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April 3 - April 24, 2019
Cecily Bedwell's avatar

Cecily Bedwell

Design Collective EcoChallengers

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 743 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    donation
    made
  • UP TO
    2.1
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    4.0
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    100
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    3.0
    people
    helped
  • UP TO
    2.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted

Cecily's actions

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

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Help Girls Overcome Health Barriers

#6 Educating Girls

I will donate 1 Femme Kit(s) to help girls overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 2 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.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

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

Transport

Conduct Virtual Meetings

#63 Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

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

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

Action Track: Social Justice

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 2 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

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 2
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
    Electricity Generation Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy
    What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? Were you surprised by the information you found?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/24/2019 3:16 PM
    I learned that buoys are likely the most promising wave energy strategy, with the Australian buoys off-shore from a military base as a good example.  I though it clever that they are placed below the surface to avoid the brunt of the waves and storms.  These 3 experimental buoys are 35' in diameter; 65' wide buoys may be beta tested next. I also learned that the technology is in its infancy and will need government funding/backing to succeed (as was done for nuclear power plants and other technologies); currently, it seems that most funding is coming from private or institutional sources.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Smaller Portions
    Fun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of eating smaller portions?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/24/2019 10:05 AM
    Smaller plates make you think about your choices and help with weight control.  I also try (and have my kids try) to load up on veggies first and drink water before and during a meal to help fill up on lower/no calorie food and drink. We also take a pause before thinking about getting more and share a dessert if we are out at a restaurant and are having any.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Composting
    Producing food that goes uneaten squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these kinds of waste most motivates you to change your behavior regarding food waste? Why?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/24/2019 10:00 AM
    I was raised by two parents that grew up in the Great Depression; food waste in particular was frowned upon and avoided.  We cleaned our plates, ate leftovers, and composted.  I've brought these actions forward in raising my own kids, and, we try to make it fun by being inventive in the kitchen. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Research Cement Alternatives
    Concrete is a good example of a material that most of us encounter every day, but may its carbon footprint is not obvious. What other everyday materials might have a large carbon footprint? How can you find out more?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/24/2019 9:51 AM
    I am thinking bricks and ceramics would have a large carbon footprint, due to the high heat (kiln) manufacturing process and transportation, but perhaps a lifespan analysis would show that this balances out as these materials can last for hundreds or even thousands of years.  A material lifespan carbon footprint search would likely yield more info.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Recycle Everything I Can
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/23/2019 8:14 PM
    Recycling of electronics seems to be the most difficult.  i think we could all hold on to our mobile phones and other gadgets longer and not feel compelled to run out and get upgraded gear.  I've also recently advocated for Repair legislation, to make it easier to have electronics able to be repaired rather than just replaced.  I think/hope we will see a shift in electronics culture like we have with clothing - vintage is cool - when owning something a long time will have more status than having the latest gizmo.

    • Meredith Sullivan's avatar
      Meredith Sullivan 4/24/2019 7:19 AM
      Apple needs to stop making the battery slow down 18 months after you buy a phone forcing you to get a new one! 😀
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
    How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/23/2019 8:10 PM
    I think we are fairly well-equipped with our senses of smell, taste, and sight to determine whether food is safe to eat. We have evolved over many generations developing these senses and only recently have depended more on labeling.  I think labeling plays a part in a healthy food system, but should be balanced with our own senses, including common sense.

    • Meredith Sullivan's avatar
      Meredith Sullivan 4/24/2019 7:19 AM
      I think it’s partially a scam to sell more and in turn we waste more  because we are disposing of perfectly good food. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    In your opinion, what contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other countries? What does this say about North American values and ways of living?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/23/2019 8:06 PM
    I think the idea of a "meat and potatoes" meal was promoted as a symbol of prosperity and also politicized as "All American." Also, many of our high-end restaurants are based on steak houses (e.g., Ruth's Chris), but this trend seems to be shifting. Our government has often promoted diets that are not as healthy as they could be. I believe there was an Ad campaign funded by the government to promote the eating of cheese; when many Americans were starting to drink low-fat milk, there was an abundance of milk fats to find a use for - the solution was to sprinkle cheese on all sorts of food.  There was also an Ad campaign for Beef, then Pork ("the other white meat"), then a promotion of protein in general, as if protein is the most important food component. We do not need to eat  that much protein - about 10% of our daily intake is enough and can be found in non-meat foods easily. 

    • Meredith Sullivan's avatar
      Meredith Sullivan 4/24/2019 7:21 AM
      There is a great documentary about this called Forks Over Knives! One of the things I found more interesting is how we have forced our western ideals on eastern cultures and now cultures who never ate a lot of meat now believe you need meat as your main source of protein. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Learn More about Micro Wind
    Micro turbines can be placed on large structures to take advantage of stronger, steadier breezes. The Eiffel Tower now sports vertical axis turbines that produce electricity for use on site. Where could micro turbines potentially be installed in your city?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/23/2019 7:52 PM
    Micro turbines could potentially be installed around portions of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, if there is enough distance from structures.  It would be interesting to see them be multipurpose - including lights or wayfinding signage - and perhaps be more artistic, expressing the character of Baltimore (e.g., mirrored like the side of the Visionary Arts Museum).
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings and Cities Express My Support
    How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/23/2019 7:48 PM
    Better walking and biking infrastructure would make Baltimore more enjoyable and more equitable by promoting more multi-modal choice and elevating walking and biking to the same status as driving, while being free or much less expensive mode options. Facilities need to be safe for all users, including women and children, day and night, to be truly equitable (walking is not really an equitable option if it is not safe for kids walking home from evening school activities or for women walking home from work in the evening).
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Social Justice Give a Microloan
    Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. Why do you think that is?

    Cecily Bedwell's avatar
    Cecily Bedwell 4/23/2019 7:42 PM
    I think, globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men because women are still seen as the primary caregivers of children; I would guess that women/mothers pay more child care, medical, and food expenses than men/fathers.