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Welcome to Drawdown EcoChallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Drawdown EcoChallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown
Drawdown EcoChallenge
April 4 - April 25, 2018
Linda Tran's avatar

Linda Tran

The Circle School

"simple & sustainable "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,103 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    214
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    15
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    14
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched

Linda's 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 14
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 23 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Zero-waste Cooking

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY 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

Buildings and Cities

Online Energy Audit

Multiple Solutions

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

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 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

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

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 12
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 13
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 20 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

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 16 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

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

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 11
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Electricity Generation

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore), #8 Solar Farms

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

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

Electricity Generation

Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Generation 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?

  • Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/25/2018 9:25 PM
    Tis sad. This is the last day of this ecochallenge. Having create the routine where this is one of the first things i attend to in the morning to reflect on /create new habits and challenge myself to dive in deeper have been rewarding. Also adding to a team effort in points / community efforts/ and friendly competition has made this fun.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/25/2018 7:55 PM
    It's HARD that people aren't accountable for their actions; we create a bounty of excuses as to why things aren't going the way they should. It starts off small to OWN up to what you do and what you have done. We need to stop making excuses for the conveniences in our life and start making radical personal changes that reverberates throughout our communities. Make it known. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    What did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/25/2018 7:01 PM
    The 7th Generation. Think long-term about the results of one's actions and see if it will be sustainable for 7 generations.
    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?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/25/2018 10:16 AM
    Ohhh that cup of coffee needs to be Rainforest Alliance Certification and be shade-grown -- I cannot say that I've been attentive this past year since my coffee consumption ramped up but I will be going forth! 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Women and Girls
    What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/25/2018 7:43 AM
    When men uphold attitudes/practices that put women down, and women enable them, the cycle continues that limits equality and representation for women. Speaking up when injustices happen are a micro-step towards changing attitudes; getting involved on a larger scale (with an organization/through art/etc) to educate respectfully, clearly, and accessibly might help with reducing these barriers for women. But changing attitudes and speaking out against these attitudes would do so much!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation
    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?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/23/2018 7:47 PM
    I offset some of my electricity consumption (where 13% of local energy is generated from wind/solar) by purchasing renewable energy certificates from Arcadia Power, a company that allows homeowners/renters who want to invest in renewable electricity.
    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?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/23/2018 8:38 AM
    What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality? 
    What loaded questions! A sustainable community would be a space where most/all individuals participate in growing food, use human-powered transportation resources as much as possible, create a public transportation system that is accessible/equitable for all, and support access to community resources to uplift economically challenged folks. What needs to be changed is everything, but mostly, individual/community/governmental attitude/participation that would make this reality possible.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transport
    How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/16/2018 8:34 AM
    Strolling the food and drinks to IFF in a bike caddie was super fun as I also delivered food to a neighbor who recently had a baby. Walkability is very important to me - so I have definitely appreciated being in a neighborhood with sidewalks. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings and Cities
    What are your next steps for saving energy?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/11/2018 9:05 PM
     RE: NEXT STEPS for SAVING ENERGY, at minimum turn off lights, unplug unnecessary appliances/plugs, and especially in TX since summer is approaching, maintain coolness in house thru ceiling fans and keeping shades drawn. I was proud that in March, I earned 31 Nest Leaf, 1 each day for energy conservation.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?
    Linda Tran's avatar
    Linda Tran 4/11/2018 8:57 PM
    Changing my diet has been a conscious effort since I tried vegetarianism at 16, quit, then became a pescatarian in 2001. Tho my seafood is limited, it's still part of my diet and it's hard for me to turn down a good ceviche. 
    Read More