EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Susan Apodaca

Technology Services

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
943 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

6.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

22

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

20

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

305

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

203

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted

Susan's actions

Buildings and Cities

Plan to Insulate

#31 Insulation

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will spend 20 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 6 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Upgrade My Windows

#31 Insulation

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 20 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 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Solar Water Consultation

#41 Solar Water

I will contact a local installer/distributor to see if a solar water heater makes sense for my house.

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 60 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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
Women and Girls Support Women-Owned Businesses

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women? Can you share any past experiences that may help others take action?

Susan Apodaca 4/23/2019 2:16 PM

the women owned business i support on a monthly basis are the hair dresser, pedicure and my husband's barber. We also make a point to eat a very tiny dinner in WheatRidge/Arvada who also supports the teenagers in the neighborhood with a weekly get together, thus giving them someplace to go that is safe, doesn't cost a thing. It is a drive for us to get up there, but we feel it is worth it.

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?

Susan Apodaca 4/23/2019 2:14 PM

not only to save money to my bank account, I would consider switching to a fuel-efficient vehicle when there are more places for charging, and more states on board. in the mean time i plan to keep my car for many many many years, thus it will not be goig to a land fill anytime soon.

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?

Susan Apodaca 4/23/2019 2:12 PM

I gave up coffee a few years ago, thank goodness since it take 18 trees for 3 cups of coffee

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?

Susan Apodaca 4/23/2019 2:09 PM

a community where everyone has equal transportation. a community where everyone can easily access necessary normal activities, such as grocery shopping, a community where one doesn't have to drive 5 miles just for basic supplies

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Plant Trees

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

Susan Apodaca 4/22/2019 7:19 AM

The tree I planted is view-able from my living room window. I can watch it grow, change colors and provide a home for the blue jays. Which is very relaxing.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Upgrade My Windows

How does improving your home's energy efficiency help you better live out your values?

Susan Apodaca 4/22/2019 7:17 AM

I have also believed we are actions speak louder than words. and by continually working to bring our home up to better efficiency standards, I am living the live I wish to live

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Choose LED Bulbs

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?

Susan Apodaca 4/22/2019 7:14 AM

taking advantage of Excel Energy's offer to do a home energy audit.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Plan to Insulate

What are some of the benefits of making your home more energy efficient?

Susan Apodaca 4/22/2019 7:12 AM

besides, lower monthly/yearly bills, besides low humidity, besides increased air quality, besides lower carbon-dioxide emissions --- not much more I could add...it's just a just do it.

Read More
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?

Susan Apodaca 4/10/2019 4:31 PM

I would rather use my money to install more efficient ways to heat my house, such as solar panels.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Solar Water Consultation

Diversifying our energy supply and improving public health are just two benefits of renewable energy. What other motivators inspire you to consider installing a solar water heater in your home?

Susan Apodaca 4/10/2019 4:30 PM

As the article says, it costs a pretty penny to install solar systems in a house; while a big motivator is to save money, it also is to take advantage of what is around me. When you look at nature, and what bugs/animals due to adapt, humans could learn a lot.

Read More