Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Ana B

The Carbon Killers

"When can I buy a hydrogen car?"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
735 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

11

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

150

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted

Ana's actions

Action Track: Social Justice

Contact your Elected Officials

Abandoned Farmland Restoration

I will contact 3 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support For Walkable Cities

Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Use Muscle Power

Multiple Transportation Solutions

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

Onshore Wind Turbines, Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Communicate With My Elected Officials

Onshore Wind Turbines, Offshore Wind Turbines

I will write or call 3 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Practice the 5 R's

Recycling

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

Bamboo Production

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Conduct Virtual Meetings

Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?
Ana B 1/31/2020 11:52 AM
Great question. I feel like the real question for MY community, is what are some of the barriers that exist to women of color's equal participation and/or representation....

And really, I think this stems to a community of people who have a fairly homogeneous set of life experiences. Great people, but there is a certain lack of awareness as to just how different life can be for others.

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- Erin M 1/31/2020 4:34 PM
  Love your insight Ana! You're the best - and I want you to know you help show me how to open my eyes and see new perspectives. Thank you for being such an awesome friend!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
Ana B 1/31/2020 11:48 AM
Ok. So what I would really like is a hydrogen car. No strip-mining for the lithium used in hybrid car batteries (which can't be reused at this point, so tons of batteries going into landfills), it uses an infinite resource, AND it only emits water vapor! There are a couple re-charging stations in CA already. WHEN WILL THIS GET TO OREGON!!???

I am personally so torn. Is it better to get a hybrid car (lower emission, but all the down points listed above), or is it better to get a diesel car and use biofuel most of the time, and gas sometimes? I really want to know!

Besides eliminating exhaust emissions and improving public health, I want a more fuel-efficient car because I do a lot of city-driving, and somehow I am always running out of gas at the worst time. If that could just happen less, that would be great!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Ana B 1/25/2020 12:47 PM
I feel like there are a number of alternatives available here in the Rogue Valley, which is so amazing! Bamboo, metal, ceramics, glass, even the straws in restaurants that are actually straw, like what farm animals use for bedding.

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- Vera Olinger 3/22/2023 5:16 AM
  This information is really helpful for me. My Fortiva
  
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Ana B 1/24/2020 1:46 PM
Has anyone else watched The Biggest Little Farm? It is an incredible documentary about one couple's efforts to farm in a completely sustainable manner. It is a great movie if anyone is looking for an EcoChallenge video for movie night. I've watched it 3 times since it came out last summer, and would totally watch it many more.

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- Ana B 1/25/2020 12:42 PM
  I'm so glad you loved it Kimberly!
  
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- Kimberly Wasserman 1/24/2020 5:46 PM
  I absolutely loved this movie!! The photography is stunning and the message is so right on. Amazing how they transformed the land back to health. I've recommended it to lots of folks, all of whom, from teens to elders, have loved it. I also have a soft spot in my heart for all of the beautiful Great Pyrenese in that film - distant cousins of our misplaced farm dog, Rio.
  
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- Erin M 1/24/2020 4:24 PM
  It's on my list - can't wait!!!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?
Ana B 1/24/2020 1:42 PM
Meat takes more resources to get to the table, hence the rich/poor dichotomy. I am curious as to what counts as more versus less meat. Eating meat at every meal? Eating a portion that is larger than 3 oz (the recommended serving size).

I grew up on a cattle ranch. I don't think eating animal products is a bad thing, but I do think that every choice should be based in a quality over quantity mind set. There are farmers who are raising animals in a sustainable method, that is integral to maintaining a diverse biome of a farm. It costs more money to buy that product. But for me personally, that means I will buy it, but not as often.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
Ana B 1/24/2020 1:31 PM
I think that the biggest things I can do are make sure all my lightbulbs are LED and that I unplug things when I'm not using them.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?
Ana B 1/23/2020 5:07 PM
I love walking (and running). I live in Talent. It would be amazing if more of the "rural" roads had wider (or any) bike lane. It would be amazing if the 1/4 mile of bike path beside the rail road tracks down town extended the entire length of the tracks from one end of town to another. Sidewalks and bike paths were added along 99, but there are ZERO trees, which means it is a.) super hot in the summer and b.) super ugly all the time. By investing in details like these, I think many more people would choose to walk locally or would find it easier to do so if walking isn't just a choice but a necessity. It was interesting that when I made these suggestions to someone on the city planning commission, she told me that this was the first time any of these suggestions had been made. It makes me wonder if few people realize that there is an entity to share improvement ideas with!

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- Carolyn Napolitano 3/30/2023 3:02 AM
  A commitment of appreciation is all together for the update and quick reply. Bet upon your string. A commitment of appreciation is all together for making it. https://www.myfloridaaccess.me/
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

How can you ensure that your virtual meetings honor your values and your company's culture?
Ana B 1/22/2020 10:42 PM
I work for a nonprofit with a culture that focuses on collaboration but also the idea of care: caring for self, caring for community, caring for the environment, etc. Rather than meeting in the office every day, we often have a work session over the phone. It is quick (because no one likes to talk on the phone) to the point, supportive of projects we are all working on, and implies trust and confidence that we can all take care of what needs to be done without micromanaging. I feel lucky that I don't have to ensure that virtual meetings honor our values and company culture. The act of relying on virtual meetings for a portion of the week inherently does that!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
Ana B 1/22/2020 10:31 PM
I love walking. I feel like you KNOW where you live or a place that you are visiting if you walk or use mass-transit as your main source of transportation. It lets me notice more, get to know my neighbors better. Heck, I've been asked out by men before just because we happened to see each other regularly while walking to and from daily life stuff. Walking (or bike riding) is such a great way to decompress while getting stuff done, or to give some attention to something that needs thinking through. More walking (or bike riding) please!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?
Ana B 1/22/2020 10:23 PM
For me, it is about more than just eating/serving smaller portions. I've been focusing on smaller portions of food that I know impacts the environment more, while eating the same amount (or more, I'm training for a marathon- I'm a hungry lady!) of food that doesn't. I read in a recent economist article that the most environmentally friendly diet allows for red meat every once in a while, eggs twice a week, dairy once a day, and the rest is derived from (unprocessed) plants. This is basically the mediterranean diet, the diet of nonagenarians. I'm going to live to 100 baby!

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