it’s a bit harder when the water is warm and the air is cold, instead of visa versa -- I miss the tropics!)
💻 Turning off lights and electronics you're not using, including shutting down the computer (almost) every night, helps you staying focused and use them more efficiently (though I still have the bad habit of opening 20+ internet tabs at once)
🍴 Carrying reusable (and ideally non-plastic) containers, silverware, and/or cloth napkins is a really good habit to develop, both for bringing food AND for possibly taking extra food home when eating out
🚌 Despite Houston being a “driving city,” the public bus system is actually pretty extensive and a good way to get around. Getting a Metro card is completely free and you can preview possible bus routes easily just via Google Maps
The hardest goals to keep up with were spending time outside and writing down things I’m grateful for each day — both mostly because I didn’t prioritize spending time on those things. Some goals to focus on for the future 😊
I also hope to continue to learn more about local US environmental nonprofits (especially ones focused on zero waste and sustainability) and buying carbon offsets to neutralize negative carbon output from flights. If you have knowledge to share, please let me know! 🙏
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Missy Lucas 10/24/2017 9:04 PMHas anyone heard of or volunteered with "Plant It Forward"? One of my #EcoChallenge goals was to research a local nonprofit and how to get involved. I was excited to find this Houston-based organization that trains refugees to be urban farmers -- sounds like more sustainably grown produce for Houstonians, and more meaningful opportunities for refugees in the greater Houston area, which resettles more refugees than any other city in the US.
Legit and meaningful change? What do you think? 🤔🌱
http://plant-it-forward.org/our-story/-
Margery Lucas 10/25/2017 2:13 PMI have not heard of it, but it looks great! I did not realize Houston helped resettle more refuges than any other city in the US, that is great!
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Missy Lucas 10/24/2017 6:18 PM#EcoChallenge Days 13-14: Even in the city, you can still watch the sunrise 🌞🙏 #goodmorningworld #littlejoysinlife
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Missy Lucas 10/23/2017 9:18 PMHappy Monday everybody! Can't believe there's only a couple days left of the EcoChallenge. My goal is to focus on eating meals without using the phone/computer, which I've gotten out of the habit of doing the past few days. 🙏
What is one thing you plan to focus on for these last 2 days? 🤔 -
Missy Lucas 10/22/2017 6:39 PM#EcoChallenge Day 12: practicing being flexible. Don't rush, go outside, use public transport, walk, wander, smell the fresh air, and keep your eyes open for the little joys in life ☺️🌆 + a little black smudge because my phone camera is not perfect 🤓📲 #errands #imperfecttechnologyisok
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Missy Lucas 10/24/2017 5:48 PMLittle joys in life are like this:
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Missy Lucas 10/21/2017 9:15 PM#EcoChallenge Days 8-11: moving time! The past few days I've been trekking across the city via backpacks and buses to move into my new apartment. I've missed some of my EcoChallenge goals, which has been frustrating, but in that sense it's also been a good lesson on patience and focus.
When things gets busy, remember that life isn't about perfection, but rather the journey you take as you embark on each new day. Sometimes you take several steps forward, and at other times it feels like a few steps backward. Just remember to focus on where you are going in the long term 👣☺️🙏
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Missy Lucas 10/24/2017 5:47 PMMoving, as close to zero-waste as possible:
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Missy Lucas 10/18/2017 7:45 PM#EcoChallenge Day 8: just missed the cutoff for a 5-minute shower. Oh well, there are plenty of future opportunities to work on that 😅 -
Missy Lucas 10/17/2017 8:43 PM#EcoChallenge Day 7: a ride with a view 🌆👀🚌 Houston may not be the best US city for public transportation, but there is a surprisingly large network of buses that even reach into the suburbs. I'm grateful for the public transportation that lets me lessen my carbon footprint by taking a bus to/from work. Who says you can't get by without a car in the city? 👣🌎
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Missy Lucas 10/16/2017 9:36 PM#EcoChallenge Day 6: Today I signed up for 100% clean energy for my new apartment! Excited to embark on a new living experience not only in a new home but also with electricity powered by 100% local wind energy. 🌬💡✨
Also, I am SO proud of my EcoChallenge team, the Kings and Queens of Green Routines! 👑🌱💪 We’re still in the first week and are already at 22 team members, over 2,200 team points, and currently ranked as the 82nd team out of 625 teams so far. That means we’re in the top 15% of all teams!! 😱
Take a look at our impact so far:
https://2017.ecochallenge.org/dashboards/teams/kings-queens-green-routines-
Lin Harmon-Walker 10/16/2017 9:39 PMWow! Way to go! Your story is an inspiration.
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Missy Lucas 10/15/2017 9:07 PM#EcoChallenge Day 5: I've been learning about how recycling is really not as "eco-friendly" as it seems; often it's really just "downcycling" or slightly prolonging the lifespan of non-natural materials that often still eventually end up in a landfill. Instead, there's lots of simpler and less resource-costly ways for humans to use and re-use material things over the long term. I recommend reading the awesome book "Cradle to Cradle" for more info 😅📗I've transitioned to using glass containers instead of plastic tupperware, but they still have partly-plastic lids... Any suggestions for reusable containers to take food to work/school that DON'T have any plastic components? 🤔💭-
Ashley Fitzgerald 10/15/2017 9:39 PMMason jars work pretty well. I’ve packed a pretty nice lunch in the larger ones and many smaller round containers fit inside, for instance, for salad dressing, for a salad, mason jar salad. I think I saw a good short video on all the kinds and ways one can pack a lunch in one, google mason jar lunch or uses.
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