Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Brian Imus

Illinois Green Alliance

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
630 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

80

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

5.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

1.0

donation

made

Brian's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Contact your Elected Officials

#23 Farmland Restoration

I will contact 5 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Donate

#21 Clean Cookstoves

I will donate to Cool Effect's cookstove projects or another nonprofit that installs clean cookstoves in low-income countries.

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 4
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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

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 Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

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

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.
Brian Imus 4/25/2018 6:21 PM
Convenience and cost are the biggest drivers of my transportation choice. Fortunately, living in Chicago makes it easy to prioritize walking and transit. Parking downtown is too expensive!

Read More
Brian Imus 4/23/2018 5:48 PM
For Earthday yesterday I learned about the benefits of temperate forests (they're great for carbon storage and recreation) and did yard work and got my backyard ready for summer!

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?
Brian Imus 4/23/2018 5:41 PM
The threat of climate change is a global threat that it can be hard to feel I can make a difference. What makes me hopeful (not give up) is thinking about the impact of carbon drawdown in neighborhoods. It's a way to make climate change action feel local.

Read More
Brian Imus 4/10/2018 5:52 PM
Learning about heat pumps tonight. Found this on the EPA website: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-and-cool/heat-pump-systems

Read More
Brian Imus 4/09/2018 6:40 PM
Here's a great place to learn about and get involved to advocate for high speed rail: https://www.midwesthsr.org/

Read More
Brian Imus 4/09/2018 6:26 PM
Instead of watching the evening news on television, I'm learning about biogas digesters and clean cookstoves. Love learning about solutions rather than listening to the news!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How are environmental issues like black carbon and other emissions from cooking fires or rudimentary cookstoves also human health and social justice issues?
Brian Imus 4/09/2018 6:22 PM
Those who lack the social or financial capital to use less polluting sources to cook and heat their homes contribute to health problems that others do not have to face.

Read More