Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Youna Fradin

Asheville High School!

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
856 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

215

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

27

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched

Youna's actions

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

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

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Fund Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

UNCOMPLETED
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

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Choose Better Wood Products

#38 Forest Protection

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

#5 Tropical Forests

I will replace or remove products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
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 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Local Perennial Biomass

#51 Perennial Biomass

I will spend at least 15 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Retrofitting Incentives

#80 Retrofitting

I will spend at least 15 minutes finding out if my city, region, or state offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

All Buildings and Cities Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.

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
Transport

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
Youna Fradin 4/25/2018 8:20 AM
Fuel-efficient vehicles are generally better than regular cars because they're cheaper to run and maintain. Many use eco-friendly materials. Electric cars can be charged with renewable energy (ex: solar) and they have a lower center of gravity making them safer.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety.
Youna Fradin 4/25/2018 8:17 AM
For me, choosing transportation is about expense and time. I need to be able to ride something reliable enough to get me where I need to be on time without a high cost.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?
Youna Fradin 4/25/2018 8:07 AM
Airplanes are one of the modes of transport that could most benefit from sustainability. New designs could save airlines $250 billion. Retiring older aircrafts early and using fuel-saving practices would also help. Just by focusing on the airplane industry, we could reduce CO2 emissions by 5.05 gigatons and save $3.19 trillion!

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?
Youna Fradin 4/25/2018 7:54 AM
Learning more about the environment and climate change definitely makes me more thoughtful in my day-to-day choices. I'm more conscious about the food I waste and the products I buy. I have a few projects at home that I want to get started on to reduce the impact of my house. I feel overwhelmed by the food-related aspect of climate change. There's so much waste in the food industry as well as inhumane practices, erosion, pesticides, disease, etc. I'm worried that we won't be able to change our ways due to fear of a food shortage. I know that we're eating less beef, but now we eat twice the amount of chicken. There's no balance yet. However, I am hopeful about renewable energy - I've seen the expansion of the industry firsthand and that reinforces my faith in its ability to replace other damaging methods.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe states that "The reason we care about climate change is because it affects the people and places that we care about." What is happening (or will happen) in your area that will affect the people and places you care about?
Youna Fradin 4/24/2018 10:22 AM
2016 and 2017 were the hottest years Asheville has ever had. Along with hotter temperatures, Asheville faces landslides, floods, droughts, and forest fires.

Read More
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?
Youna Fradin 4/24/2018 10:17 AM
Americans eat a lot of meat because our economy is doing well and because our innovation has increased efficiency of raising livestock while decreasing the cost of meat products. We are a very middle-class country which explains why we want something cheap and easy. It's a cultural way of showing wealth and comfort. However, it's relatively easy to shift America from a meat-focused culture. Beef has been steadily decreasing based on health concerns and cost. The others will follow as long as there is a healthier tasty, inexpensive alternative.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?
Youna Fradin 4/24/2018 9:59 AM
There are many components that have to go into the creation of a sustainable community. In general, my vision for one would be walkability/bikability, green roofs, community gardens, sustainable technology, green building, city-wide recycling and composting, and using color to help monitor heating/cooling.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

Geothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. What kind of investment seems most feasible for you?
Youna Fradin 4/24/2018 9:53 AM
Geothermal energy is the cheapest type of solution. The best way to invest in geothermal is the stock markets so that civilians and companies alike can promote it. The largest companies to invest in are Calpine, Ormat Technologies, US Geothermal, Chevron Corporation, and Berkshire Hathaway.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

Why do you care about taking action on climate change?
Youna Fradin 4/24/2018 9:40 AM
I care about climate change because nature is the place I feel most at home. It's where, when I'm upset, I can go to relax. It's important to me that animals and humans are safe, and the best way to ensure that is to make sure that the earth is healthy. I feel guilty for leaving the world as it is for the future populations to worry about. The problem has gone long enough.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

How can you share what you have learned in your research with others?
Youna Fradin 4/24/2018 9:36 AM
It's definitely important that people developing in Asheville know that our city gives density bonuses, building permit and fee rebates, and other incentives for sustainable development. The best way to spread that information (other than it already being online) is to use social media and talk with local developers.

Read More