EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Meghan Hoffmann

Design Collective EcoChallengers

"Learning more about who I can contribute to the Drawdown of global warming!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,109 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

conversations

with people
UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

12

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

18

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

person

helped
UP TO

16

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

8.1

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Meghan's actions

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

UNCOMPLETED
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 10 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 1 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Action Track: Social Justice

Fund Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Stay on the Ground

#43 Airplanes, #63 Telepresence

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

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

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 25 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 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Host a Film Screening

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

I will host a film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.

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
Materials Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

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

Meghan Hoffmann 4/23/2019 9:21 AM

The amount of plastic in our oceans, that endanger wildlife concerns me most.

Read More
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?

Meghan Hoffmann 4/23/2019 9:17 AM

Due to gender inequality women are left in communities to care for family, raise children, and earn a living; while male counterparts travel to find work or food.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Fund Family Planning

When family planning focuses on healthcare provision and meeting the expressed needs of women, it results in empowerment, equality, and well-being, and the benefits to the planet are side effects. Why is family planning an important civil rights consideration?

Meghan Hoffmann 4/14/2019 6:12 AM

Women should not have opportunity trampled due to a lack of access to family planning. That is not what I call civil rights.

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?

Meghan Hoffmann 4/14/2019 5:57 AM

1. Only buying coffee and coca products from brands bearing the amazon friendly frog symbol.
2. Avoiding processed foods with palm oil.
3. Increasing my plant rich diet and sourcing meat, dairy, and eggs from sustainable producers.

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?

Meghan Hoffmann 4/14/2019 5:28 AM

Avoiding premature food disposal. I definitely keep food longer than the chart in the link states to, without any food poisoning scares. http://www.mamas-spot.com/post/2013/07/11/Throwback-Thursday-What-Do-Food-Expiration-Dates-Mean.aspx

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Stay on the Ground

What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

Meghan Hoffmann 4/13/2019 7:20 AM

Instead of taking a plane, I'm planning on driving and taking a train through the Tuscan countryside to get to Florence.

Read More
- Meredith Sullivan 4/18/2019 5:13 AM
  
  And only drinking sustainably farmed wines :)
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Eliminate Toxic Plastics

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Meghan Hoffmann 4/07/2019 4:46 AM

I bought plastic wrap for the last time 6 months ago. Thinking about how much I'd used it for a single use, while it remains in a landfill or our waterways for 100+ years was a sad reality for our planet, eco systems, animals, and our children. What's going to be left as a result of our actions

? How can we improve?

I'm trying with Etee sustainable food wraps. These can be used for 80+ uses, are made from organic cotton covered with bees wax, and will biodegrade when I'm done using them.

Second product I'm using is the adorable silicone lilypad lid by Charles Viancin. This is dishwasher safe, microwave safe up to 420 degrees. The seal is much stronger seal then with plastic wrap!

Read More
- Meredith Sullivan 4/07/2019 5:33 AM
  
  It’s called Bee’s Wrap made from cloth and beeswax. I believe amazon sells them!
  
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- Meghan Hoffmann 4/07/2019 5:17 AM
  
  I'll look these up! Trying to avoid melting the bee's wax hard enough...lol
  
  Read More
- Meredith Sullivan 4/07/2019 5:07 AM
  
  Have you tried the reusable plastic wrap? It’s a bit of a pain but still a better option!
  
  Read More
Meghan Hoffmann 4/05/2019 5:56 AM

Vegetarian meal #1 of the day = goal met. Vegetarian meal #2 of the day = only if Ron Swanson's definition of fish as a vegetable counts :(

Read More
- Meredith Sullivan 4/05/2019 10:07 AM
  
  I had BBQ at my jobsite so I don't think that counts as my vegan meal...
  
  Read More
Meghan Hoffmann 4/04/2019 10:00 AM

Read More
Meghan Hoffmann 4/04/2019 10:00 AM

Is anyone going for #2 under land use: removing palm oil, coffee and cocoa products from your diet? I don't think i could do it!

Read More
- Meredith Sullivan 4/05/2019 5:50 AM
  
  remove coffee? hard pass!!
  
  Read More