Twelve Day environmental challenge
The challenge has ended for this year. check back in for the next time I'm running the environmental challenge. Email me, or sign up for my newsletter, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN I RUN ONE.
In the meantime, Check out the action items below for easy ways to do something great for the environment.
Do something kind for the environment this season. Win a signed, limited edition, matted photograph of Antarctica by Danielle Eubank.
Antarctica Tabular Iceberg I
Complete the challenge and be entered to win one of 3 editions of this photograph. ​Printed with pigment inks on the finest quality art paper. The image is 9x12 inches in a 16x20 archival mat. This is a value of $300 plus tax and shipping.
Here's how it works
Each of the Twelve Days of Christmas (25 December – 5 January 2020) I will suggest an easy thing you can do to help our oceans and mitigate climate change. On the first day, do the suggestion, photograph yourself doing it and post it on my social media. On the second day, do the first day’s task in addition to the second day’s. Just like the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” the assignments are cumulative. On the third day you will complete the first 3 habits for the environment, on the 4th day, the first four and so on, until we reach the 12th day.
Each day photograph yourself doing the new task of that day and post it on my social media that day. Post them on Facebook: @danielleeubank or @EubankArt, Instagram: @EubankArt, Twitter: @DanielleEubank
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The tasks will be listed on my social media each of the 12 Days. They are the kind of thing everyone can do. Have fun helping the environment!
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More information below.
Do all 12 days! Everyone who participates all the way through the 12 days will receive an acknowledgement of their perseverance. It’s about giving to the environment. Reinforce new habits. Sometimes doing things to help the environment is a better way to do things anyway. For example, hang drying your clothes protects the color and makes them last longer.
FAQs
Where do I post the photographs of me doing the twelve deeds to help the environment?
Post them on Facebook: @danielleeubank or @EubankArt, Instagram: @EubankArt, Twitter: @DanielleEubank The best photos will be posted on this page. Be sure to label them with which task and day is in the photo.
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What if I don't use social media?
Email me your daily photograph at danielle@danielleeubank.com Mention in the sign up form that you won't be using social media and I'll email you each daily task. Easy!
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Do I have to do all 12 tasks to enter to win the photograph?
Yes you do! The goal is that these good deeds will be habit-forming. Everyone who participates to the end will receive an acknowledgement of their hard work.
What if I miss a day?
Pick it up the next day. This is for the environment and every bit you do helps. Everyone who participates to the end will receive an acknowledgement of their hard work.
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How will you choose who wins a photograph?
You must have completed all Twelve Days of Giving to the Environment according to the rules. Beyond that, the three people who submit the most creative photographs will win. Everyone who participates through the twelve days will receive an acknowledgement of their hard work.
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What are the "extra challenges"?
Extra challenges are for those of you who would like to do a little more for the environment. They don't count towards the Twelve Day Challenge but they are even better for the environment!
Example of a photograph of you completing one of the deeds. (above)
Do I have to sign up in order to win?
Yes! That's the way I know who is entering the contest.
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Can I do the environmental deeds without entering the contest?
By all means. Giving to the environment is its own reward.
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What if I already do the deed you are asking me to do?
Terrific! Photograph yourself doing it and post it on my social media.
Day 1
Take a 3-minute shower. Each minute you don’t shower save 2.5 gallons of water. Set a timer!
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What? you say! But I have to wash and condition my hair! Try a Navy shower: turn off the water while shampooing /conditioning.
Facts: https://bit.ly/2t0GGe2
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Extra challenge: Don’t take a shower today. Some dermatologists recommend taking a shower 3-4 times per week.
Facts: https://bit.ly/2tQVJI1
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Please post your photos. No nudies please.
What? you say, I live in a wet climate and we don’t need to conserve water.
Water heating is the second largest energy expense in the average home, accounting for about 18% of your energy bill after heating and cooling, Energy.gov https://bit.ly/39832el says — that’s in part because of the average shower. Length does matter.
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 2
On Day Two, do the action from Day One (3-minute shower) and the new activity for today:
Don’t take a paper napkin unless you need it. If everyone in the United States used one less paper napkin per day, it could divert a BILLION pounds of waste from landfills.
Facts: 50waystohelp.com
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Extra challenge: Don’t use ANY paper napkins. At home, try using no napkins or cloth napkins instead.
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Please post your photos.
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 3
On Day Three, do the actions from Day One (3-minute shower), Day Two (use fewer paper napkins) and the new activity for today:
Wash clothes in cold water.
Approximately 90 percent of the total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions produced by a single load of laundry come from warming the water. Plus, studies have shown that washing in cold water is just as effective.
Facts: coldwatersaves.org
Extra challenge: Use an eco friendly clothing detergent.
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Extra challenge: Does that clothing really need washed? Some items can be worn a couple of times before washing.
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Please post your photos of your action from Day 3.
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 4
On Day Four, do the actions from Day One (3-minute shower), Day Two (use fewer paper napkins), Day 3 (wash clothes in cold water) AND the new activity for today:
Eat less beef and lamb. Animal agriculture is the second largest contributor to human-made greenhouse gas emissions after fossil fuels, and is a leading cause of deforestation, water and air pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Facts: climatenexus.org
Eat less meat today. It takes 1,799 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef, compared to 132 gallons of water to produce one pound of wheat.
Facts: Los Angeles Times
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Extra challenge: Try going meat-free today.
Extra challenge: Go plant-based! A plant-based diet reduces carbon emissions and waste byproducts that end up in our oceans and as seafood byproducts. Facts: UCLA Sustainability
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Please post your photos of your action from Day 4 (only).
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 5
Drink water in reusable bottles. It takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to produce single-use plastic water bottles for the United States. Around 80 percent of single-use water bottles are thrown away, taking over 1,000 years to biodegrade in landfills and producing toxic fumes when incinerated.
Facts: thewaterproject.org
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On Day Five, do the actions from Days 1-4 and the new activity for today.
Extra challenge: Try not buying any plastic bottles for any other products. It’s a challenge to find them at the grocery store. Try these 10 online shops for zero plastic.
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Please post your photos of your action from Day 5 (only).
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 6
Unplug electronic devices when they are not in use. About a quarter of all residential energy consumption is used on devices in idle power mode.
Facts: NRDC
Extra challenge: Go around your house and make sure there aren’t any “little lights” on before you go to bed. Likely candidates include monitors, televisions, printers, mobile phone chargers…a list of likely electrical appliances that might be using power.
Extra challenge: Buy an energy saving power strip that automatically shuts off devices when they’re not in use.
Please post your photos of your action from Day 6 (only).
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 7
Pick up 10 pieces of litter and recycle or dispose of it properly. What? you say! I live in Utopia and we don’t have litter. Go a little further of field until you find 10 pieces of litter (preferably plastic). Litter dropped on the street gets blown into streams and rivers, making its way to drains and, ultimately, the ocean. Once in the ocean it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces until marine animals eat it. Sadly, I have seen litter on every continent and in every ocean, including places like the Arctic. Facts: WWF
Extra Challenge: Pick up 10 pieces of trash every day for 2020! Imagine, that would be 3650 pieces of trash that YOU could prevent wildlife from consuming. Facts: Seastewards.org
Extra Challenge: volunteer for one of the litter removal groups in your area. Type “volunteer to pick up trash near me” into your favorite browser and a host of opportunities will come up. For example, if you live near Los Angeles, Heal the Bay has regular times where people clean up the beaches.
Please post your photos of your action from Day 7 (only).
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 8
Recycle and donate your used things to charity instead of throwing them away. Fill up a couple bags of your used things and put them by your front door. The average American tosses 4.4 pounds of trash every single day. It may not seem all that astonishing on the surface, but with 323.7 million people living in the United States, that is roughly 728,000 tons of daily garbage, enough to fill 63,000 garbage trucks.
Facts: saveonenergy.com
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Extra challenge: Don’t buy any new clothes this month. Try buying from a charity shop instead. Help their charity, help yourself, and help the environment all in one stroke. Did you know that REI has a used clothing and gear online store? Here is a list of 7 used clothing stores online.
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Extra challenge: Don’t buy any new clothes this year! The apparel and footwear industries together account for more than 8 percent of global climate impact, greater than all international airline flights and maritime shipping trips combined. Yikes. Facts: CBS News
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Please post your photos of your action from Day 8 (only).
Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 9
Switch from paper bills to electronic statements, and keep digital (rather than paper) records of statements. Switching from paper to digital bills (as well as magazines, catalogs, newspapers, etc.) could save millions of trees, billions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and billions of pounds of solid waste per year. Saves on postage too!
Facts: 50waystohelp.com
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Extra challenge: Every time you receive junk mail, get your name off their list. You can write, “Return to sender.” Then cross out the addressee and write, “Not at this address. Please remove from mailing list.” Some companies have an online way to get taken off their list, but often writing on the envelope is easier.
Facts: pkids.org
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More than 100 million trees’ worth of bulk mail arrives in American mailboxes each year. That’s the equivalent of deforesting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every four months. (New American Dream calculation from Conservatree and U.S. Forest Service statistics)
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Extra challenge: Plant trees to offset your carbon footprint (how much carbon you release into the atmosphere annually through your own activities). Here’s a handy calculator to figure out how many trees you need to plant.
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Please post your photos of your action from Day 9 (only).
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Day 10
Adjust your thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. This could save 2,000 pounds (1 ton) of carbon dioxide per year. The average American produces 22 tons and the goal is 3.5 tons. (Sorry friends living elsewhere, I don’t have stats for each country)
Facts: worldwildlife.org
Facts: carbonpositivelife.com
Going away for the weekend? Adjust your thermostat. Going to work? Adjust your thermostat.
Extra challenge: Get a smart thermostat so that you can adjust the temperature while you are away from home. Some utilities will install them for free. Here is a review of 12 of them.
Please post your photos of your action from Day 10 (only).
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
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Day 11
Walk, carpool, ride your bike, use public transportation which will reduce your carbon footprint by not driving while also improving your physical health. According to earthday.org you can save 1 pound of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere for every mile you don’t drive. Try to save at least 2 miles of driving today. “What?” you say “I have to drive to work. There is no other option.” Try parking a mile from work and walk the extra distance.
Facts: earthday.org
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Did you know that burning fossil fuel for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes is the largest contributor to climate change? 28.9% in fact. And 90% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based. If you have an electric or hybrid car, that’s a great step in the right direction.
Facts: Epa.gov
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Extra challenge: Set up a carpool to get to work 5 days a month or ride your bike to work at least 5 days per month.
Please post your photos of your action from Day 11 (only).
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
Sign up now to commit to giving back to our oceans and environment!
Day 12
Buy locally and reduce the energy required to store, transport, and pack your produce. Before buying any produce, check to see where it is grown. In North America, fruits and vegetables travel an average of 1,500 miles before reaching your plate. One of the reasons beef and lamb contribute so much to greenhouse gas emissions, is because they are shipped long distances which require a lot of (petroleum) fuel.
Facts: worldwildlife.org
Extra challenge: Don’t buy more groceries than you need. In the United States, as much as 40 percent of the food produced goes uneaten. About 160 billion pounds of food is thrown away each year. Try to go the rest of the month with using everything you purchased.
Facts: time.com
Extra challenge: Talk to your neighbors to see if they are interested in doing a garden swap. Many communities have swaps set up to make it easier to trade or buy home grown fruits and vegetables. Type "community crop swap" or "food swap network" into your favorite search engine to look for one near you.
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Thank you. You are doing something kind for the environment.
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Water artist and ocean artist Danielle Eubank (尤淡瑤) is an award-winning, international abstract water painter and ocean painter. She has painted all of the oceans on the planet to raise awareness about the state of the oceans and climate change. She is a recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. Her abstract oil paintings are modern and emotive.