EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Louis Bianco

NYPA

"to make the world better but I'm not doing Meatless Mondays! "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,079 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

88

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

10

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

50

minutes

spent learning

Louis 's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 10 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Electricity Generation

Rooftop Solar Consultation

#10 Rooftop Solar

After researching the incentives at the federal, state, utility, and local levels, I will contact a local installer/distributor for a solar panel installation consultation on my house.

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

Transport

Test Drive an Electric Bike

#69 Electric Bikes

I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Choose Better Wood Products

#38 Forest Protection

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

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

Materials

Go Paperless

#70 Recycled Paper

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will spend 5 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

#5 Tropical Forests

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Install a Toilet Bank

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water per day by installing a toilet tank bank.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Food 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?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 9:55 AM

I think the challenge points are not correct! I don't believe I got any points for something I already do such as zero waste cooking. can someone please review my account.

Read More
- Lielle Berman 4/24/2019 2:41 PM
  
  EcoChallenge does an audit when it's all over
  
  Read More
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?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 9:52 AM

to the educated person it helps with waste, but overall I think it is hurting America! people see best by dates and throw the item out. when a best buy date is not an expiration date! heres a good article.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/foods-that-never-expire_n_57b5f010e4b03d513686cbcb

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Rooftop Solar Consultation

Identify some ways in which modern human societies have become unsustainable. What kind of roles do individuals have in creating and changing practices in society?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 8:42 AM

1st off I already tried to do solar, however, the front of my house doesn't have enough sunlight. the rest of my house is covered by trees. so I would have to cut down the trees. 1 ruining nature, 2. losing the shade from the trees would increasing the heat in my house and drive up energy usage. so solar is out. wind is also out as the windline is above the trees. geothermal would be great if it was affordable.

as for the question: society is selfish and object oriented. the big house, the big suv most moms have giant suv's, which guzzle gas. people waste electricity and everything is not an iot (internet of things) device. things you would never guess! a toilet, a refrigerator, a coffee pot, door locks, cameras etc the power drain is becoming bigger and bigger! almost every outlet has a power strip and most are full! my bed and my air purifier both have Bluetooth connectivity! family sizes are also on the rise which means more overpopulation, people are also living longer more and more over population.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 8:03 AM

always more sidewalks, or a designated shoulder to walk in and lights. Below is a perfect example of conservation, making something previously unenjoyable, while preserving the habit for nature.

There is a hike I love to do in Vernon, NJ. it is actually part of the Appalachian Trail. its called the Vernon boardwalk. it winds through the swamp, allowing for a great family hike! I like to do it weekly in the spring, fall and summer and take the dogs. local residents use it daily.

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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?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 5:44 AM

roads! I loved the video on making roads out of recycled bottles and plastic waste! they look amazing! I think we should incorporate more of this technology in America!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Choose Better Wood Products

Beyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 5:36 AM

I am actually trying to cut down the use of paper products. I just purchased two bidets for my bathroom to cut down on wasting toilet paper.

to answer the question: I absolutely love to go hiking and forests offer me the escape from the busy city life! trust me if I could be grizzly adams and live in the woods and have a pet bear, I probably would! but then I would need trees for my log cabin!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Test Drive an Electric Bike

Half of all trips made in the US are three miles or less; 72% of them are driven. Private vehicles account for 60% of trips of a mile or less. Do you often drive short distances instead of biking or walking? If so, how might incorporating an electric bike into your lifestyle help you make more climate-friendly choices?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 5:29 AM

my former supervisor (he just retired) told me of his electric bike and he told me that he loves it because he, like me lives in a hilly neighborhood and the electric bike extends his rides because he would have to get off and push the bike up the hills, so he gets a better workout and he added saddle bags so he can do quick errands along the way back.

lets say you bike 6 miles a day. you know that you can only go 3 miles then you have to save energy for the ride back. with the electric bike you can bike 6 miles and use the electric bike on the way back to give you a rest! you may end up biking for 7-8 miles after you catch your breath on the way back! and you can see more of the world on your ride!

furthermore, an electric bike may help you exercise and spend more time with a family member. my ex was an avid bike rider and I have a knee injury from the military and can only go so long. if I had an electric bike I could have kept up with her and extended our family time!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Go Paperless

What do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 5:20 AM

I am actually trying to get autopay on all my accounts that I can so I can also cut down on power consumption, ill just have to check my statements once to make sure all is ok and that's it its all paid already.

now to the question: that's easy family and life experiences together! pets also bring joy! if I had to choose: I would rather have a dog than a tv!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 5:14 AM

1. people need to care and stop being spoiled by what they assume to be endless energy.
2. people need to stop frivolous energy usage. leaving things plugged in and not turning off lights and not using LED technology. on the flip side we need to drop the cost of clean energy. LED's are expensive, not because they are expensive to make, but the companies are driving higher prices because the bulbs will last 10 years instead of 1-2.
3. we need to make alternatives readily available and show the masses how this is better in the long run. that is going to be hard to do! it has to be a top down approach where the government mandates it for it to be universally excepted. if not you will only get the small percentage of people that care. its risk vs reward and convenience vs reward

Read More
- Lielle Berman 4/24/2019 8:16 AM
  
  Totally agree with everything you said! Our modern society doesn't seem to grasp the incredible luxury of instant and abundant electricity + transportation options that we take for granted and have come to depend on. My hope is that we will be able to become collectively more self-aware about our resource consumption, and discover the joys and benefits of truly appreciating all the incredible comforts and conveniences that we are sabotaging by taking them for granted. Thanks for all your contributions, Lou!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Support Women-Owned Businesses

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women? Can you share any past experiences that may help others take action?

Louis Bianco 4/24/2019 4:55 AM

I run cyber security awareness events at work and we support and use women owned businesses to purchase our awareness items for the event. I also look for service disabled veteran owned businesses

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