Katie Levels
4/25/2018 8:59 PM
I hope that one day we can live closer to work. I hate that it's hard for me to commute or ride my bike to work. It wastes time, money, and pollutes the earth.
Katie Levels
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 723 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO18meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO30minutesspent learning
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UP TO2.0public officials or leaderscontacted
Katie's actions
Transport
Explore Other Transport Solutions
All Transport Solutions
I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.
Land Use
Learn about Local Indigenous Practices
#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.
Buildings and Cities
Express My Support
#54 Walkable Cities
I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.
Buildings and Cities
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.
Food
composting
#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste
I will start a compost bin where I live.
Land Use
Restore Wetlands
#52 Coastal Wetlands
I will volunteer 2 hours with a wetland restoration project in my region.
Buildings and Cities
Tour a Green Roof
#73 Green Roofs
I will set up a visit to tour a green roof in my city, and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.
Land Use
Advocate for Forest Protection
#38 Forest Protection
I will contact 2 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws.
Buildings and Cities
Express My Support
#59 Bike Infrastructure
I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.
Buildings and Cities
Replace Manual Thermostats
#57 Smart Thermostats
I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.
Land Use
Buy Bamboo
#35 Bamboo
When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.
Electricity Generation
Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
#30 Methane Digesters (large), #64 Methane Digesters (small)
I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Micro Wind
#76 Micro Wind
I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.
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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Katie Levels 4/25/2018 9:00 PMI've enjoyed the learning I've done with this. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Use Advocate for Forest ProtectionHigher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Use Restore WetlandsHow do wetlands differ from other ecosystems -- both in the services they offer and in your personal experience of them?
Katie Levels 4/25/2018 8:58 PMI worked in developing wetland systems for research to test the effectiveness on pollution runoff from cities and farmland. They are effective at using the excess fertilizer to prevent it from entering the watershed and eventually contributing to the hypoxia problems in the Gulf and Lake Erie. This was in early 2000. I am sad this hasn't been implemented on a bigger scale, especially with the increasing hypoxia issues. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings and Cities Express My SupportHow could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?
Katie Levels 4/25/2018 8:53 PMI've nearly been hit while walking, as have my husband and children on a separate occasion. I'd hope that with better walkways, more people would do it, causing drivers to be more cautious. Additionally, if the main people walking now are those who are poorer and many times minorities, it makes them easier targets for racial profiling and makes them feel on display whereas if more people walked it would be normalized. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings and Cities Express My SupportWhat do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?
Katie Levels 4/25/2018 8:51 PMI like to be on my bike. It's very dangerous to ride in my city. I'd like to be able to safely ride to a bike path. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings and Cities Online Energy AuditWhat are your next steps for saving energy?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Use Buy BambooAre bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Katie Levels 4/25/2018 8:21 PMIn some places they are - mostly I've noticed them in kitchen products. I am much more aware of these items now. I really like that bamboo might be able to take the place of wood and plastic! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Learn the Truth About Expiration DatesNow that you know the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates, how will you view expiration dates differently?
Katie Levels 4/25/2018 8:19 PMI already sent the definitions to my husband - he is usually more worried about this than me. I already use stuff past the use by date, this makes me feel much better about it! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood compostingProducing uneaten food squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these motivates you the most to change your behavior regarding food waste?
Katie Levels 4/25/2018 8:15 PMI am most saddened by lost financial capital, hours of labor, and fertilizer. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Generation Learn More about Micro WindMicro 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?
Katie Levels 4/10/2018 4:41 PMPretty much anywhere, although I think schools (lots of land for winds to pick up) and the tallest buildings make sense. They could probably help school districts save more money. Kent would be perfect on campus with the wind tunnels.