April 3 - April 24, 2019

K Landon

"Change starts with one person taking action to reduce carbon emissions every day. Now multiply all the actions of one person by 7.69 billion."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,542 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

40

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

63

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

110

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

209

pounds of CO2

have been saved

K's actions

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

#8 Solar Farms

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.

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

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

Food

Support Nutrient Management

#65 Nutrient Management

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 30 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

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

Electricity Generation

Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Generation Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 30 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 21
DAILY 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

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

Materials

Choose Recycled Paper

#70 Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

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?

K Landon 4/24/2019 3:47 PM

This challenge has been a very educational and motivating experience! I plan to keep it going and a conscious part of my daily life and habits.

Read More
K Landon 4/23/2019 2:56 PM

I’m addition to everything I’ve learned, I think what I’ve enjoyed the most about this challenge is watching the collective impact of our team’s efforts and other teams across the world. I really hope we all keep it going even after the challenge ends tomorrow.

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?

K Landon 4/22/2019 5:40 PM

Animal agricultural is the 3rd largest contributor to climate change. Animal agricultural uses up a huge amount of water and emits an enormous amount of methane gas into the environment. Another everyday material that has a large carbon footprint is gasoline, releasing 19.6 pounds of CO2 per gallon burned. Refrigerators also use a significant amount of household energy, averaging over 700 pounds of CO2 per household per year. The best way to find out more about everyday materials is to use calculators available on sites like Global Footprint Network or The Nature Conservancy.

Read More
K Landon 4/21/2019 6:31 PM

I feel like I’ve learned so much during this challenge. I’m noticing how much I think about my actions each day. It’s a little frustrating to see the lack of recycling and compost receptacles in our state compared to West Coast cities and states and even Canada.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?

K Landon 4/20/2019 4:53 PM

Companies that invest in green energy include Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Bank of America, Starbucks, T-Mobile, HP, H&M, Salesforce, and REI. All of these are companies that I believe in and can support, as a customer or an investor. I can invest in these companies with a Roth IRA account or making small purchases using a personal brokerage. It seems most of us already own either an Apple or PC (Intel or Microsoft) already. If weMre not already, we can shift our spending to buy products at Starbucks, H&M, or Bamk of America. I would much rather support companies that are green companies. Where we spend our money is another way we vote for issues we support.

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?

K Landon 4/19/2019 8:45 PM

After researching the difference between sell by, use by and best by dates, I now understand the differences and can prioritize my shopping choices and also when to use them by at home. With this new information, I can reduce our food waste at home and can also save our family money by buying food that is nearing its sell by date. I’m so glad I chose this action!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Online Energy Audit

What are your next steps for saving energy?

K Landon 4/17/2019 6:47 PM

I have identified several things we can do to make our home more energy efficient. I need to replace remaimimg lightbulbs with LED and install a smart thermostat. We also need to replace old appliances with more energy efficient ones and replace shower heads with low flow shower heads to conserve more water.

Read More
K Landon 4/15/2019 1:45 PM

If I ever buy produce at Whole Foods, I don’t use their plastic produce bags because they’re not compostable. Instead, I either bring my own reusable bags or don’t use a bag at all.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

How do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?

K Landon 4/14/2019 1:38 PM

I address my concerns about climate change by identifying the actions I can take to make a difference. I also do research into candidates running for office and will only support and vote for people who will support new policies that will reduce carbon emissions.

Read More
K Landon 4/13/2019 7:52 AM

Four of us will be visiting a Vespa dealer to test drive one and find out more information.

Read More