Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Sue Swanson

Bedford Mothers Out Front (and friends)

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,164 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

44

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

125

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

436

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Sue's actions

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

#8 Solar Farms

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Purchase a Carbon Offset

#43 Airplanes

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Keep Track of Wasted Food

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the EcoChallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

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 Generation Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. What are some companies you know of that invest in green energy, and how can you support them?

Sue Swanson 4/25/2018 11:33 AM

I checked the web and found that Kohl's is a big supporter of solar energy. I have shopped there in the past and had hoped to get there during the EcoChallenge, but was not able to do so. Still on my "to do" list, then, is to go there and try to personally thank the manager for that commitment. The store is outside my walk/bike circle, so I do not get there very often, this is motivate me a bit more.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Buy Bamboo

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?

Sue Swanson 4/24/2018 11:46 AM

I have occasionally seen bamboo products, but rarely. Instead, I look for paper products made with recycled materials, I purchase food with as little packaging as I can, I frequent thrift stores and consignment sales, and I look for durable goods that will last a long time. Finally, I keep my shopping to a minimum, reducing the amount of stuff I accumulate!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Purchase a Carbon Offset

A round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1 ton of CO2. Imagine a giant balloon with a diameter of 10 yards. If this balloon were filled with CO2, it would weigh about 1 ton. This flight would fill just about one of these balloons. What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?

Sue Swanson 4/24/2018 11:41 AM

Air travel is important to me, since most of our family members live far away. What discourages me from doing more of it is the poor and unfriendly service offered by most airlines. Air travel is not fun for economy passengers! I guess the silver lining in this very dark cloud is that cramped economy travel leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Fortunately, the internet provides the ability to make visual connections with loved ones when physical contact is not convenient (or ecological).

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Keep Track of Wasted Food

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?

Sue Swanson 4/24/2018 11:36 AM

In the three weeks I have been measuring our food waste, I have found very little that could be reduced. Most of the organic matter we discard is either peelings or meat scraps. I am grateful for this discipline of noticing more carefully what is thrown away and will probably be more mindful of waste in the future.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than other countries, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?

Sue Swanson 4/24/2018 11:34 AM

We probably eat so much meat because we can afford it. Also because we have grown up in a culture that believes lots and lots of protein is part of a healthy diet. We need to start thinking of meat, not as the main course in a meal, but as an important side dish. Eating smaller portions less often would be a relatively painless way to wean ourselves off a meat-intensive diet.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Research Heat Pumps

Why do you care about taking action on climate change?

Sue Swanson 4/24/2018 11:31 AM

We only have one world and we depend upon its viability to live. I want to repair the damage that we have done to this world and restore/retain as much of its health and beauty as I can for future generations of humans, animals and all growing things.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?

Sue Swanson 4/24/2018 11:29 AM

Like most American suburbs, many of the roads in my town lack sidewalks. However, I am very grateful that the long-range plans and vision for the town do include working to improve the walking infrastructure. New sidewalks do get built and existing ones are being upgraded to improve not only functionality but also ambience. Pleasant places are pleasant to be in!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. In what ways can you support your closest regenerative agriculture farm?

Sue Swanson 4/18/2018 10:17 AM

Since I live in a condo, it is not realistic for me to compost my kitchen waste, but I will definitely support current discussions about a town-wide project. Also, supporting CSAs and local farmers who using regenerative agriculture is an obvious step.

Read More
Sue Swanson 4/17/2018 1:02 PM

Meat has been readily available for a long time and has usually been considered a healthy food. Even now, meat plays a big part in many "healthy" diets (paleo, whole30, etc) which discourage sugars more than meat. I have long tried to make meat more of a side dish, with smaller portions, than the focus of a meal--but that is bucking tradition and I often don't succeed. Oh well, keep trying, I guess.

Read More
Sue Swanson 4/17/2018 12:59 PM

Still haven't been to a store to buy bamboo products (local grocery has natural and organic but not bamboo) nor to Kohl's to thank them for going green. Will try to do that before next Wednesday's close.

Read More