EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Meghan Wirtner

Hennebery Eddy Architects

"Reduce, Reduce, Reduce! Then reuse and recycle."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
686 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

30

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

125

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Meghan's actions

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Retrofitting Incentives

#80 Retrofitting

I will spend at least 5 minutes finding out if my city, region, or state offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support

#59 Bike Infrastructure

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

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

Buildings and Cities

Tour a Green Roof

#73 Green Roofs

I will set up a visit to tour a green roof in my city, and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 20 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

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
Transport Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?

Meghan Wirtner 4/24/2019 3:57 PM

Time and convenience are major factors in choosing my transportation choices. Dedicated travel lanes for transit and a more comprehensive overall network would help to increase reliability, access and shorten rider times.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

What do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?

Meghan Wirtner 4/24/2019 3:42 PM

I love that Portland has such a great bike culture and following. In the summer, bike days and group rides increase ridership and make biking a social event. I would like to see more protected lanes and better connections between disjointed paths throughout our city.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Research Retrofitting Incentives

How can you share what you have learned in your research with others?

Meghan Wirtner 4/24/2019 3:40 PM

There are a lot of local incentives in Portland through the ETO to help homeowners in less efficient or older homes upgrade elements such as windows, insulation, weatherstripping, and HVAC systems.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Explore Other Transport Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Meghan Wirtner 4/24/2019 3:39 PM

High speed rail is an extremely efficient means of travel, but unfortunately the US is trying to defund mass transport opportunities. Advocacy is really key. Also, I hadn't realized the challenges of property ownership and costs as being a major constraint to the implementation of high speed rail systems in the US.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

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

Meghan Wirtner 4/22/2019 8:12 AM

Designing the cityscape with pedestrians in mind makes the city overall more equitable and a safer, more enjoyable environment to travel within.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Meghan Wirtner 4/15/2019 10:11 AM

I had not heard of the term silvopasture beforehand. The layered biodiversity of integrating these different systems mimics more natural ecological cycles. It can be both beneficial for high yields and economically as well as ecologically.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Tour a Green Roof

What did you learn on your green roof tour?

Meghan Wirtner 4/15/2019 8:23 AM

Portland's new green roof initiative is one of the strictest in the countries when it comes to size requirements and percentage of coverage. This is will continue to push the reduction of stormwater runoff into our central city combined water/sewer lines and prevent sewage overflow into the Willamette.

Read More
Meghan Wirtner 4/10/2019 1:58 PM

Hope everyone is working away on their challenges and learning about a lot of great topics!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

Meghan Wirtner 4/09/2019 2:04 PM

A large driver is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and and in situations when we can't use public transit or human power still know that you're being environmentally conscious and attempting to reduce your carbon footprint.

Read More