No Impact Week

Like most other students, I've been able to cut back on simple task:

-I hand-washed my laundry instead of using the washers/dryers offered in my dorm

-I rode my bike/walked around campus rather than cruising along in my gas-gussller of a car (yes, even to places off campus)

-I unplugged my TV and chargers when they weren't in use

-I cut back on shower time (from 20 mins to only 5)

But of course, creating no impact is a difficult task for people in this technologically-advanced society that we live in. I'm only human, so backtracking was almost inevitable.

-I threw away plastic wrappers from food almost everyday (trying to recycle what I could first)

-I left the lights on (accidentally) a few times when I left my dorm

I still have a few days left to get my "green" act together, but from what I've accomplished (and failed to accomplish) I have a better understanding of how we're the reason for the earth's slow decomposition and only we have the power, maybe not necessarily to reverse the damage, but to slowly cleanse the world of our "impact" and get things back on track.

-- Lauren Piller

NO TRASH MONDAY- I have to admit the first "No Impact Week" day did not go well. I probably produced more trash this Monday than I have any other day. I did try to not produce as much trash but being somewhat sick made it hard. I will say while I was drinking my Chai tea from Starbucks and throwing a huge cardboard box full of trash away (by the end of the day you wouldn't believe how much trash we had) I was aware that I should be trying to conserve more. When my roommate and I filled up our "box-o-trash" (that's what we called it) and brought it to the dumpster I felt a little bit uneasy about how much plastic we were throwing away so we took out the bottles. We took out a total of 13 water bottles and two plastic bottles of Sprite. That was between the two of us and over the course of two days. We recycled our bottles and are considering recycling more.
It's going to be one very long week.


TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY- Living on campus and not having a car really stinks (but for this little project it worked out for the good). My sister and I would share a car when I lived at home. She is still in high school so it makes more sense to let her have it while she has to drive places and run errands for my mom.With that said I walk everywhere! Since my dorm is center of campus I don't have to take the bus. Overall I did really well today!


FOOD WEDNESDAY- I normally don't eat breakfast and grab something quick to eat from the liar and go back to my room for lunch. Then for dinner my roommate and I go to a dining hall and get something to go again. Today, still being sick, I didn't feel like going out (so i guess it kind of helped me to not have an impact). So for lunch I had PB&J and for dinner, instead of my "to-go" box, I had a microwaveable dinner tray. I'm not sure if that has any help on the environment but I didn't use any Styrofoam to-go boxes today.



SAVE ENERGY THURSDAY- I really made an effort today to make sure when I left my dorm for class I turned off the lights. I normally just leave my straightener plugged in as well as my phone charger and coffee machine. Today as I left for the day I unplugged the power strip from underneath my desk. I must say though I forgot to turn the TV off this morning when I left but I made sure I turned it off along with the lights when I left for the day for New Braunfels.



SAVE WATER FRIDAY- Found out yesterday I have strep throat. So I have to say today being completely sick was the worst day to have to try and save water. I was so not in the mood to take a short shower. I did try and did cut it down by 4minutes. Instead of my typical 17 minute shower it was more like 13 minutes. Had I not been so sick I probably could have cut it down to 5 minutes.



Bridget Dooley

No impact=not an easy road

Sunday=Consumption I did some winter shopping and got home and put up the items I bought. I noticed that I could throw away the bags the items came in or put them to use so I cleaned up my room and put all the trash in the bags.

Monday=Trash Well in my house me and my brother split up the weeks to take out trash and this week is my week so I took out the trash two times and actually produced more trash because I was using more paper plates and bowls then I noticed. So I really didnt contribute to the theme on this day but Oh well!

Tuesday=Transportation Wow was this a tiresome day. First of all every day I go to the gym at six a.m. which is when it opens. I went to the gym attended my classes and also stayed in the math lab getting ahead in classes and of course you say nothings wrong with that, but I stayed at school untill 9 p.m because thats when practice is over. So I was very exhausted but in the back of my mind I know I reduced my carbon footprint by only driving two trips. One from home to the school and the other from school to back home. :)

Wednesday=Food Food has never really been a problem to me since I leave in San Marcos and at home with my parents. We usually eat fruits and vegetables and never go out to eat. Unfortunately, sometimes I get this craving for the beefy 5 layer burrito that they sell at taco bell for 99 cents :/ This time I resisted that urge and proceeded on with my healthy diet.

Thursday=Energy Energy is something I find hard to consume. So If you ask anyone this day really was a failure I left my phone charger plugged in the car and in the wall of my house while not in use. I also did the same with my laptop charger. So you can call me the energy waster because thats exactly what I did today!

Friday=Water My goal is to carry a aluminum water bottle with me that was given my Txstate university. We'll see if this works!! Hopefully it doess :)

No impact week

For No Impact Week there have been a couple of things i have done to try to reduce my impact on the environment. I have used the recycle bins in my dorm room to dispose of my recycalable items. I have also walked and rode the bus to places as much as possible so I dont have to use my car.

no impact week: food day

Checked out farmers market. It was really neat! My roommate and I have been walking everywhere and recycling like mad! It's been a great week! Can't wait to see everyone monday!

GO GREEN! (not the color just the concept)

Sunday... (Consumption)

I'm going to be completely honest with you right now. Today is Sunday Oct 3rd and this entry is suppose to be about Sunday Sept 26th. But with that aside, I watched 'The Story of Stuff' at storyofstuff.com and the video was very eye opening.

Monday... (Trash)

Confusion, frustration, aggravation, and I'm sure some other words that end in 'ion' that I can't think of started my beautiful monday. Trash. Really Trash? How do you not make trash?! Hmm I sense a loooong week ahead of me. (Grrr) Okay, lets back track some. Trash; somewhat inevitable but I love a challenge (LOL). I think I can find some energy to set aside papers I can later recycle, I'm thinking maybe I can refill and reuse a bottle of water throughout the day, and I might, MIGHT, eat something not given to me on a paper plate :O Quite a challenge, but hey I'm helping my great great grand kids live longer, right?

Tuesday... (Transportation)

Well... lets just say I tried. I really did, really :/ Okay, let me start by saying that I didnt use or ride in a vehicle at all today :) Good right? Now lets talk about this whole 'don't use elevators' thing; that's not going to fly with me. Before you judge me just picture this with me shall you; you've been walking class to class in die hard heat, weaving through clusters and crowds of people sweating like a pig all day long and when you finally get to your residence hall and hit that fresh AC breeze you have to climb five more flights of stairs. Um yeah, NO. I'm home, I'm tired, I'm taking the elevator. Bottom line. I'm all for the color green and saving the earth, but in all reality; I'm not the fittest crayon in the box.

Wednesday... (Food)

This day was, as the kids would like to put it nowadays, an epic fail. (smh) This is how the day was suppose to go; First get money out the bank so I can have cash to buy and enjoy the Farmer's Market in the Quad, Second not buy or drink anything other than water, and Third not buy or eat anything individually package wrapped. Like I said earlier, Epic Fail. I unfortunately work up a little late and didn't have the time to get money out the ATM all day, I caved into buying a powerade at Jones, and yes while I was at Jones I bought Panda Express and some Famous Amos cookies. I failed every goal I had set for the day but at least at the end of the day I felt bad for my choices. That's a step right?


Thursday... (Energy)

If any of my friends would have seen me in my dorm room today they would have thought one of the two things. One: I was seriously depressed or Two: I'd turned into an Owl. I was obviously conserving energy, duh. I kid you not when I say that I sat in the dark and had nothing plugged in for 85% of the day. The only time I used a light or had anything plugged in was when I took a shower (showering in the dark is scary) and when I was doing homework (I used the little built in desk lamp). That should make up for yesterday *brushes shoulders off* :)

Friday... (Water)

Today was one of those fun, yet stressful days. You know, the days when you have a million things to do but while your doing them your getting things done and feeling good. I had one of those days. Now I know what you're thinking, "Um Tamara, what's that got to do with 'No Impact Week' and saving water?". Well due to the fact that I was terribly busy all day I took the shortest showers, didn't run the water while I brushed my teeth, and managed to forget my addiction of drinking water non-stop. Not too shabby if you ask me. It may not have been intentionally but I did do something.

Saturday... (Give Back)

Although giving back isn't usually part of my daily routine, I did manage to do a little to make a difference. I opened the door for everyone around me (eventhough I don't count that as giving back because we all should do that anyways), I picked up trash in the hallway at Blanco Hall (which for some reason always has trash on the floor), and I even helped Chris Jackson (the slow) with studying for our Mass Communications class. I was no mother Teresa but I did lend my helping hand.

Sunday... (Eco-Sabbath)

To tell the truth, I'm not too fond of the color green and till recently I wasn't fond of the concept of going green either, but the second half of what I use to think has all changed. No Impact Week has changed my outlook on how I choose to live and in the long run that change will be nothing but beneficial. I can definitely see myself in the future recycling, saving energy, and even giving back. I'm no Eco-Sabbath and I don't think I can say I'll ever be a complete one, but for now I'll do what I can one step at a time and hopefully others will too.

Tamara Johnson

"No Impact" Pact Starts with Breakfast

Breakfast at Mague's Restaurant.

By Kym Fox
A commitment to limit my impact during No Impact Week seemed like a simple idea. But then we went out for our traditional after-church breakfast.

Early Sunday morning, the first day of No Impact Week at Texas State, I had already made a plan: No weekly trip to H-E-B, no packing pre-packaged food for my Monday lunch, watch one of the No Impact Week videos (I need to get ready for my US1100 lecture anyway).
Our family tradition on Sunday is to attend church and then go to breakfast at our favorite Mexican food restaurant, Mague's. I figured the restaurant stop would be OK because they serve on real plates, and Mague even prefers local food. Her kitchen crew makes everything fresh, so even the kitchen uses minimal packaging.

But then it happened.

What about my Sunday indulgence of a giant unsweet ice tea in a to-go cup? Actually, my entire family is in the habit of ordering our drinks in those giant Styrofoam cups. Maque has that crunchy ice like Sonic, and she makes the best sweet and unsweet tea around. Before we leave the restaurant, we always fill the big white Styrofoam cups with fresh ice and more tea. It lasts the rest of the day. But not this day. I was the first to order, and I grudgingly ordered my tea in a regular glass. Lydia, our server, gave me a look, but she made note. Then, without even a kick under the table from me, my husband did the same.

So, apparently it is possible to change habits and survive.

Now my pledge for the rest of the week:
Monday - Trash - I am packing my lunch in reusable containers and using my travel mug for coffee. I'll use a plastic shopping bag for my lunch, but I won't throw it away - I'll keep it to use at least the rest of the week and maybe longer. If I make that trip to H-E-B, I'll use my reusable shopping bags that are supposed to be in my trunk (note to self: put the reusable bags back in the trunk.) Now, this is the big one - I'll pick through my office trash and make sure everything that can be recycled is put in a recycle bin. I have a paper recycling box under my desk, but visitors to my office don't know that, so they are always dumping paper in my trash.
Status Update: I made it through Monday creating minimal trash and used No Impact Week as a reason to avoid grocery shopping for a few more days. It's a good thing peanut butter and jelly is standard fare at my house. 

Tuesday - Transportation - This one is tougher. I live 80 miles from campus. I have only one transportation choice - my car. I do drive a very fuel efficient car, a diesel Bettle. That's the best I can do on transportation.

Status Update: My commute did not get any shorter, and my little town did not magically develop mass transit, so I drove to school as usual.

Wednesday - Food - I am usually off campus on Wednesdays, so I will take a break from grading and stop by the small meat market in my town. They have locally produced meat and local cheeses, sometimes other items. I'll cook a great meal for my family and make it as local as possible.

Thursday - Energy - I vow to turn off the light in my office if I don't need it and especially when I am away teaching. I'll unplug all those other things that are perpetually plugged in at home and at school - my cell phone charger, music player, electric pencil sharpener - whatever I can find to unplug.

Friday - Water - I will carry my Texas State water bottle everywhere. I will turn off the tap when I am brushing my teeth or washing my face, which I usually do anyway. I'll take a "drought" shower. This summer, during the drought, we were afraid our well would go dry, so the house rule was - water on to soap up and water off until you were ready to rinse - 5-minutes max! We made it through the summer with our well intact. I can do that again.

Saturday - Give Back - I am active in a church organization called Walk to Emmaus. We have a retreat this weekend, and I'll be volunteering all weekend. (And I am taking a coffee cup and refillable water bottle so I can avoid the many disposable cups that can fill the trash cans.)

Sunday - The Eco-Sabath - I'll be volunteering on Sunday as well, so it should be easy to avoid most energy-consuming devices. The problem happens in the evening when my carbon footprint will take a giant step in the wrong direction - I have to fly to Las Vegas for the national Society of Professional Journalists convention. I can't avoid the flight, but I can share a cab in Las Vegas. It's not much, but it's something.

Check back later in the week to see how I do. I'll try to update my progress each day.