Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Virginia Cunningham

Asheville High School Spring 2021

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
390 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

170

minutes

spent learning

Virginia's actions

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 12 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 25 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 10 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 37 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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
Industry Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

What did you learn about the climate impact of refrigerants? How do supermarkets contribute to this impact?

Virginia Cunningham 12/10/2020 3:44 PM

I learned that in order to power refrigerators, people use some possibly harmful substances. I learned a bit more about the substitution for others and the ways in which we can limit the pollution.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Virginia Cunningham 12/10/2020 3:03 PM

I believe a sustainable community is one that limits their emissions, uses resources to the fullest they can and for many things, and has people that care for each other. I think switching areas to greener energy sources is a good start.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are just three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons? How could/does regenerative agriculture positively impact you and your community?

Virginia Cunningham 12/09/2020 12:33 PM

Regenerative agriculture is also helpful in carbon conservation. It is estimated that at least 50 percent of the carbon in the earth's soil has been released into the atmosphere over the past centuries. It is possible to bring that carbon back home using regenerative agriculture.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Virginia Cunningham 12/09/2020 12:16 PM

I had not heard of the term previously. After learning more about it I think there are numerous advantages, but the most interesting to me being the limit on carbon emissions.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn about Temperate Forests

As you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?

Virginia Cunningham 12/03/2020 1:22 PM

I think learning so much about these issues definitely helps to get me interested in making an effort to change. Sometimes I admit it does seem overwhelming as there's so many different issues all around the world happening at the same time. Though I think it does make me feel a bit hopeful knowing that even specifically this site exists, along with many others that are similar, obviously people care about these issues.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?

Virginia Cunningham 12/03/2020 1:04 PM

I think one of the most basic barriers is just social issues and misogyny. It even comes down to issues such as how others view women when they act certain ways in a working setting. But in my community specifically i'm not entirely sure.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Research Peatlands

Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?

Virginia Cunningham 12/02/2020 1:11 PM

I suppose buying products not containing palm oil may help limit the demand for it, then companies would be less likely to drain the areas in order to replace them. I also think it’s possible for you to protest online somehow, and that’s easy to do at home.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Learn about the Need for Family Planning

What did you learn about the need for family planning? How do the needs of different people in different places compare to each other?

Virginia Cunningham 12/02/2020 12:33 PM

Family planning is 100% a necessity. Not only does it ensure the safety of the women, it helps her to maintain a healthy life. I believe that women in certain areas are in dire need of help. They are unable to access safe birth control/prenatal care, and they often have no say in whether they would like to birth a child in the first place.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Virginia Cunningham 11/25/2020 10:14 AM

I think It definitely has helped me change my mindset when thinking about food and by what time I would still eat it. I think dairy products are one where it's really only a no go once it smells or looks strange but with other products I will strive to conserve more food and continue to eat them after certain dates as long as it is safe.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro turbines can be placed on large structures to take advantage of stronger, steadier breezes. The Eiffel Tower now sports vertical axis turbines that produce electricity for use on site. Where could micro turbines potentially be installed in your city?

Virginia Cunningham 11/20/2020 4:43 PM

I think micro turbines could be installed in a number of places. On tall office buildings downtown, to possibly even mountainsides if that would work. That would likely only benefit buildings in a close proximity.

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