Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Kara Whitman

WSU Conservation

"We do not have a "Planet B""

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
805 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

3.0

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

4.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

990

minutes

spent learning

Kara's actions

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will support women-owned businesses when I shop this month.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will spend at least 120 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

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

Electricity Generation

Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Generation Solutions.

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

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 20 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

Buildings and Cities

Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

All Buildings and Cities Solutions

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 120 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 1 meal(s) from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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 Use Buy Bamboo

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

Kara Whitman 4/22/2018 12:10 PM

Access to bamboo alternatives are somewhat available in my local community.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use 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?

Kara Whitman 4/22/2018 12:09 PM

My biggest concern with importing foods, is the loss of forests worldwide. The increased worldwide demand for products that are grown in developing nations not only leads to removal of forests to grow this food, but also leads to reduced access to nutritious food - see the impact or worldwide demand for the "super food" Quinoa.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation 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?

Kara Whitman 4/22/2018 12:05 PM

Micro Turbines could be installed in some our taller buildings, however, I am not convinced it would be cost effective. It seems like micro wind would be very beneficial in large cities and in developing countries.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Kara Whitman 4/22/2018 12:02 PM

There are so many new technologies being developed that harness true sustainable energy. I am very excited about new wind technologies that can be utilized on buildings, rather than requiring large windmills far from developed areas.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Learn More about Biomass

Had you ever heard of biomass techonology before this? What did you learn that surprised you? Share this with your friends!

Kara Whitman 4/22/2018 11:59 AM

I have heard about biomass energy. I was surprised, and happy, to see that it is consider a bridging energy source. Not to be the end all, be all answer to our sustainable energy needs. In the larger scheme, it is not really carbon neutral.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation 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?

Kara Whitman 4/22/2018 11:52 AM

Anaerobic digestion seems like a great way to deal with waste products that we have a plethora of. I am still concerned that it ultimately uses methane - will the CO2 be captured?

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Kara Whitman 4/22/2018 11:48 AM

New innovative design of the cities of our future are critical. Cities need to provide resources, living space, working space, and entertainment within walking distance. Cities need to be designed around walkability, sustainable energy sources, and people (rather than fossil fuels). Cities designed like this will be safer and healthier for people and the long term sustainability of ecosystem services. Food also needs to be grown where it will be eaten (rooftop gardens, vertical urban gardening etc.)

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?

Kara Whitman 4/18/2018 8:47 AM

Recently my daughter has become Vegan, this has really changed how I plan family meals. We have greatly reduced how many days a week that we serve meat and have added in more grains and lentils to our diets. Restaurants can make a big difference in shifting the culture, by providing more tasty vegan dishes. This could show that it is possible to have delicious food without meat. It may also take a shift in paying for the true cost of the meat. If meat production had to pay a higher cost for the feed (pay the true cost - not subsidized) then the cost of meat would go up, reducing how much is purchased.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Support Local Food Systems

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these advantages inspire you the most?

Kara Whitman 4/18/2018 8:43 AM

I often purchase fresh vegetables and meat products from the local food coop. The Co-op provides information about the distance that the food has traveled (within 100 or 200 miles).

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Smaller Portions

Fun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of this?

Kara Whitman 4/18/2018 8:42 AM

Smaller portions lead to less calories ingested in one sitting. We typically eat more than we need. Eating slow enough to know when our bodies are full is important, and can actually lead to reduced demand for resources in the long run (and more healthy bodies!)

Read More