EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Margo Kimble

Transportation

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
832 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

8.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

200

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

55

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

2.0

trees

planted

Margo'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.

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

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

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Use Muscle Power

#49 Cars

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Action Track: Social Justice

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

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 9
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

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
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?

Margo Kimble 4/24/2019 11:57 AM

Coffee and cocoa are major contributors to deforestation, and my diet is full of both. Going forward, I can only purchase ethically sourced/produced coffee and chocolate.

Read More
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?

Margo Kimble 4/24/2019 6:54 AM

Fossil fuels have an ENORMOUS carbon footprint. A simple Google search can tell one more about the short and long-term effects of these as well as other materials that have a large carbon footprint.

Read More
Margo Kimble 4/24/2019 6:53 AM

It's the last day of the challenge, but I will continue to implement these changes into my everyday life!

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?

Margo Kimble 4/24/2019 6:52 AM

A sustainable community, in my mind, is one where people consciously make choices that are better for the environment. In order to achieve this, more people would need to acknowledge and accept that climate change is real and put in an effort to make more eco-friendly choices.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

Your 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?

Margo Kimble 4/23/2019 2:17 PM

Doing the smallest things like turning lights off when you leave a room and unplugging electronics that are not being used can make a substantial impact over time.

Read More
Margo Kimble 4/23/2019 2:16 PM

Making a genuine effort to eat less meat has been tricky at times, but I know it is for a greater, better cause so I am happy to do it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Express My Support

How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?

Margo Kimble 4/22/2019 6:41 AM

Better walking infrastructure would make Pittsburgh more attractive to people who already live here and people looking to move here. It would also make people more likely to walk to their destinations rather than drive.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Plant Trees

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

Margo Kimble 4/22/2019 6:36 AM

There are quite literally zero downsides to planting trees; it's a good workout, it's good for the environment, and it makes you feel like you're making a difference in the fight against climate change, even if it's just a small one.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Use Muscle Power

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

Margo Kimble 4/16/2019 9:58 AM

If I can use public transit to get to a community event and beat traffic (and not have to pay for parking), I am much more likely to attend. For sporting events in particular, I enjoy public transit a lot more than driving because there are other fans around and it's a very positive and energetic environment (unless the team loses, that is).

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?

Margo Kimble 4/15/2019 8:58 AM

It's hard to answer this without getting too political, but generally speaking, if women have easier (see also: more affordable) access to healthcare and family planning materials, it results in healthier women making healthier choices. This benefits society and the economy as a whole.

Read More