Sonya Kougasian
"“The Earth is what we all have in common.” —Wendell Berry"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 2,591 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO245minutesspent exercising
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UP TO122minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO68milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO41meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO17pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO91more servingsof fruits and vegetables
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO80minutesspent learning
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UP TO68milestraveled by carpool
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UP TO120minutesspent outdoors
Sonya's actions
Action Track: Building Resilience
Support Nutrient Management
Nutrient Management
I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Support a Community Garden
Multiple Solutions
I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Forest-Friendly Foods 2
Tropical Forest Restoration
I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.
Action Track: Building Resilience
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.
Electricity
Invite a friend to calculate the carbon footprint of their household
Individual actions are important, but people and organizations working together can make a real impact. I will share a carbon calculator with a friend and invite them to calculate the carbon footprint of their household.
Electricity
Calculate the carbon footprint of my household
I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.
Electricity
Encourage my company and/or organization to measure and manage their carbon footprint
Organizations have a responsibility to make sustainable business decisions. To understand how to improve sustainable practices, it’s important to start with understanding the current impact. I will share the Tradewater Business Carbon Calculator with my organization.
Electricity
Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives
All Electricity Solutions
I will research and tell 5 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.
Electricity
Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
Methane Digesters
I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).
Electricity
Choose LED Bulbs
LED Lighting
I will replace 1 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Health and Education
Learn about the Need for Family Planning
Health and Education
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Reduce Animal Products
Plant-Rich Diets
I will enjoy 6 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Eat Mindfully
I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Smaller Portions
Reduced Food Waste
I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.
Health and Education
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.
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
Tend A Garden
I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 15 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
Go for a Daily Walk
Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Health and Education
Host a Film Screening
Health and Education
I will host a virtual film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
More Fruits And Veggies
I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 5 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
Plant Trees
Temperate Forest Restoration
I will plant 5 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.
Transportation
Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail
High-Speed Rail
I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.
Transportation
Learn about Carbon Offsets
I will visit Tradewater’s website to learn more about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.
Transportation
Advocate For Greener Vehicles
Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars, Efficient Trucks
I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on electric and fuel-efficient vehicles
Transportation
Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars
I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.
Transportation
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.
Transportation
Explore Other Transportation Solutions
All Transportation Solutions
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.
Transportation
Try Carpooling
Carpooling
I will commute by carpool 30 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
Buildings
Fix Leaky Faucets
Low-Flow Fixtures
I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.
Buildings
Research Heat Pumps
High-Efficiency Heat Pumps
I will spend at least 15 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.
Buildings
Plan to Insulate
Insulation
I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.
Buildings
Learn about the Legacy of Redlining
Multiple Solutions
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.
Buildings
Learn about 'Green Gentrification'
Multiple Solutions
I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.
Buildings
Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
Low-Flow Fixtures
I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day or 450 gallons (1,680 L) a month by installing a low-flow showerhead.
Buildings
Tour a Green Roof
Green and Cool Roofs
I will set up a visit or a virtual tour of a green roof in my city, and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings Learn about 'Green Gentrification'Cities and towns need to plan for climate change. How can your city or town make its climate action plans equitable and socially just?
Sonya Kougasian 4/06/2021 10:58 AMI think any climate action plan can be made more equitable and socially just by making the resources or actions it introduces accessible and affordable. It wouldn't be sustainable if it didn't include everyone. -
Sonya Kougasian 4/06/2021 8:15 AMThe fact that Sour Patch Kids (and Sour Patch Watermelons) are vegan is dangerous... -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings Research Heat PumpsWhy is taking action on climate change important to you? Why do you care?
Sonya Kougasian 4/06/2021 6:37 AMTaking action on climate change is important to me, because I find it really sad to think of future generations of humans and non-human animals not existing. It's almost unfathomable, but this could be reality. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Invite a friend to calculate the carbon footprint of their householdWhat kinds of discussions did you have, or are you hoping to have with friends about climate change?
Sonya Kougasian 4/06/2021 6:34 AMWhen discussing climate change with friends and family, I hope to instill a sense of urgency, while also encouraging small actions that have the potential to create big changes. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Building Resilience Support a Community GardenWhat are the multiple benefits of community gardens, including carbon sequestration? Why do these benefits matter to you?
Sonya Kougasian 4/06/2021 5:25 AMCommunity gardens have myriad benefits. One is the ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere through carbonation. Another is the ability to increase biodiversity, while also visibly improving the aesthetic value of public land. Benefits for the people involved in managing the gardens include increased access to fresh foods, increased physical activity, and improved mental health. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Spread the Word about Energy AlternativesWhat inspiration and wisdom can you gather from your family, faith, or community traditions that would help you in both communicating about and addressing our most pressing energy issues?
Sonya Kougasian 4/06/2021 5:11 AMThough I don't consider myself religious, I grew up in a Catholic household. In Genesis, the first people were given the responsibility of caring for all creation, which I think is a message that can be used to communicate the need for people nowadays to be stewards of the Earth. -
Sonya Kougasian 4/05/2021 12:16 PMI baked a vegan lemon pound cake for Easter, and it was delicious! I shared some with two of my coworkers, and I don't think they would have known it was vegan if I hadn't told them. It was a hit! :) -
Sonya Kougasian 4/05/2021 12:14 PMI recently tried the TikTok famous baked feta pasta, but made it vegan. I'm obsessed! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Education Host a Film ScreeningThank you for raising awareness of women's and gender equality issues. What is the next step to actually address this disparity?
Sonya Kougasian 4/04/2021 6:11 PMI think it can be overwhelming to think about gender disparity on a global level. But as one person who identifies as female, I'd like to think I can do my part by advocating for myself and other women in my life. At work for instance, I think it's important to support my female coworkers and help them share ideas or learn new skills. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings Install a Low-Flow ShowerheadWhat would a sustainable water future in your region look like? What needs to change?
Sonya Kougasian 3/11/2021 7:22 PMIn my opinion, a sustainable water future needs to combine personal, industry, and regulatory actions. Conserving water needs to be easy and affordable for the average person to do.