Sustainability Self-Audit
What are you already doing?
In order to create a more sustainable world, I have really embodied the lifestyle of recycling and not littering. I try to not waste as much as I do and I have also slowed down the amount of plastic I have been buying. In my apartment, the water has been really harsh and tends to destroy water-filter systems that are installed to faucets so I have to purchase water from an outside source. I made the investment of a three-gallon water jug that I have to refill every so often per week. I would rather the inconvenience of making the trip to get more water than to keep wasting plastic on individual gallons (plus it saves money).
What are some of your biggest struggles?
Reducing the amount of waste and eating meat are two things that I struggle with the most. I honestly think that I have an addiction to food and most the things that I waste are leftovers, bags and wrappers. One day, I really want to go on a full vegan diet for the betterment of the planet and my health, but it is hard to cut cold turkey on meat eating.
How do you want to improve?
In order to move to an efficient vegan diet that will be a life-time decision, I will have to make preparations to sleep more so I have more energy, and slowly ween off the meat by progressively lessening the amount of days per week that I eat meat over a three month period. At my apartment, I will voice the need for composting toilets for all residents and a better, more restricted recycling system. I intend to shop at no-waste stores as well to reduce my daily waste amount.
Check Your Carbon FootprintCarbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.
Triple Bottom Line in SustainabilityThe service work we do at the collaborative relates to the concept of "triple bottom line" simply because our presence is throughout the entire community. We intern at non-profit businesses and volunteer at various ones at all, benefitting the economy, environment and social in Omaha. Not only is it just our work within the collaborative, but the students within the organization are heavily involved on campus and are passionate about these issues on a daily basis 24/8.
Within the Collaborative, we can become more sustainable in many ways. As I spoke above, we can compost within our office, but advocate for composting and reducing your waste on campus. Another way is to have students use the carbon footprint calculator and make the city transportation more known by showing students how it works. If students on campus were to compost, recycle, and drive their cars less to and from campus, we would really create a sustainable movement throughout the city because college institutions are so powerful in the world. Our practices of recycling and volunteerism is great at our level, but with a few tune ups, we could make an even larger impact.
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