Members of the Chamisa Elementary School Green Team with their trophy earned during the Eco Challenge. The trophy was presented Jan. 17 during the Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board meeting. Courtesy photo
The top individual scorers during the Eco Challenge with their certificates, from left, Heather Ward, Environmental Sustainability Division Manager Angelica Gurule and Susan Hettinga. Courtesy photo In just 21 days, Los Alamos residents aided the environment in a variety of ways.
During its Jan. 17 meeting, the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) took stock of the accomplishments made during the Eco Challenge, held Oct. 3-24, 2018, and recognized the top participants.
- According to agenda documents, 94 people participated locally in the Eco Challenge. Additionally, these 94 people made a lot of strives to help celebrate, protect and enhance the natural world. A few of the highlights included:
- Consumed 46 meatless and vegan meals
- Ate eight zero waste meals
- Contacted up to four public officials or leaders regarding the environment
- Had 47 conservations about the environment
- Diverted 245 plastic bottles and containers, 226 plastic straws and 153 disposable cups from the landfill
- Saved up to four pounds of paper
- Saved up to 3,376 pounds of carbon dioxide
- Conserved 881 gallons of water
- Carpooled 26 miles
- Traveled 245 miles without using a car
- Spent 2,405 minutes in the outdoors
The challenge, according to agenda documents, is sponsored by the North West Earth Institute. The challenge is held online and participants can track and share their progress as they tackle different tasks to help the environment. Completing different tasks awards participants points.
The top point getters in Los Alamos were Heather Ward with 985 points and Susan Hettinga with 639 points. Several teams also accrued a high number of points. These included the Chamisa Elementary School Green Team with 4,659 points, the Los Alamos County Green Team with 3,702 points, the Environmental Sustainability Board and Friends with 1,686 points, Green Aspen Tigers with 1,264 points and Zero Waste LA with 1,253 points.
During the ESB meeting, the Chamisa Elementary School Green Team was awarded the Travelling Trophy. Environmental Services Division Manager Angelica Gurule said the trophy was made by Andrea Lynch and is a smaller version of the “The Machine” artwork at the Eco Station.
Gurule added she is pleased with the results of the most recent Eco Challenge.
“I am pleased that so many people worldwide and in Los Alamos participated in the Eco Challenge. It is a testament that small actions can make a big impact,” she said.
