Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

James Wallace

Asheville High School Spring 2021

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
606 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

187

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

20

lightbulbs

replaced

James'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 8 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 33 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 21 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 8 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

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 21 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

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).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 24 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 7 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 20 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Rooftop Solar Consultation

Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

After researching the incentives at the federal, state, utility, and local levels, I will contact a local installer/distributor for a solar panel installation consultation on my house.

COMPLETED
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
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?

James Wallace 12/08/2020 7:09 AM

I had never heard of silvopasture. I would have guessed it was a fancy fertilizer. I think the biggest advantage of silvopasture has to be that it improves life for the animals and the land, while at the same time being more sustainable.

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?

James Wallace 12/04/2020 6:43 AM

A sustainable community to me looks like everyone with some variety of renewable power generation in their care, so rather than one big wind plant, maybe everyone has solar panels or a micro wind turbine. Geothermal heating would be a big thing. Of course, everyone would be equal in every day, not to a dystopian "Harrison Bergeron" extent, but in a good way. We would need leaders who believe in sustainability. A majority in all the branches of gov. We would need other countries to be that way as well. There would also have to be a lot of money available to implant all the systems.

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?

James Wallace 12/03/2020 2:28 PM

I learned how helpful family planning is so many ways. I also learned that there are so many people who don’t have access to it. Some people have access to certain things, and those certain things are what others dream of. Unfortunately, many of these things are necessary things like family planning, food, water, shelter, money, etc.

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?

James Wallace 12/02/2020 6:23 AM

I begin to feel as if any action I take has a negative consequence, so I start to look for more positive actions. It also makes me think that humanity may have passed the point of no return already. The sheer amount of problems, and that many people in power don’t recognize them as problems feel incredibly overwhelming. Not a whole lot right now. Probably that there has been some change in leadership, and the world may begin to head in a decent direction sometime soon.

Read More
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?

James Wallace 12/01/2020 6:14 AM

I can choose not to use coal powered electricity, because often coal can be found under peat bogs. Another way to help peat bogs is to avoid using paper and palm oil. Digital and other varieties of less harmful oils are better alternatives.

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?

James Wallace 11/30/2020 1:24 PM

Some barriers are that over the course of history, men have generally held the power, so many Males are entrenched in the ideal that they are worth more, or deserve more than Women. Some more specific ones are that the first Female in the White House just now happened, and not even as the President. Women earn less money per dollar than Men, making it harder to do many things.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

James Wallace 11/24/2020 8:37 AM

My diet isn't too, too terrible, but it could be better. I'm probably taking up quite a few acres. I can eat less processed foods, and spread the word about palmoil

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?

James Wallace 11/23/2020 10:53 AM

It allows me to decide when I should continue to eat the food, rather than wasting food that might have much longer left.

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?

James Wallace 11/20/2020 6:12 AM

I didn't know Paris did that with the Eiffel Tower. The big BB&T building, or what used to be the BB&T building could have one. The indigo hotel probably could use one. I live 20 minutes outside of AVL, so I don't spend a whole lot of time downtown, so I can't think of too many more.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More about Biomass

Had you ever heard of biomass technology before you took this challenge? What did you learn that surprised you? Share your new knowledge with your friends!

James Wallace 11/19/2020 6:37 AM

I hadn't really heard of biomass tech. I maybe heard someone talking about it once or twice. I learned that it is to agriculture and biowaste as a catalyst is to a wood stove. It "burns the smoke".

Read More