EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Layla EL-Rifai

SUNY New Paltz Hawks

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
338 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

3.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

90

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

5.0

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

6.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Layla's 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

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Social Justice

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.

UNCOMPLETED
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

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 3
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 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Host a Film Screening

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

I will host a film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

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
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?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:57 PM

My vision of a sustainable community is a community that includes all the necessities in a renewable and environmentally aware way. In order to make this vision a reality people's mindsets would have to change. We would have to start looking at all of the costs of our decisions rather than just the immediate monetary cost.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

In your opinion, what contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other countries? What does this say about North American values and ways of living?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:53 PM

I think it is more easily accessible and socially acceptable to eat meat for all meals. It is more difficult to find vegetarian and vegan options in many locations. North American values and ways of living are more focused on the easier option, which in most cases involves meat.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Buy Bamboo

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:49 PM

I have not seen any bamboo products in this area, but I also haven't looked for them. I was able to order some online very easily though.

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?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:48 PM

This money could be better spent on making energy efficient improvements or planning a fun activity. It could also be donated to those who cannot easily afford food.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:44 PM

I enjoy the places where there aren't too many man made structures or the nature is still very visible. Some infrastructure changes that could make my daily walks more enjoyable would be more stop signs and traffic lights so it will be easier to cross the roads when necessary.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Online Energy Audit

What are your next steps for saving energy?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:36 PM

My next steps for saving energy are to unplug my electronics when I am not in the room and to turn off unnecessary lights when I am.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Smaller Portions

Fun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of eating smaller portions?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:13 PM

Eating smaller portions will help consumers save money as well as live a healthier lifestyle. There will also be more food to share with others or eat another day.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Eliminate Toxic Plastics

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Layla EL-Rifai 4/04/2019 7:09 PM

today i used a plastic bottle and a sushi container. I could have used a reusable bottle or a reusable container!

Read More
- Kaitlyn Gonzalez 4/04/2019 7:58 PM
  
  Some places will let put your food in your reusable container if you ask them to. It depends on the place, some won't because of health and liability concerns.
  
  Read More