Earth Day enthusiasts challenge their choices

How will you celebrate Earth Day this year?

Consider a week of action to honor the Earth – that’s the Emerald ECOchallenge, a new community-wide initiative that recognizes Earth Day and the importance of making sustainable lifestyle decisions.

Formerly the UO ECOchallenge, the challenge is a weeklong commitment to doing something new that reduces your environmental footprint and/or increases your community engagement – like biking to work, volunteering or buying local food.

During the Ecochallenge, which runs April 15-22, UO faculty, staff and students and the general public will change behaviors regarding transportation, energy, water, waste reduction, food and volunteering. Transportation changes could include leaving your car home on Earth Day (April 22) or trying videoconference software instead of traveling to a meeting; under the food category, the options include such things as buying staple foods in bulk or being a vegetarian for a week.

You’re encouraged to participate, by logging in and picking an action. By committing to an ECOchallenge, you’ll find out how to reduce your impact, create lasting new habits and possibly open up dialogues about sustainability in the Eugene-Springfield community.

After signing up, be sure to 'like' and share your ECOchallenge on facebook, too.

-- by Matt Cooper, UO Office of Strategic Communications