Rui's Blog
  • Rui's Blog/Paper Reading Notes - Introduction
  • Personal Blog
    • Personal Blog - Index
      • How to Create Picture-in-Picture Effect / Video Overlay for a Presentation Video
      • How to Do Your Part to Protect the Environment in Wisconsin
      • How to Get a Driver's License in Wisconsin
      • How to Travel from the U.S. to China onboard AA127 in June 2021
      • How to Transfer Credits Back to UW-Madison
      • Resources on Learning Academic Writing (for Computer Science)
    • Towards applying to CS Ph.D. programs
  • Machine Learning Systems
    • Machine Learning Systems - Index
      • MLSys Papers - Short Notes
      • [2011 NSDI] Dominant Resource Fairness: Fair Allocation of Multiple Resource Types
      • [2014 OSDI] Scaling Distributed Machine Learning with the Parameter Server
      • [2018 OSDI] Gandiva: Introspective Cluster Scheduling for Deep Learning
      • [2018 SIGCOMM] Chameleon: Scalable Adaptation of Video Analytics via Temporal and Cross-camera ...
      • [2018 NIPS] Dynamic Space-Time Scheduling for GPU Inference
      • [2019 ATC] Analysis of Large-Scale Multi-Tenant GPU Clusters for DNN Training Workloads
      • [2019 NSDI] Tiresias: A GPU Cluster Manager for Distributed Deep Learning
      • [2019 SOSP] ByteScheduler: A Generic Communication Scheduler for Distributed DNN Training ...
      • [2019 SOSP] PipeDream: Generalized Pipeline Parallelism for DNN Training
      • [2019 SOSP] Parity Models: Erasure-Coded Resilience for Prediction Serving Systems
      • [2019 NIPS] GPipe: Efficient Training of Giant Neural Networks using Pipeline Parallelism
      • [2019 SC] ZeRO: memory optimizations toward training trillion parameter models
      • [2020 OSDI] Gavel: Heterogeneity-Aware Cluster Scheduling Policies for Deep Learning Workloads
      • [2020 OSDI] AntMan: Dynamic Scaling on GPU Clusters for Deep Learning
      • [2020 OSDI] BytePS: A High Performance and Generic Framework for Distributed DNN Training
      • [2020 SIGCOMM] Reducto: On-Camera Filtering for Resource-Efficient Real-Time Video Analytics
        • [2020 MLSys] Salus: Fine-Grained GPU Sharing Primitives for Deep Learning Applications
      • [2020 EuroSys] AlloX: Compute Allocation in Hybrid Clusters
      • [2020 VLDB] PyTorch Distributed: Experiences on Accelerating Data Parallel Training
      • [2020 NetAI] Is Network the Bottleneck of Distributed Training?
      • [2020 NSDI] Themis: Fair and Efficient GPU Cluster Scheduling
      • [2021 MLSys] Accordion: Adaptive Gradient Communication via Critical Learning Regime Identification
      • [2021 VLDB] Analyzing and Mitigating Data Stalls in DNN Training
      • [2021 FAST] CheckFreq: Frequent, Fine-Grained DNN Checkpointing
      • [2021 EuroMLSys] Interference-Aware Scheduling for Inference Serving
      • [2021 OSDI] Pollux: Co-adaptive Cluster Scheduling for Goodput-Optimized Deep Learning
      • [2021 MLSys] Wavelet: Efficient DNN Training with Tick-Tock Scheduling
      • [2021 NSDI] SwitchML: Scaling Distributed Machine Learning with In-Network Aggregation
    • Big Data Systems - Index
      • Big Data Systems Papers - Short Notes
      • [2003 SOSP] The Google File System
      • [2004 OSDI] MapReduce: Simplified Data Processing on Large Clusters
      • [2010 SIGMOD] Pregel: A System for Large-Scale Graph Processing
      • [2011 NSDI] Mesos: A Platform for Fine-Grained Resource Sharing in the Data Center
      • [2012 NSDI] Resilient Distributed Datasets: A Fault-Tolerant Abstraction for In-Memory Cluster ...
      • [2012 OSDI] PowerGraph: Distributed Graph-Parallel Computation on Natural Graphs
      • [2019 FAST] DistCache: Provable Load Balancing for Large-Scale Storage Systems with Distributed...
      • [2021 HotOS] From Cloud Computing to Sky Computing
      • [2021 EuroSys] NextDoor: Accelerating graph sampling for graph machine learning using GPUs
  • Earlier Readings & Notes
    • High Performance Computing Course Notes
      • Lecture 1: Course Overview
      • Lecture 2: From Code to Instructions. The FDX Cycle. Instruction Level Parallelism.
      • Lecture 3: Superscalar architectures. Measuring Computer Performance. Memory Aspects.
      • Lecture 4: The memory hierarchy. Caches.
      • Lecture 5: Caches, wrap up. Virtual Memory.
      • Lecture 6: The Walls to Sequential Computing. Moore’s Law.
      • Lecture 7: Parallel Computing. Flynn's Taxonomy. Amdahl's Law.
      • Lecture 8: GPU Computing Intro. The CUDA Programming Model. CUDA Execution Configuration.
      • Lecture 9: GPU Memory Spaces
      • Lecture 10: GPU Scheduling Issues.
      • Lecture 11: Execution Divergence. Control Flow in CUDA. CUDA Shared Memory Issues.
      • Lecture 12: Global Memory Access Patterns and Implications.
      • Lecture 13: Atomic operations in CUDA. GPU ode optimization rules of thumb.
      • Lecture 14: CUDA Case Studies. (1) 1D Stencil Operation. (2) Vector Reduction in CUDA.
      • Lecture 15: CUDA Case Studies. (3) Parallel Prefix Scan on the GPU. Using Multiple Streams in CUDA.
      • Lecture 16: Streams, and overlapping data copy with execution.
      • Lecture 17: GPU Computing: Advanced Features.
      • Lecture 18: GPU Computing with thrust and cub.
      • Lecture 19: Hardware aspects relevant in multi-core, shared memory parallel computing.
      • Lecture 20: Multi-core Parallel Computing with OpenMP. Parallel Regions.
      • Lecture 21: OpenMP Work Sharing.
      • Lecture 22: OpenMP Work Sharing
      • Lecture 23: OpenMP NUMA Aspects. Caching and OpenMP.
      • Lecture 24: Critical Thinking. Code Optimization Aspects.
      • Lecture 25: Computing with Supercomputers.
      • Lecture 26: MPI Parallel Programming General Introduction. Point-to-Point Communication.
      • Lecture 27: MPI Parallel Programming Point-to-Point communication: Blocking vs. Non-blocking sends.
      • Lecture 28: MPI Parallel Programming: MPI Collectives. Overview of topics covered in the class.
    • Cloud Computing Course Notes
      • 1.1 Introduction to Clouds, MapReduce
      • 1.2 Gossip, Membership, and Grids
      • 1.3 P2P Systems
      • 1.4 Key-Value Stores, Time, and Ordering
      • 1.5 Classical Distributed Algorithms
      • 4.1 Spark, Hortonworks, HDFS, CAP
      • 4.2 Large Scale Data Storage
    • Operating Systems Papers - Index
      • CS 736 @ UW-Madison Fall 2020 Reading List
      • All File Systems Are Not Created Equal: On the Complexity of Crafting Crash-Consistent Applications
      • ARC: A Self-Tuning, Low Overhead Replacement Cache
      • A File is Not a File: Understanding the I/O Behavior of Apple Desktop Applications
      • Biscuit: The benefits and costs of writing a POSIX kernel in a high-level language
      • Data Domain: Avoiding the Disk Bottleneck in the Data Domain Deduplication File System
      • Disco: Running Commodity Operating Systems on Scalable Multiprocessors
      • FFS: A Fast File System for UNIX
      • From WiscKey to Bourbon: A Learned Index for Log-Structured Merge Trees
      • LegoOS: A Disseminated, Distributed OS for Hardware Resource Disaggregation
      • LFS: The Design and Implementation of a Log-Structured File System
      • Lottery Scheduling: Flexible Proportional-Share Resource Management
      • Memory Resource Management in VMware ESX Server
      • Monotasks: Architecting for Performance Clarity in Data Analytics Frameworks
      • NFS: Sun's Network File System
      • OptFS: Optimistic Crash Consistency
      • RAID: A Case for Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks
      • RDP: Row-Diagonal Parity for Double Disk Failure Correction
      • Resource Containers: A New Facility for Resource Management in Server Systems
      • ReVirt: Enabling Intrusion Analysis through Virtual-Machine Logging and Replay
      • Scheduler Activations: Effective Kernel Support for the User-Level Management of Parallelism
      • SnapMirror: File-System-Based Asynchronous Mirroring for Disaster Recovery
      • The Linux Scheduler: a Decade of Wasted Cores
      • The Unwritten Contract of Solid State Drives
      • Venti: A New Approach to Archival Storage
    • Earlier Notes
      • How to read a paper
  • FIXME
    • Template for Paper Reading Notes
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  1. Personal Blog
  2. Personal Blog - Index

How to Do Your Part to Protect the Environment in Wisconsin

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Last updated 4 years ago

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The following content is copied from the Canvas page of the course ENVIR ST 101: Forum on the Environment (sp21). This is a list of personal challenges everyone can do to help with environmental protection.

There are so many things we can do as individuals to help protect our environment. Here is a compilation of a range of different challenges you might choose from for your weekly personal challenge in the second part of the semester. We've grouped a few ideas into categories (some actions are listed under multiple categories). We don't want the challenges to be a financial burden on anyone, so we have tried to include a diversity of options, many of which should not cost money. You can also consider coming up with your own challenges! It's worth considering in your weekly reflection the situations in which these actions might not result in a more sustainable lifestyle - e.g., if you need to drive for 30 minutes to buy your organic produce, that might reduce the positive impact.

Food

• Transporting food long distances can increase its climate footprint. This week, try to reduce the distance your food has been transported by increasing the proportion of locally-grown or raised foods.

• Getting to know the farmers who grow your food is a great way to begin to understand the pathway food takes from the farm to your plate. Visit a farmer's market, such as the , and say hello to a farmer!

• Agrochemicals used during food production may harm native wildlife, including important pollinators. Organic agriculture reduces the use of these products. This week, try increasing the proportion of organically-produced foods you eat.

• Animal production is one of the most resource- and energy-intensive aspects of our agricultural system. This week, try to reduce the amount of meat or other animal products that you eat.

• A vegan diet can dramatically reduce your impact on the plant. This week, try going vegan.

• Food packaging can add up in our household waste stream. This week, try to reduce the amount of packaging associated with the foods you eat.

• Seafood can have a big environmental impact, but and other organization help us make more sustainable decisions about the seafood we eat. This week, try to choose more sustainable seafood choices.

• is a reduce the impact of our diet. This week, try to reduce the amount of food that you end up throwing away or composting.

• When food waste goes to a landfill, those nutrients are lost! This week, look into or

• Buying in bulk is a great way to reduce the impact of food packaging. This week, try reducing your food waste by shopping in the bulk section (at , you can bring your own containers, or you can re-use bags you bring yourself).

• Another way to cut down on food packaging is to avoid bagging items unnecessarily. This week, while grocery shopping, try either bringing your own plastic bags to re-use for produce, or don't put the produce in a bag at all. Then, at the cash, bring your own bag instead of using a bag from the store. Many stores even offer a discount for this!

Waste

• We often end up with a lot of materials we don't need while shopping. This week, bring a reusable bag with you when you go shopping, or consider refusing a bag at the cash if it is easy to carry your purchase(s).

• We can reduce our waste footprint at the coffee shop by reusing or refusing items. This week, try to reduce your waste impact by bringing your own reusable mug for drinks or choosing a "for here" mug instead of a to-go cup, and declining extra items you might not need (stir stick, heat protector, lid, double-cupping).

• Takeout or food delivery packaging waste can be surprisingly high. This week, try to (1) reduce the amount of unnecessary materials you receive, (2) find ways to re-use what you do receive, and (3) increase the proportion of materials you recycle.

• Food packaging can add up in our household waste stream. This week, try to reduce the amount of packaging associated with the foods you eat by choosing food items that have less packaging or packaging that is recyclable.

• Single-use plastics are a major source of plastic pollution to our oceans and lands. This week, try to specifically cut out single-use plastics - that means stir sticks, drinking straws, plastic bags, etc.

• Another way to cut down on food packaging is to avoid bagging items unnecessarily. This week, while grocery shopping, try either bringing your own plastic bags to re-use for produce, or don't put the produce in a bag at all. Then, at the cash, bring your own bag instead of using a bag from the store. Many stores even offer a discount for this!

• One of the best ways to reduce your impact is to reduce your consumption overall. This week, look for ways you can reduce the amount you buy.

• One of the next ways we can reduce our impact is to re-use the things we do buy. This week, look for ways to re-use things you might have otherwise discarded.

• The flip side of re-using things yourself is looking for ways to make sure the things you're finished with have a second life. This week, try to sell or give away items you might have otherwise thrown out.

• If you can't reduce your consumption, or re-use an item, the next best option is to recycle it. This week, educate yourself on recycling practices at your workplace, on campus, at your house, or in your dorm, and take some kind of step to improve your recycling practices.

Community Engagement

• One of the best way to make changes while building connections with others is to be active in your community. This week, volunteer at an environmentally-related event.

• Another way to make change is by getting involved directly with politics. This week, look into ways to get involved with a political party. This could mean volunteering, attending an event, or even joining the party.

• Knowledge is power. This week, educate yourself about an environmental issue by attending a public event.

Energy

• Transportation can be a big contributor to our energy, climate change, and air pollution impact. This week, choose walking or biking over fossil-fuel powered modes of transport (bus or car) when possible.

• When you can't bike or walk, using public transit can help decrease your impact. This week, take the bus instead of driving when possible.

• Another way to reduce the impact from your car is to carpool. This week, look for opportunities to share your ride.

Biodiversity

Water

• Water bottle filling stations and fountains make it easy to reduce plastic water bottle waste around campus. This week, only use reusable water vessels (bottles, glasses, mugs).

• Every little bit counts. This week, see if you can reduce water usage while showering or bathing.

• We are lucky to be living right next to some beautiful lakes and waterways. This week, spend some time enjoying Lake Monona, Lake Mendota, Lake Wingra, Lake Waubesa, Cherokee Marsh, the Yahara River, Wingra Creek, or another nearby waterway.

• is a reduce the impact of our diet. This week, try to reduce the amount of food that you end up throwing away or composting.

• When food waste goes to a landfill, those nutrients are lost! This week, look into or

• Buying in bulk is a great way to reduce the impact of food packaging. This week, try reducing your food waste by shopping in the bulk section (at , you can bring your own containers, or you can re-use bags you bring yourself).

• One way of increasing our re-use of things at a community level is to buy things second-hand. This week, try to look for used versions of items you might have otherwise bought. This could mean shopping for second-hand or vintage clothing, looking for a used version of a tool you need on an online marketplace, or finding something you need through .

• Getting involved on campus can be rewarding! This week, attend a meeting or an event of an .

• One of the most important ways we can make change is through making our voices heard. This week, at any level of government - e.g., municipal, state, federal - to let them know about an environmental issue that is important to you. Here is a guide from the APA on . If you're feeling really ambitious, consider organizing a letter-writing party with your friends. Or, instead of writing, you can call your representative.

• One of the most important things you can do to fight climate change, or other environmental problems, is to . Katharine Hayhoe has a Ted Talk about this idea. This week, make it a priority to talk about an environmental issue with people in your life - this might be coworkers, classmates, friends, or family.

• Biking is a great way to decrease our environmental impact while also getting exercise. This week, enhance your bike power by using or the , or checking out the and maybe tuning up your bike.

• After driving less, there are many ways you can decrease the impact from driving a car. This week, if you drive a car, look for ways to .

• A direct way of saving energy at home is to . This week, see if you can keep it a bit cooler (if heating) or warmer (if using air conditioning).

• Laundry can be a big energy and water sink, but there are . This week, see how you can improve the sustainability of your laundry routine.

• Wisconsin has a Focus on Energy program, where you can get energy-saving tools for free, such as advanced power strips or LED bulbs! This week, .

• Reducing standby power or "phantom power" is a quick way to decrease our energy impact. This week, take in your life.

• Seeing is believing. This week, if you're feeling ambitious, get together a group of at least 6 people and arrange for a free tour of Madison's .

• Spring brings beautiful wildflowers! This week, find and identify that grow in this area.

• Lichens are . This week, go for a walk in the woods (or somewhere around trees), and use the to try to identify lichens.

• Trees are a precious natural resource. This week, go for a walk in your neighborhood or in a natural area, and use one of the guides to try to identify trees - the is a simple one to start with.

• Get outside! This week, visit a area.

• Learning about invasive species can help us preserve local biodiversity. This week, learn to identify some of the local invasive species. is more in depth, or is a simple starting point.

• We're lucky to have beautiful natural areas right on campus! This week, visit the . You might or there are all sorts of opportunities there.

• The UW-Madison Arboretum is another beautiful natural area. This week, , whether it is for , to , or just to explore on your own.

• Learning about the natural world around us is a great way to connect with nature. This week, explore , and log at least one sighting of an organism on the site.

• Laundry can be a big energy and water sink, but there are . This week, see how you can improve the sustainability of your laundry routine.

• Read up! This week, read (or start reading) a book about water, as group.

• Turn off the tap! This week, if you're someone who typically lets the sink run continuously while doing dishes, brushing your teeth, washing your hands, etc., .

• You have a right to clean and safe water. This week, a recent water quality report for Madison (look for the Madison water utility).

• Straight to the source! This week, (they run the first Friday of each month at noon, or by appointment).

Dane County Farmer's Market (Links to an external site.)
Seafood Watch (Links to an external site.)
Reducing food waste (Links to an external site.)
huge way we can help (Links to an external site.)
composting at home (Links to an external site.)
on campus.Links to an external site.
some stores (Links to an external site.)
Reducing food waste (Links to an external site.)
huge way we can help (Links to an external site.)
composting at home (Links to an external site.)
on campus.Links to an external site.
some stores (Links to an external site.)
freecycle (Links to an external site.)
environmentally active campus groupLinks to an external site.
reach out to a politician (Links to an external site.)
writing to a member of congress (Links to an external site.)
talk about it (Links to an external site.)
Madison BCycle (Links to an external site.)
RedBike bikeshare program (Links to an external site.)
UW Bicycle Resource CentreLinks to an external site.
save fuel while driving (Links to an external site.)
adjust your thermostat (Links to an external site.)
lots of things we can do to reduce this impact (Links to an external site.)
order a pack for your home (Links to an external site.)
steps to reduce standby power (Links to an external site.)
Blount Generating Station (Links to an external site.)
five wildflowersLinks to an external site.
wacky and wonderful organisms (Links to an external site.)
Lichens of WI guideLinks to an external site.
WI DNR-recommended (Links to an external site.)
WI Urban Tree key (Links to an external site.)
state park, forest, or recreation (Links to an external site.)
This guide (Links to an external site.)
this one (Links to an external site.)
Lakeshore Nature PreserveLinks to an external site.
attend one of their eventsLinks to an external site.
volunteerLinks to an external site.
visit the ArboretumLinks to an external site.
an eventLinks to an external site.
volunteerLinks to an external site.
sightings in or around Madison on iNaturalist (Links to an external site.)
lots of things we can do to reduce this impact (Links to an external site.)
recommended by the Water@UWLinks to an external site.
turn off the tap to save water (Links to an external site.)
find and read (Links to an external site.)
take a free tour of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s wastewater treatment plant (Links to an external site.)