Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Simona Gray Wolf Fischer

MSR Design

"Can't just have a goal. Have to love the work."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,307 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

140

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

3.0

people

helped
UP TO

22

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

77

miles

traveled by bus
UP TO

45

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

25

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

donation

made

Simona'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

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 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Solar Water Consultation

#41 Solar Water

I will contact a local installer/distributor to see if a solar water heater makes sense for my house.

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

Buildings and Cities

Plan to Insulate

#31 Insulation

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Use Muscle Power

#49 Cars

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Use Public Transit

#37 Mass Transit

I will use public transit 7 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 2.27 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Help Girls Overcome Health Barriers

#6 Educating Girls

I will donate one or more Femme Kits to help girls overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 2 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

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?

Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/25/2018 3:55 PM
It's been a pretty fun three weeks. A lot of talk around the office about beating other teams...but also a lot of little chats about interesting things we've learned, and causes we've supported. Some great local pastry, too.

Read More
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/25/2018 12:47 PM
I joined the challenge because I think actually doing things - even if what you're doing is spending 15 minutes learning - is more inspiring and empowering than just talking about what's wrong. Talking about what's wrong is critical - but it should be a catalyst, not a stopping point.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

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?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/25/2018 12:44 PM
About temperate forests - apparently they have a low rate of self-restoration compared to other biomes. About environmental challenges...the loss of biodiversity and everything we're losing with it is what gets me most. What makes me feel hopeful is the slow groundswell of awareness throughout different cross sections of people I know, businesses I buy from and work with, cultures and sectors. Maybe trying to preserve what's left and restore what we can is becoming more than just a yuppie pastime. Environmental justice is the future of this movement.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

How has your access to various kinds of transporation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/25/2018 9:08 AM
I've lived for many years with a car, and many years without, and to car or not to car...it's a mixed bag. I love the freedom of being able to go anywhere, anytime. But overall, when driving is a big part of my life, I get less exercise and spend less time outside. I recently moved to a place with off-street parking in a garage and a good bus route to work. I've been busing almost every day and it's AWESOME. I love being a transit rider during the week, and I only wish the Minneapolis transit system were even better.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/25/2018 9:03 AM
The irony of using a wider range of transport options than just a car is that while I do get more exercise, my range is definitely smaller. I go fewer places, because the transit time is sometimes just too much of a deterrent, especially in winter. That said, my quality of life is better when I take the bus. Instead of yelling at the stupidity of other drivers, I read books and articles. And I just spend more time outside, which is something you become isolated from when your triangle is house-work-car, with occasional stops for food. So in a sense, my world is bigger.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

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?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/25/2018 8:58 AM
The fact that these three work together is what is inspiring. I like the idea that I'm supporting a good system.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

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?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/24/2018 10:55 AM
Vertical axis wind turbines (VATW) have much more potential to work in urban situations - they are small, for one, but more importantly, they are very quiet (some models even claim silent). We could definitely install them on our building next to the river.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

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?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/24/2018 10:49 AM
This one is tough - I've been vegetarian for a number of years, and I wouldn't say I've been able to convince anyone to join me. I think if meatless meals show up in popular culture, on television and touted by celebrity chefs, the movement will gain momentum. Especially if you tell kids that their meat consumption is tied to carbon footprint. I'm part of the generation that made posters about recycling...the next generation will make posters about carbon.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. Why do you think that is?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/22/2018 8:35 AM
Started investing with Kiva - (2) $25 investments to fund two different teachers in Pakistan who need furniture for their classrooms. I chose education as the focus for my loans, but you can choose any focus area, like arts or agriculture, and any region of the world - you can decide to invest locally if you like.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

In what other ways could you help girls overcome health barriers to being able to attend school?
Simona Gray Wolf Fischer 4/22/2018 8:12 AM
Actually I made 2 donations. This is awesome - and what's especially compelling is that educating girls is #6 out of the 100 top global actions that will draw down atmospheric carbon. Education about reproduction and women's bodies builds self confidence, and a zero-waste Femme Kit helps girls not miss school when they have their periods - a huge deal in places where girls are shamed for having their periods...which is a lot of places. "A one-time donation of $35 (Canadian) provides a Femme Kit to a young woman or girl. A monthly contribution helps us sustain our programming in East Africa. A donation of any amount makes a real impact."

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