Understanding the difference in these dates is extremely helpful in reducing food waste.

Educating people about the environmental impacts of meat production is a good starting point.  Discussing the health benefits of a more plant based diet is another option.

We have considered going solar for many years now.  The Challenge inspired me to actually investigate the costs and benefits associated with installing a system on our home.  The initial investment has always been the stumbling block, so I'm hoping that educating ourselves will bring us to a better understanding of the investment and the  ROI.

This challenge made me think about the smaller things such as insulating around the attic door as well as upgrading the insulation around our home doors.  When we replaced all of our windows and doors the energy saved was tremendous.

We switched to all compact florescent bulbs years ago.  I'm glad that LED's are now available because they're even more efficient and don't contain mercury.

I really think its important to recycle what we can, but even more important is reducing what we buy that needs to be recycled. I'm paying more attention to packaging and trying to buy less of it. I'm also bringing my own produce bags, grocery bags, and a bag to put bulk spices in. I am meeting with the city recycling coordinator soon. I have a collection of things I'm not sure about recycling to ask about. I will learn more when she tours me around the Timberline Recycling Center.

The idea of increased electrification of freight railways was new to me, but it makes sense.