Thomas Fletcher
" Now is the time to open our arms, expand our horizons, and dream big. Big problems require big solutions. (Van Jones) Embrace the Challenge!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,632 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO1.0donationmade
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UP TO16locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO320minutesspent exercising
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UP TO365minutesspent learning
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UP TO1,162pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO4.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO12zero-waste mealsconsumed
Thomas 's actions
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.
Transport
Purchase a Carbon Offset
#43 Airplanes
If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.
Electricity Generation
Learn More About Geothermal Energy
#18 Geothermal
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.
Food
Support Local Food Systems
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will source 10 percent of my food 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.
Action Track: Social Justice
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
Zero-waste Cooking
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day
Food
Donate
#21 Clean Cookstoves
I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.
Buildings and Cities
Go for a Daily Walk
#54 Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
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.
Materials
Research Cement Alternatives
#36 Alternative Cement
I will spend at least 60 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.
Food
Explore Other Food Solutions
All Food Solutions
I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.
Food
Learn More about Silvopasture
#9 Silvopasture
I will spend at least 60 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.
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.
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.
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
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.
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).
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Micro Wind
#76 Micro Wind
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.
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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REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Generation Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy CreditsYour utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your zipcode, and in your state. What steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
Thomas Fletcher 4/17/2019 7:21 AMEvery few months I get a notice from my (not renewable energy utility) Duke Energy that shows my energy usage in comparison to other households. I am consistently one of the lowest users, mostly because I take steps to conserve energy. I keep my thermostat low in the winter and high in the summer, turn it down at night, only turn on lights in rooms I am using. I am taking steps to improve my building envelope's energy efficiency by increasing insulation. I wrap my hot water heater to insulate it so it does not lose heat. I'd really like to go solar, and am looking into whether or not that makes sense. -
Thomas Fletcher 4/15/2019 11:30 AMWonderful that we have such great farmers markets where we can buy food grown locally and support a robust network of small farms many of which farm organically and sustainbably. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransport Purchase a Carbon OffsetA round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2. What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?
Thomas Fletcher 4/12/2019 2:38 PMI don't fly that much but have an opportunity to fly somewhere about once a year. Purchasing a carbon offset is not an ideal solution but at least it does something to counter the big negative emissions of flights. I'm careful about what my donation to offset my flight goes to, preferring local solutions and I usually pay double what the offset indicates to be a bit more positive and not simply neutral. Also, the prices of carbon offsets are usually low and don't account for the entire costs of burning fossil fuels. Not ideal, but something. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Generation Learn More About Geothermal EnergyGeothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. In what ways (i.e. with money, time, advocacy) can you invest in geothermal energy?
Thomas Fletcher 4/11/2019 11:44 AMI had always thought about geothermal energy as something only available where there are volcanoes or hot springs. And I thought about it in terms of a large geothermal plant that would supply energy to a community. I did not realize that geothermal is also available on a household basis and can involve use of the moderate and even temperatures of the ground in an exchange system. As far as advocacy goes, I've not heard of any plans for large scale geothermal in my area. However, it seems like a broad education effort plus advocacy for things like tax incentives or other sources of support funding could raise the level of awareness and affordability of this option for many people. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Zero-waste CookingHow are environmental issues like black carbon and other emissions from cooking fires or rudimentary cookstoves also human health and social justice issues? Why do these issues matter to you?
Thomas Fletcher 4/09/2019 6:52 PMMany people around the world cook indoors over open wood-fueled fires which has tremendous health risks (e.g., diseases and cancers over the long-term from breathing in black carbon and other pollutants, the risk of fires themselves in the short-term). Communities lose the benefits of forested lands as a result of tree loss for fire wood. The denuded land is more prone to landslides and floods. These are issues to hit poor people much more often than average, making this a justice issue. Love the clean cook stoves solution and love even more the work on small-scale biodigesters coupled with clean cook stoves as solutions with multiple benefits. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUEEnzY9bI
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Support Local Food SystemsDependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?
Thomas Fletcher 4/09/2019 6:42 PMFresh, healthy, locally grown foods. Supporting local farmers. The benefits to one's own health, the health of the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I'm a big fan of solutions with multiple benefits. -
Thomas Fletcher 4/09/2019 6:38 PMOut for my daily short walk. This could become a habit. It's an easy stroll to nearby stores, with a couple of street crossings where care needs to be taken -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings and Cities Go for a Daily WalkWhat have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Thomas Fletcher 4/09/2019 6:35 PMNice to walk around my neighborhood, pollen and all. I made a loop through my subdivision and then down the main road to a small shopping center. The walkways and paths are not complete. Crossing the main road was a bit of a challenge. Those are places I'd work on to make this a more walk friendly neighborhood. -
Thomas Fletcher 4/08/2019 1:12 PMI'm finding that I'm learning much about solutions to climate change in a range of areas and how I might take action beyond what I'm already doing. Many of the challenge actions that go directly to reducing my own carbon footprint, I'm already doing. But I'm learning more ways I can make a difference -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Social Justice Learn about Local Indigenous PracticesWhat did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?
Thomas Fletcher 4/08/2019 12:49 PMIndigenous peoples are in the best position to "manage" the lands in which they live. They know the land the best. They understand the complex interactions of life in the ecosystems in which they live. Through time they have developed sustainable means of living in and being a part of these ecosystems. This is a good lesson for all of us. People should have an indispensable say in how their communities live within the means of their local lands. Everyone should have an opportunity to develop this expertise.