Maurice Cyr

UMass Dartmouth

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
182 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning

Maurice's actions

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Research Retrofitting Incentives

#80 Retrofitting

I will spend at least 60 minutes finding out if my city, region, or state offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

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?

Maurice Cyr 4/17/2018 12:27 PM

Yesterday I went to the market to purchase some meats. Unfortunately, all the fresh meat was packaged in styrofoam trays. The market was incredibly busy, so I did not take the time to speak with the manager of the meats department to request that the meat be repackaged. Some markets do use plastic trays instead of styrofoam, unfortunately, the particular market I was shopping at did not.
However, I still have not purchased a coffee in a styrofoam cup!

Read More
Maurice Cyr 4/17/2018 12:27 PM

Yesterday I went to the market to purchase some meats. Unfortunately, all the fresh meat was packaged in styrofoam trays. The market was incredibly busy, so I did not take the time to speak with the manager of the meats department to request that the meat be repackaged. Some markets do use plastic trays instead of styrofoam, unfortunately, the particular market I was shopping at did not.
However, I still have not purchased a coffee in a styrofoam cup!

Read More
Maurice Cyr 4/11/2018 1:12 PM

It has been difficult to resist the temptation of going through the drive thru at Dunkin and just grabbing a coffee, but I can proudly say that I have not used a styrofoam cup since the challenge began.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Research Heat Pumps

Why do you care about taking action on climate change?

Maurice Cyr 4/11/2018 1:09 PM

I care because I am a human living on this big rock we call home. Just in my lifetime (50 years), I have seen tangible changes in our weather patterns. For example, when I was a kid, I can recall gathering lilacs for my mother on Mothers Day. They were never quite open, but just about ready to pop. In the present, we are seeing the same lilac bushes blooming 2-3 weeks before Mothers Day.
I would like to be a responsible human being and at least try to slow down climate change, for the sake of the next generation of humans taking a ride on this big rock.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Research Retrofitting Incentives

How can you share what you have learned in your research with others?

Maurice Cyr 4/11/2018 1:01 PM

I began by looking at MassSave.com and found that there are many programs to assist residents of the state to make their homes more energy efficient. NGRID has programs for low cost LED bulbs and smart power strips (which we have already taken advantage of). When we do purchase out home, we will be utilizing all of these programs to receive discounts on window replacement, insulation, and boiler replacement.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Eliminate Toxic Plastics

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Maurice Cyr 4/03/2018 8:32 AM

I usually go to Dunkin after work for a coffee. I have always hated the Styrofoam cups because my city does not accept styrofoam in the recycling stream.
I bring a coffee to work with me from home every day. Yesterday, I began bringing my reusable stainless mug into the shop to refill. As long as it is clean and empty, they will refill. Cumberland Farms will also allow customers to use their reusable mugs.

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