Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Aidan Lamb

Asheville High School!

"I will save the earth"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
776 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

205

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

18

miles

traveled by bus
UP TO

4.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

10

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Aidan's actions

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Use Public Transit

#37 Mass Transit

I will use public transit 3 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 1.7 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
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 Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

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

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

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 30 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

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Communicate With My Elected Officials

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore)

I will write or call 2 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

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
Land Use

Higher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?
Aidan Lamb 4/25/2018 11:34 AM
Like when we buy stuff people elsewhere had to pay for it by having to give up there land and there life style.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

What inspires you to act on sustainable energy and other energy issues?
Aidan Lamb 4/25/2018 11:30 AM
Because I am thinking about the generations after up that could live in chaos unless we do something now. Our grandparents ignored climate change, our parents put this off, but its too late for us to ignore this issue.

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?
Aidan Lamb 4/24/2018 12:04 PM
My vision of a sustainable community would, it to be the norm to use sustainable energy. Like walking down my street and everyone has solar panels. To make this a reality people need to come up with way to create renewable energy a lot cheaper.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
Aidan Lamb 4/23/2018 12:19 PM
One part of my diet I can change to help decrease deforestation is trying not to use as much butter because most butters have palm oil into but instead using something like olive oil or coconut oil. I can also use palm oil free shampoo and conditioner when washing my hair. I can also be aware of all of the different names for palm oil so I don't get tricked into buying something with it on accident.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
Aidan Lamb 4/23/2018 11:50 AM
Locally I am worried climate change will drastically impact the population of Asheville as peoples homes start to become unlivable as the ocean rises. Globally I am worried about a dystopian future of too many people, too little food, and irregular wether patters/ loss of seasons.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Now that you know the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates, how will you view expiration dates differently?
Aidan Lamb 4/23/2018 11:31 AM
Now I understand that these dates aren't a date for safety but just for quality and companies trying to get rid of this food. I used to throw out foods even if it was still a week before the expiration date because I thought they were bad. Now I know I can save more food and help the envierment by not wasting as much.

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?
Aidan Lamb 4/23/2018 11:18 AM
I am thinking more realistically about how we all need to contribute every single day to turning climate changing around. Some of the parts that feels overwhelming is how the majority of us end up go through our daily lives and don't know how much of a problem this really is. I am hopeful that there are sites like this one that are educating kids on not only the challenges but also the solutions.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

Had you ever heard of biomass techonology before this? What did you learn that surprised you? Share this with your friends!
Aidan Lamb 4/17/2018 1:43 PM
No I haven't ever heard of biomass technology but I wish I had. I think this is a really good idea that could help reduce the bad carbon admissions is our air. I thought it was interesting how this is only a temporary solution and when sun and solar energy gets into full affect we would even need to use biomass technology.

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?
Aidan Lamb 4/17/2018 11:55 AM
I do believe geothermal is one solution but I don't think it is one we can rely on. Although it does seem like a smart idea I think there are too many things that could go wrong. Like releasing C02 or even overusing geothermal energy and decreasing the overall of our core temp.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Had you heard of the term silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
Aidan Lamb 4/13/2018 11:33 AM
No I haven't ever heard about Silvopasture and I think the most helpful thing about Silvopasture is the increase in health for the land and the animals

Read More