Caitlin Flanagan
4/24/2019 8:09 PM
I can use instagram, facebook, strike up conversations with peers, or talk about insulating/retrofitting/net zero buildings to spread the word!
Caitlin Flanagan
"I am so excited to help combat climate change with small but powerful changes and education about top climate change solutions!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,082 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO120minutesspent learning
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UP TO63meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
Caitlin'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.
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.
Materials
Properly Dispose of Refrigerants
#1 Refrigerant Management
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
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.
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.
Buildings and Cities
Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions
All Buildings and Cities Solutions
I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.
Food
Learn More about Silvopasture
#9 Silvopasture
I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.
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).
Materials
Research Cement Alternatives
#36 Alternative Cement
I will spend at least 15 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.
Women and Girls
Research Barriers to Participation and Representation
#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.
Buildings and Cities
Research Retrofitting Incentives
#80 Retrofitting
I will spend at least 15 minutes finding out if my city, region, or state offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.
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.
Materials
Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
#47 Bioplastic
I will spend at least 35 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 15 friends, family and/or colleagues.
Women and Girls
Learn about the Need for Family Planning
#7 Family Planning
I will spend at least 25 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings and CitiesHow can you share what you have learned in your research with others?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWomen and GirlsWhat are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?
Caitlin Flanagan 4/24/2019 7:56 PMThere are still teen/young pregnancies in my community, perhaps because of inadequate sex education or societal norms, that limit participation. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBuildings and CitiesWhat are some of the benefits of making your home more energy efficient?
Caitlin Flanagan 4/24/2019 7:25 PMA more energy efficient home will save energy costs and reduce global warming from need for petroleum. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWomen and GirlsWhat did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!
Caitlin Flanagan 4/14/2019 6:03 AMI had a fair amount of previous knowledge, and my research reminded me that family planning (including education) leads to more autonomy, later marriage, fewer children, higher spending power, and less death among mothers and their children. I learned that giving women access to family planning would reduce 120 billion tons of carbon by 2050, putting family planning/education on par with wind turbines, etc. -
Caitlin Flanagan 4/13/2019 2:31 PMJust wanted to let you all know that you can add the Ecosia browser extension to Google! Ecosia is a browser that uses ad revenue to plant trees in Africa (it takes about 45 searches to plant a tree). Google already advertises when you use it, so why not use the Ecosia browser or extension instead and put those ads to good use? -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsConcrete 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?
Caitlin Flanagan 4/13/2019 1:22 PMOther everyday building materials that have a large carbon footprint (according to ECO2 pdf on building materials's carbon footprint) are aluminum and insulation materials. There are many other materials with a large carbon footprint, and a simple google search or look at the drawdown website could probably indicate which materials are the worst. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity GenerationWhat does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?
Caitlin Flanagan 4/13/2019 1:02 PMMy basic vision of a sustainable community has efficient and widespread public transportation, required compost/recycling, an implemented refrigerant management plan, carbon dividends, and energy supplied from renewable/alternative energy. For this to become a reality, funding would have to be put into wider public transport, a compost service much like the trash/recycling ones that already exist, a refrigerant management plan would need to be drafted, published, and implemented, carbon dividends would need to be passed, and alternative energy would need to be funded and more widely spread. -
Caitlin Flanagan 4/07/2019 9:58 AMIf anyone is looking for vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurants during the challenge, Blue Dogwood market has some great options! Soul Cocina, Vegan Flava Cafe, and Rumi Persian cafe are all located inside and have incredible food! Vimala's Curryblossom cafe is also a great option.-
Sarah Duffer 4/11/2019 12:20 PMCaitlin, You're presently the 5th ranked student in the EcoChallenge competition! Get it girl! ~Duff
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHad you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
Caitlin Flanagan 4/07/2019 9:54 AMI had never heard of the term silvopasture before the project drawdown summit I attended. After learning more, I think that the biggest advantage is sequestering of carbon by trees to help offset livestock emissions. The polyculture system instead of monoculture is also beneficial, as it replenishes soil, provides food/shade for livestock, etc. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsHow do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?
Caitlin Flanagan 4/07/2019 7:09 AMWhen I feel despair about climate change, I try to start conversations about solutions and involvement with other people. If I can name a way that myself and my peers are taking action, it gives me some hope. It's okay to be concerned about our future because of climate change, but it's not okay to become part of the problem by not being a part of the solution.