

Mary Remar
"My Mission is to do the best I can to stay apprised of personal actions that make a difference for laying a foundation of a clean planet future. Buy organic, invest in clean companies, reduce consumption, stay educated on policy matters. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,199 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO815minutesspent learning
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UP TO10locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO10public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO10meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO5.0lightbulbsreplaced
Mary's actions
Electricity Generation
Communicate With My Elected Officials
#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore)
I will write or call 10 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.
Buildings and Cities
Choose LED Bulbs
#33 LED Lighting (Household)
I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Biomass
#34 Biomass
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.
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.
Food
Support Nutrient Management
#65 Nutrient Management
I will buy from organic and local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Micro Wind
#76 Micro Wind
I will spend at least 180 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.
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.
Transport
Purchase a Carbon Offset
#43 Airplanes
If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.
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).
Food
Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture
#11 Regenerative Agriculture
I will spend at least 120 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.
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.
Food
Contact your Elected Officials
#23 Farmland Restoration
I will contact 10 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.
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.
Land Use
Learn about Local Indigenous Practices
#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.
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.
Food
Learn More about Silvopasture
#9 Silvopasture
I will spend at least 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.
Transport
Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail
#66 High-Speed Rail
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy
#29 Wave and Tidal
I will spend at least 300 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.
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.
Buildings and Cities
Express My Support
#54 Walkable Cities
I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.
Land Use
Local Perennial Biomass
#51 Perennial Biomass
I will spend at least 60 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.
Land Use
Buy Bamboo
#35 Bamboo
When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.
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.
Food
composting
#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste
I will start a compost bin where I live.
Transport
Explore Other Transport Solutions
All Transport Solutions
I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Transport
Conduct Virtual Meetings
#63 Telepresence
I will not travel for meetings and will instead conduct them virtually.
Land Use
Support Indigenous Peoples' Land Management
#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management
I will donate to The Nature Conservancy, which works with Indigenous Peoples to secure land tenure and resource rights, support improved governance and local institutions, assist in natural resource mapping, planning and management; and strengthen livelihoods and sustainable economic development.
Food
Keep Track of Wasted Food
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the EcoChallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.
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?
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Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:17 PMThanks everyone. This was great.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportHow can you ensure that your virtual meetings honor your values and your company's culture?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:14 PM90% of our meetings are phone calls or conference calls. Rarely to we require travel. On any given project, we may have 10% of our meetings in person. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodWhat 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?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:13 PMI have a meatless house. Still trying to give up meat when I am out. Sometimes it's just easier to order what sounds good, but, I do try to stay conscious. I don't eat out all that much these days. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodAn average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:11 PMThis week may be the first week in which I ate everything I purchased. I have learned that I don't love tomatoes. So weird that I tried for 47 years. I can not stand them, so I will stop buying them unless I am going to make a batch of marinara. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity GenerationEvery dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. What are some companies you know of that invest in green energy, and how can you support them?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:09 PMIf there is one area I will invest in over the next 20 years, this category will always be in my top 5. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportWhat 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.
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:06 PMIm a yes. Galveston to Chicago. Orlando to New Orleans to Los Angeles. Yes. Yes. Yes. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodDependable 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?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:05 PMI would like to see the county and the city engage in Local Food Sourcing and Production Conversations as a matter of Public Health. That would be a game changer for the region, and a real look at our city's impact on the regions around us. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand UseAs 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?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 3:02 PMI think East Texas has been classified as a borderline Temperate zone. I don't know that it will be that for much longer. The one thing that blows me away about Houston is how well things grow. I look at my own gardening habits and again have to really consider my own practices. The need to fit in with the neighbors vs. some real next gen yard keeping practices. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity GenerationWhat did you learn about wave and tidal energy? Were you surprised by the information you found?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 2:59 PMThis is one are I wish the state of Texas would commit to. We are a gulf state and there is a lot of clean green industry and economic opportunity here for our little coastal towns.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand UseWhat did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?
Mary Remar 4/25/2018 2:57 PMI really enjoyed getting to know a tribal elder a little better in this challenge. That connection is really emotionally meaningful to me.