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Welcome to Drawdown EcoChallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Drawdown EcoChallenge expert in no time!

EcoChallenge.org
Drawdown EcoChallenge
April 3 - April 24, 2019
Matt Gray's avatar

Matt Gray

WSP USA

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 789 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    30
    miles
    traveled by bike
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    125
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    3.0
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    9.0
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    394
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Matt's actions

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

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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

Electricity Generation

Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Generation Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Restore Wetlands

#52 Coastal Wetlands

I will volunteer 3 hours with a wetland restoration project in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go by Bike

#59 Bike Infrastructure

I will commute by bike 6 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 4.4 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Purchase a Carbon Offset

#43 Airplanes

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore), #8 Solar Farms

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

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 25 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

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
    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?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 3:29 PM
    There are many advantages, but most prominent to me is efficiency. It reduces land usage by combining pasture with another use, and reduces wasted produce as it becomes feed. It diversifies income for farmers, and is particularly helpful when harvest seasons differ or when new trees take years to grow before producing crops.
    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?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 1:11 PM
    Less transport of soils, healthier ecosystems, less erosion, longevity of arable land.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    How do wetlands differ from other ecosystems -- both in the services they offer and in your personal experience of them?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 9:31 AM
    They are in-between other ecosystems, both land and water. They filter water and are home to species that don't often live elsewhere. They are not high in human foot traffic, nor should they, and offer a quiet place to reflect and observe a natural setting.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation
    What is the most exciting solution you explored? Why is it exciting to you?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 9:26 AM
    Geothermal power, because it harnesses a natural energy source that is particularly abundant in the western United States, and it's not an energy source that's talked about much.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation
    What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 9:24 AM
    For starters... Infill development, free public transit, intuitive recycling, organically sourced food options, sustainability education, natural and local vegetation, access to nature, diversity of land uses and housing types...
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation
    Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your zipcode, and in your state. What steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 9:19 AM
    Low-hanging fruit: keep lights off in empty rooms and unplug appliances.
    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?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 9:08 AM
    My home state, Utah, although good as far as overall wealth equality, is one of the worst states for women's wages and participation in the workforce. Gender roles within families and the dominant religion are ingrained in the culture but are actively being challenged as of late.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transport
    A round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2. What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/24/2019 9:01 AM
    Take fewer but longer trips, explore cleaner transportation options like high-speed rail, and choose to use transit and bike share rather than car rentals when visiting a place.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials
    What do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/23/2019 11:13 AM
    I want to prioritize connections to people and places, and memories of them, to material "stuff".
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings and Cities
    What did you learn on your green roof tour?
    Matt Gray's avatar
    Matt Gray 4/23/2019 11:11 AM
    The Central Library in Portland was the first library in Oregon to install an Eco-roof.

    Learn more:
    https://multcolib.org/library-location/central-library-eco-roof
    Read More