Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Marissa Talcott

Lincoln High School

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
383 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

4.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

8.0

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

20

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

15

miles

traveled by bus
UP TO

4.8

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted

Marissa's actions

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

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 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Choose Recycled Paper

#70 Recycled Paper

If I have to buy paper products, I will only purchase products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

#55 Household Recycling

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

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

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

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

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 4 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Use Public Transit

#37 Mass Transit

I will use public transit 3 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 0.97 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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 Forest-Friendly Foods 2

How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

Marissa Talcott 4/12/2018 9:37 AM

Some of the main food sources that contribute to deforestation are coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and some types of meat, dairy and eggs. By being more conscious of these foods, I have been able to change my diet to avoid or limit these foods. Some things that I do not consume a lot of, such as coffee, cocoa, and eggs have been easier to cut out of my diet, whereas other foods such as meat and dairy have been more difficult.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Buy Bamboo

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?

Marissa Talcott 4/12/2018 9:32 AM

Although I do not think bamboo is hugely popular in my community, it is definitely available to those who want it. There are many stores and resources that provide and source bamboo for use in building, as well as bamboo plants.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Every 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?

Marissa Talcott 4/12/2018 9:27 AM

Google, IKEA, and Amazon are all companies that have invested a lot in green energies. I can support green energy by supporting these companies, or investing directly in green energy companies.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?

Marissa Talcott 4/12/2018 9:22 AM

Better walking infrastructure allows for all people, with and without cars, to be able to access their daily needs and easily get to work, school, etc. Additionally, better walking infrastructure makes the city more enjoyable, because when more people are out and walking, the city has more of a community feeling, and people are less isolated and reliant on their cars.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Choose LED Bulbs

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next?

Marissa Talcott 4/12/2018 9:19 AM

In order to be more energy efficient I will also try to limit the amount of lightbulbs that are on in my house at any given time. Additionally, I will reduce my CO2 emissions by carpooling and taking public transportation for my daily needs.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Support Women-Owned Businesses

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women?

Marissa Talcott 4/12/2018 9:17 AM

Supporting women in business can help to support the community because it gives them more spending and buying power. It is important for the genders to both have equal power in the economy, which is why I think it matters to support women.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Support Local Food Systems

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?

Marissa Talcott 4/10/2018 8:34 AM

I am most inspired to use local food systems by the benefits that this brings to my community and myself. When I buy food from local producers, I know where it is coming from and it is typically a healthier option. Additionally, it is beneficial to my community and local suppliers, allowing them to continue operating. There are many benefits to buying from local food sources.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Use Public Transit

How has your access to various kinds of transporation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?

Marissa Talcott 4/06/2018 8:23 AM

Living in Portland I have typically had very good access to public transportation, which has made he have a positive attitude about public transportation, and I recognize the importance of public transportation and carpooling.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

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?

Marissa Talcott 4/06/2018 8:20 AM

I think that in the US because meat is mass produced and processed, it allows for easy access to meat. Additionally, the US often emphasizes consumption, without considering waste, which can be a dangerous ideology in the meat industry. I think that the meat focused culture could be shifted through education and the promotion of more sustainable eating.

Read More