Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Marisa Wernick

ETHS ECO2Sustainability

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
713 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

6.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

245

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted

Marisa's actions

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

UNCOMPLETED
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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 40 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Local Perennial Biomass

#51 Perennial Biomass

I will spend at least 20 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

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 40 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 2
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

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transport

Improve a Bus Stop

#37 Mass Transit

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or some other small improvement.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Start a Social Media Campaign

#6 Educating Girls

I will share stats on gender inequity in education with my social media feed to raise awareness.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 40 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 40 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Connect With A Nonprofit

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

I will connect with a local nonprofit working on womens' or girls' issues in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

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
Women and Girls Start a Social Media Campaign

How are people responding to the statistics you're sharing on social media?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:23 PM

Not many people responded, but many of my friends were surprised by the facts. I showed the statistics to my friends in Japan as well and they were surprised too.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Connect With A Nonprofit

What are the most pressing womens' and girls' issues in your community?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:22 PM

I think that the pressing issues mainly involve staying in unhealthy relationships and abuse

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:20 PM

I think that informal rules and relationships as well as norms about women's appropriate roles limit participation in the community. The women in Evanston are well educated and often do not lack financial resources so I think the barriers are mainly social factors.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Improve a Bus Stop

How can you advocate for transportation systems which minimize environmental impact while also meeting human needs?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:18 PM

Advocate for more bus routes or train routes and maybe subsidize fees to encourage people to ride on trains. Make mass transit generally more accommodating: shorter intervals between arrivals, make transit seem more attractive or have spaces where people can have space. I think some of the appeal in having a car is that it is personal.

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?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:16 PM

This seems silly, but I think the mechanics are very cool. It also takes away the need to pay for gas and can recharge the fuel at home. When electric cars stop, they turn off and the ride feels smoother because there is no humming of the engine.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Recycle Everything I Can

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:14 PM

I reduce the amount of stuff that I buy and throw away.
I reuse items that are thought of as disposable but can actually be reused and give my magazines and newspapers to others when I'm done with them.
I've been refusing various plastic things like straws and bags.
Instead of getting rid of old clothes I could sew them back or repurpose the fabric.
I've been repurposing bottles and jars into pencil holders and decorating them to put in my room.

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.

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:12 PM

What concerns me the most is the waste output and pollution. What scares me is how we are reaching climate change tipping points. There is always some comfort knowing that some aspects of climate change can be reversed, but that is lost with tipping points and makes me nervous. I dislike how it is hurting those who are not contributing as much to climate change and destroying ecosystems. The industrialization around the world and burning of fossil fuels, which doesn't seem to slow down, is particularly concerning to me. Locally, the amount of waste we put out worries me because it seems to just disappear, even though it is just being moved. We are told to waste less and yet people are not changing much.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 2

How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:09 PM

It was not that difficult to change my diet. I do not typically eat much meat.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Local Perennial Biomass

Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe states that "The reason we care about climate change is because it affects the people and places that we care about." What is happening (or will happen) in your area that will affect the people and places you care about?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:08 PM

In Chicago the average temperature has raised a lot in recent years. As a result there is noticeably more rain and snow. I know this to be true for myself because my house has begun to flood in recent springs because of all the rain.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

Marisa Wernick 4/24/2018 7:06 PM

My consumption of meat, dairy, and eggs feeds deforestation. Although not directly, it is contributing. I probably consume palm oil which is a huge cause of direct deforestation, but it is probably used in the snacks I eat and some of my cooking oil without realizing it. I rarely eat chocolate, and only sometimes drink coffee, but farming these plants also contributes to deforestation. I can decrease my negative impact by not drinking coffee or eating chocolate. If I choose to drink coffee, there are more sustainable options such as "shade-grown" coffee beans. Because I consume meat and dairy the most out of these deforestation causing foods, I should cut those down.

Read More