EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Michael Barthelemy

ETHS Bagasses

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,211 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

153

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

20

miles

traveled by carpool
UP TO

9.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

70

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

16

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

20

miles

not traveled by car

Michael's actions

Land Use

Restore Wetlands

#52 Coastal Wetlands

I will volunteer 9 hours with a wetland restoration project in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

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 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Try Carpooling

#75 Ridesharing

I will commute by carpool 4 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 3.22 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 50 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Start a Social Media Campaign

#6 Educating Girls

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

COMPLETED 6
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

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 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 10 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 8 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Advocate for Forest Protection

#38 Forest Protection

I will contact 1 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Contact your Elected Officials

#23 Farmland Restoration

I will contact 1 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

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

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

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 8 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

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?

Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 7:31 PM
Overall I have really enjoyed the EcoChallenge experience, as it has really opened my eyes to the unsustainable lifestyle I have been living, and what I need to do to change that.

Read More
Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 7:30 PM
How we doing on the last day of ECOCHALLENGE!!! Woot woot!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?
Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 7:29 PM
There is a double standard in regards to gender that has existed all throughout time. Men are often times unrightfully given the benefit of the doubt when women are not. Women are typically seen as weaker than men within society, and while this is often not the case, still women are being excluded from activities because of the perceived notion that they are weak.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

How can you advocate for transportation systems which minimize environmental impact while also meeting human needs?
Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 7:27 PM
I can advocate for public transportation by presenting people with evidence as to why this is both cheaper but also better for the environment. My campaign can be focused on the fact that this method is a cheaper way to travel, satisfying human needs.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons?
Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 7:25 PM
The animals in regenerative agriculture are much healthier, as they are living more natural lifestyles. These species are given more room to roam, and more natural diets. The soil of the area will improve as well, as the plants used will be healthier and more natural to the area.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice

What did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?
Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 7:24 PM
The ways that indigenous people use the land is much more natural, which is something I can implement into my own life. Rather than focus on buying the prettiest plants to grow, I can buy the plants that are most natural to my area.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials

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?
Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 6:14 PM
Another everyday item that I would expect to have a large carbon footprint are dairy products. Obviously these come from cows, and these cows are large emitters of carbon gas. I can find out more by researching alternatives to other materials within my daily life.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

What did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!
Michael Barthelemy 4/24/2019 6:03 PM
I learned that family planning is much needed within developing countries because families do not understand the negatives to growing the population at such a fast rate. I also learned that many organizations are really helping these developing countries by providing them with contraceptives.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?
Michael Barthelemy 4/23/2019 7:10 PM
I could implement reduce into my life by downsizing my home. I live more simplistically, and buy less things. I can refuse by saying no to the use of straws and plastic bags, as well as not taking free giveaway items that I know I will not use. I can make sure to take care of my belongings more, going into repair. It makes me feel like a much better person to be implementing these Rs.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
Michael Barthelemy 4/23/2019 7:00 PM
I had never before heard of silvopasture, but I would say that their are many advantages. I would say the biggest advantages to silvopasture are that the animals raised have more space to roam, and are eating more naturally, which leads to better health for the animals.

Read More