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April 3 - April 24, 2019
Tom Richard's avatar

Tom Richard

Penn State Drawdown

"Building a sustainable bioeconomy powered by photosynthesis, the three billion year old biotechnology that runs on 100% renewable energy, consumes CO2 and water, and makes oxygen and the chemicals of life. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,544 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    55
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    donation
    made
  • UP TO
    36
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    307
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    1.0
    person
    helped
  • UP TO
    1,308
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    5.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    2.0
    trees
    planted
  • UP TO
    30
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Tom's actions

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

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 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Social Justice

Donate

#21 Clean Cookstoves

I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will research and tell 5 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Social Justice

Contact your Elected Officials

#23 Farmland Restoration

I will contact 3 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Local Perennial Biomass

#51 Perennial Biomass

I will spend at least 60 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

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

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 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Advocate For Greener Vehicles

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on electric and fuel-efficient vehicles

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Purchase a Carbon Offset

#43 Airplanes

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Advocate for Forest Protection

#38 Forest Protection

I will contact 2 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Improve a Bus Stop

#37 Mass Transit

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 62 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

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

Women and Girls

Fund Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

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

UNCOMPLETED
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

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 120 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Zero-waste Cooking

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 18
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
    Food Keep Track of Wasted Food
    An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?

    Tom Richard's avatar
    Tom Richard 4/17/2019 4:54 PM
    The food system in the US is robust and abundant for many, but abundance masks waste. In the developing world food losses are commonly the result of agricultural pests, crop damage, and losses due to lack of refrigeration, damage during storage, and other supply chain constraints. Here in the US more of those losses are close to home, at retail or in the home. With the food system responsible for 30% or more of our GHG footprint, reducing food waste can help conserve land, water and energy.
  • 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?

    Tom Richard's avatar
    Tom Richard 4/10/2019 8:01 PM
    I spent the day in Washington DC.  One Metro ride and four long walks in the fresh spring air.  Lots of people walking, biking, and e-scootering about. Cherry blossoms are past their peak here, but many other flowers blooming.  People outside are blooming as well - joy on their faces, and Spring in their steps!

  • Tom Richard's avatar
    Tom Richard 4/05/2019 8:00 PM
    I'm not sure if the rest of the team gets notifications about the challenges, but two other organizations have challenged us.  The University of Cambridge is one of our challengers - can we show them we're serious about Drawdown on this side of the Atlantic?  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Choose Better Wood Products
    Beyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?

    Tom Richard's avatar
    Tom Richard 3/29/2019 6:01 PM
    Forests are more than carbon: shelter and nourishment for creatures large and small, their spires cathedrals for the spirit, their roots anchors for the soul.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Zero-waste Cooking
    How are environmental issues like black carbon and other emissions from cooking fires or rudimentary cookstoves also human health and social justice issues? Why do these issues matter to you?

    Tom Richard's avatar
    Tom Richard 3/28/2019 3:17 PM
    Soot and smoke from conventional wood and charcoal cookstoves are the primary cause of respiratory disease in the developing world. Solving this challenge is not just a technology problem, as food and its preparation is a cultural act.  Modern biomass stoves using efficient solid fuel combustion systems and/or renewable natural gas (biogas from methane digesters) can help clean up indoor air, and will be more welcome if also compatible with local culinary traditions.

    • Tom Richard's avatar
      Tom Richard 3/28/2019 7:52 PM
      Modern biomass stoves using efficient solid fuel combustion systems and/or renewable natural gas (biogas from methane digesters) can help clean up indoor air, and will be more welcome if also compatible with local culinary traditions.