Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

William Wells

Asheville High School Spring 2021

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POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
721 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

89

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

262

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

energy audit

conducted
UP TO

5.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

90

minutes

spent outdoors

William's actions

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Telepresence, High-Speed Rail

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 24 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 23 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

Bioplastics

I will spend at least 26 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 2 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 32 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 about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 31 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 15 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

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 60 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Organic Growing Methods

Nutrient Management

I will buy organic cotton and foods grown without the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Online Energy Audit

Multiple Solutions

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

All Electricity Solutions

I will research and tell 1 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 9 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

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

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 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 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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
Electricity Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? How do they compare to other energy sources?

William Wells 12/09/2020 10:00 AM

I learned that wave and tidal energy harnesses the perpetual, natural motion of tides and waves to generate electricity. Wave and tidal energy has the potential to produce 25% of the U.S. energy needs but currently doesn't contribute much to the country's total energy generation. Wave and tidal energy also has a steep up-front cost and is one of the most expensive type of renewable energy. However in the long run, it could save us trillions of dollars and gigatons of CO2.

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?

William Wells 12/08/2020 2:36 PM

I had never heard of silvopasture before. I think that the biggest advantages of silvopasture are that they provide better shelter for the animals and that they help to reduce the methane and carbon footprints of the farm.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Support Organic Growing Methods

It is often said that “you can’t feed the world with just organic food.” What is your response to that statement?

William Wells 12/07/2020 2:39 PM

Even if it isn't possible to feed the world with just organic food, it is still important for the sake of the health of ourselves and the environment to at least try and eat more organic foods.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

What 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?

William Wells 12/07/2020 2:33 PM

Most of my family and friends care about the environment and nature. So by telling them about how severe the effects of climate change are, I can really help to convince them to make smarter energy choices.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings Online Energy Audit

What are your next steps for saving energy?

William Wells 12/07/2020 2:28 PM

My household's next best step for saving energy is to install LED lights.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing & Renewal Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?

William Wells 12/07/2020 2:24 PM

I believe that people that never spend time outdoors are more likely to make choices that negatively impact the environment because they don't feel connected to it.

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?

William Wells 12/04/2020 3:12 PM

My vision of a sustainable community would use all renewable energy. The community would be very conscious about the decisions we make and how those decisions impact the environment and climate change. In order to make this vision a reality, a lot of steps would need to be taken in regards to how our electricity is produced. Though we aren't too far away from making this a reality considering that Duke Energy has converted the Asheville Power Plant to natural gas from coal.

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?

William Wells 12/03/2020 12:00 PM

I really learned about how many women don’t have access to good education about family planning, and how big of a need there is for it. I also learned that family planning can have many effects that aren’t obvious. For example, family planning can reduce fertility rates which in turn can help the environment. So overall, family planning is very important and has many positive effects.

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?

William Wells 12/02/2020 10:07 AM

After learning about how serious these environmental challenges are, I have been much more mindful about the products that I buy and what effect those products have on the environment. It is also overwhelming to hear and see things saying that climate change will soon be irreversible and yet not much is seeming to be done to combat it. It makes me hopeful to see that although there are so many people just ignoring climate change, many people are acknowledging it and trying to combat it as well. For example, Jeff Bezos just recently donated $800 million to combat climate change.

Read More
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?

William Wells 11/30/2020 6:25 PM

I learned that the chemicals inside refrigerators and air conditioners are very harmful to the environment. I found it very interesting that the chemical that now replaces the old harmful chemicals is actually even worse for the environment than carbon dioxide.

Read More