By Kathleen Guo, Sophy Gao, Ava Keresztesy, students at Hathaway Brown in Shaker Heights
The Shaker Youth LEEDs committee is hosting its second annual Shaker EcoChallenge in April, aimed at promoting a more sustainable lifestyle for Northeast Ohioans. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and offers ways for communities, as well as buildings, to become more sustainable.
Family-friendly challenges range from eating all the food off your plate to exploring local parks to purchasing a bus pass. The hope is that sustainable habits developed during this challenge become an everyday practice.
It launches on April 1 and lasts the entire month, with prizes from local Shaker Heights businesses. By participating in the challenge, Northeast Ohioans are able to glimpse the many LEED categories that contribute to building a more sustainable community.
LEED certification is a measurement of sustainable practice with the goal of reducing contributions to global climate change through a holistic approach. For cities and communities, the different levels of certification are certified, silver, gold, and platinum. The categories include: natural systems and ecology, transportation and land use, water efficiency, energy and greenhouse gas emissions, materials and resources, quality of life, and innovation. Within each category, LEED provides a series of requirements needed to earn points, as well as an incentive to earn credit in that certain category. By earning these credits, cities are able to become green communities that place environmental goals at the forefront of their future.
The Shaker Youth LEEDs committee decided to use LEED as a foundation for the April challenge as the requirements provide a clear line of action, as well as to raise awareness.
By participating in the challenge, community members can also become part of the greater movement to make Northeast Ohio more sustainable through the certification of LEED credits.
The group presented to the Shaker Sustainability Council in June of 2020 on potential ways to achieve LEED Certification, and in July of 2021, Shaker Heights became the first city in Ohio to reach LEED Gold.
Here are 10 small (or larger) things community members can do to get started on a more sustainable lifestyle:
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Go to a Farmer’s Market
Visiting farmers markets is not only a fun activity, but also supports your local community and environment by eating fresh, locally grown food! This website can help you find local farms, farmers’ markets, and even CSAs you can sign up for.
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Take Alternative Transportation
Single-occupancy vehicles and emissions from fuel are one of the largest contributors to pollution. Alternative modes of transit offer more convenient and environmentally-friendly ways to get to work, the grocery store, and more. You can walk, bike, carpool, use public transportation, or even roller-skate somewhere.
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Scrape Food Off of Your Plate Instead of Rinsing It Off
Scraping food off of your plate instead of rinsing it off can save a lot of water. You can also save water by turning off your faucet when brushing your teeth.
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Use Reusable Bags While Shopping
Plastic bags, although often used only once, can take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. Reusable bags and totes help eliminate this problem by providing durable alternatives, saving resources, and much more.
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Eat Meatless/Vegan Meals
Read this article to learn about the environmental impacts of meat, and learn how alternatives generate less carbon emissions.
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Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
Knowing how much carbon you emit can help you decide what steps to take to better the environment. You can use this calculator to do just that.
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Plant a Native Plant
Purchasing and planting native plants for your garden or home helps restore the environment around you to its natural state. Here are some flowers and plants you can choose, as well as a list of nurseries you can check out. The Audubon Society also has an amazing tool to find native plants for attracting native bird species.
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Buy a Bus Pass
Supporting local transportation directly benefits the city and decreases your individual emissions.
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Buy Products Without Microplastics
Read this article about the dangers of microplastics and how you can avoid them. It also includes brands and products you can purchase. If you are interested in further reducing your plastic footprint, visit My Plastic Footprint to learn more and track your impact.
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Talk to Your City Council Members or Local Businesses About Their Sustainable Practices
You could even directly impact the future of your city’s policies on sustainability!
You can learn more about the group and our achievements by visiting our 2022 EcoChallenge website. Register for the EcoChallenge, log your points, and more by visiting linktree.
