Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

James Van Cleve

Asheville High School!

"Helping save the climate!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,618 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

290

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

4.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

James's actions

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support

#59 Bike Infrastructure

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 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 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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

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

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

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

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

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

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

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

COMPLETED 22
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

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

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 20 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Communicate With My Elected Officials

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore)

I will write or call 1 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Generation Solutions.

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

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 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport 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?

James Van Cleve 4/25/2018 6:11 AM

Throughout this entire challenge, I feel like I have learned so much about how to help the environment. Not only have I become more aware of what I throw away food-wise and recycle material-wise, but I have discovered so much about how processes like wind energy affect our world. Thank you, Project Drawdown. This really opens my eyes to what I can do to help others become more aware of how to save our planet.

Read More
James Van Cleve 4/24/2018 11:29 AM

I wonder why the EcoChallenge puts a limit on the one-time challenges you can complete. Although in theory it makes sense, I think it would be better to set those parameters earlier so that people do more daily challenges. I know I would have!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

What do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?

James Van Cleve 4/24/2018 11:27 AM

In Asheville, the bike lanes have been improved a lot in the past years. Unfortunately, the main roads are not able to be biked on because of the lack of a lane. Side roads have lanes that are perfect for bikers, yet to get to those roads, people have to ride on the sidewalk to get there. It is unsafe for bikers to ride with cars on a two-lane road, so they have to take alternate routes to reach their destination. I would love to see our city become more bike-friendly, and that would encourage me to get out and ride more.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food composting

Producing uneaten food squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these motivates you the most to change your behavior regarding food waste?

James Van Cleve 4/24/2018 4:49 AM

Water and energy are the biggest motivators for me changing my behavior regarding food waste. When looking at what goes into the crops that we waste, I see that we are wasting much more than just food. There is so much more that goes into planting that crop, watering it, harvesting it, transporting it, and there's even more that happens before and within those steps. Food waste isn't just about food, it's about the resources and energy we waste when we choose to throw that excess away.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

James Van Cleve 4/23/2018 11:17 AM

When I look at the effects of our materials, I see that we are consuming things way faster than they are being made. With fossil fuels, for instance, we are using more and more gasoline, coal-powered energy, and plastic. We cannot go on like this. It is impossible for us to use resources at the rate we use them now and expect for our world to sustain us. We need to take care of the world. Bioplastics can help us take a step towards caring for our planet. If we can build more composting facilities, biodegradable plastics will be able to be composted and go back to where the came. Choosing something over another always means a sacrifice is being made. With reversing climate change, we may have to take a step back for a moment before we move forward. Electric cars are being manufactured so that their batteries can allow more mileage per charge. Right now, the mileage may be low, but further down the road we may be able to go weeks without having to charge our cars, just like how we've made more fuel-efficient cars. We are on the right track to reversing climate change, but we just need to know that sometime, sacrifices are going to have to be made.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Learn about Temperate Forests

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?

James Van Cleve 4/23/2018 11:12 AM

I think when I see climate change as a big-picture issue, it overwhelms me, but when I look at some of the things I can do to change that, it doesn't seem as impossible. Overall, reversing climate change can't be done by just one person. It isn't possible. But, if we all focus on what we can do, everything comes into focus, and the problem of climate change doesn't seem as unsolvable. I am hopeful with this EcoChallenge that people will realize that they can help to reverse climate change, and that can be as little as planting trees, advocating for less fossil fuels, and making everyday decisions that help benefit the environment. Those small decisions to, for example, recycle something instead of throwing it away, can change the world. The small things add up, and if everyone focuses on what they can do, climate change will be a thing of the past.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Now that you know the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates, how will you view expiration dates differently?

James Van Cleve 4/23/2018 11:08 AM

I will be able to know what the dates mean now that I have read articles. The only time where you can't use something after its use by date is with baby formula. Everything else can be used until spoilage is evident. If I see that something is past its use/sell/best by date, I'll know that I can still use the product in the next few days. If everyone realized this, we would waste a whole lot less food.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

James Van Cleve 4/23/2018 5:16 AM

Thankfully, more charging stations for EVs have been built over the past few years, but the biggest reason for me changing to an electric vehicle is the cost of gas. Since it would run solely on electricity, I would save a lot more money on gas. The only downside is the variability in mileage of the car. Depending on conditions, my mileage per charge could be very different due to the variable weather and road conditions.

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James Van Cleve 4/23/2018 4:55 AM

While reading about bioplastics, I realized that there is still a lot of work to be done if we want to make that a viable option...the "compostable" bags are really only able to be composted in large, high-temperature facilities.

Read More
James Van Cleve 4/22/2018 7:08 PM

The 2nd place team has come within 8,000 points of Asheville High School! #comebackseason

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