Kevin Young

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 133 lbs of CO2 a month and 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

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

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 15 minute(s) each day.

I will visit a nearby farm to pick my own fruits and veggies.

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those around the world who produce my food in order to make better choices when I shop.

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

I will sign up for a car-sharing service or organize car sharing with my neighbors or classmates to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road.

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

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.

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

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

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 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

I will spend 30 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

I will keep track and reduce my consumption of refined sugars, including sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 30 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

I will avoid buying toxic plastics - including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl - and instead replace them with durable non-plastic options.

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 1 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

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

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.