Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Brian Wagner

Beneficial State Bank

"To further educate myself on ways to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
516 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

60

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

125

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

962

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Brian's actions

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

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Purchase a Carbon Offset

#43 Airplanes

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 60 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
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?

Brian Wagner 4/22/2018 4:18 PM

Happy Earth Day! Really, we should be celebrating Earth Day every day...appreciating what Mother Nature provides for us & doing our best to live responsibly to preserve & protect all resources. Today I ran a 5k race to support Portland Parks & Rec. Department. The race was held at Laurelhurst Park, a popular urban park that exemplifies the importance of being able to coexist with nature as cities become more dense.

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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?

Brian Wagner 4/19/2018 10:19 PM

I think we have to continue to publicize the negative impact that eating a meat-rich diet has on the environment. If everyone reduced meat consumption by just one meal per week, it would significantly reduce carbon emissions and potentially also the reliance on industrial ag operations. Americans tend to eat meat more regularly because of its availability and relatively inexpensive cost. For the past 4-5 decades, fast food restaurants have provided cheap, easily accessible, quick (though non-nutritious) meals. Families have come to rely on eating fast food multiple times per week, opting for low-cost, fast prep over quality and nutrition. Too many Americans value cost over quality, and the fast food industry has capitalized on this through marketing - promoting "value meals". We should be willing to spend more on food, placing a higher value on what we are putting into our bodies.

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?

Brian Wagner 4/19/2018 10:07 PM

For shorter, regional trips, I plan on taking a train to my destination instead of flying. Traveling by Amtrak is a relatively efficient, and much less expensive option, in addition to having a much smaller impact on CO2 emissions. For every flight I do have to take, I will commit to purchasing carbon offsets. I will also work to coordinate trips back home to visit friends and family simultaneously, combining visits over a longer duration trip.

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Brian Wagner 4/17/2018 8:12 AM

Now that the rain has stopped, it felt good to commute to work via bike again. A refreshing way to begin the day! Thankful there are so many non-automobile options to get me to work in 25 minutes or less. I haven't driven a vehicle in over 1.5 years...and it's liberating!

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Brian Wagner 4/15/2018 7:45 PM

On 04/13/18, I attended a screening of the film "Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry". The screening was part of a fundraising for a local nonprofit organization called "ECO" (Ecology in Classrooms & Outdoors). Filmed in Kentucky, the documentary explored the transition of the agricultural industry over the past 5 decades. Using interviews with local farmers, and vivid imagery of the landscape, the film was a powerful representation of how small family farms have struggled to remain viable as agriculture has become more industrialized. National policy decisions in the 60's and 70's encouraged farmers to expand operations and run their farms as businesses, with a primary focus on profit. Although commodity prices have remained relatively flat for decades, the cost of land & equipment continues to increase, reducing profit margins. Farmers are caught in a vicious cycle of constantly feeling the need to grow & acquire more equipment, just to pay bills. This has led to a more prevalent use of destructive farming methods, such as the use of chemicals, fertilizers, etc.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food 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?

Brian Wagner 4/09/2018 8:27 AM

I had not heard of silvopasture prior to watching online videos as part of this EcoChallenge. I think the biggest advantage of this method of farming are the multiple benefits from a relatively simple practice. By thoughtfully incorporating trees and other vegetation into a pasture area, farm-raised animals can utilize natural sources of shade, food & protection. Instead of solely utilizing trees as property barriers, farmers are realizing the multitude of benefits of blending native species into the outdoor areas where animals graze. This seems to lead to more healthy, happy animals, and better land management practices. Grazing animals naturally work up the land, minimizing the need for equipment & destructive fertilizers, etc. By returning to a more natural way of farming, soil quality is improved, preserving the long-term viability of the farm.

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Brian Wagner 4/07/2018 11:19 PM

Day 4 complete! I'm feeling good about the start to the EcoChallenge. I haven't been tempted to eat meat (yet) and have enjoyed the research I've done regarding more sustainable agricultural practices (silvopasture)..

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Brian Wagner 4/04/2018 8:14 AM

Excited for Day 1 of the EcoChallenge! I enjoyed a leisurely stroll to work this morning, opting to walk instead of using public transit. And this is my first day of going meatless (through the end of the challenge)!

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