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Claudia L
"It's time to put out the fire. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires...Climate change is real and we must take action now. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,491 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO209pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1documentarywatched
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UP TO3conversationswith people
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UP TO120minutesspent learning
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UP TO80meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO15plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
Claudia's actions
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.
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy
#29 Wave and Tidal
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.
Land Use
Forest-Friendly Foods 1
#5 Tropical Forests
I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Biomass
#34 Biomass
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.
Electricity Generation
Support Companies Leading in Green Energy
#8 Solar Farms
I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.
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.
Materials
Research Cement Alternatives
#36 Alternative Cement
I will spend at least 15 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.
Materials
Properly Dispose of Refrigerants
#1 Refrigerant Management
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.
Materials
Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
#47 Bioplastic
I will spend at least 20 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.
Transport
Test Drive an Electric Bike
#69 Electric Bikes
I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.
Food
Support Nutrient Management
#65 Nutrient Management
I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
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).
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).
Transport
Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
#26 Electric Vehicles
I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.
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.
Materials
Choose Recycled Paper
#70 Recycled Paper
I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.
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.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will enjoy 4 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Land Use
Forest-Friendly Foods 2
#5 Tropical Forests
I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.
Food
Composting
#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste
I will start a compost bin where I live.
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 QUESTIONMaterials Go PaperlessWhat do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?
Claudia L 4/24/2019 5:52 PMI want to prioritize keeping life simple and having the least amount of stress. I also want to have a lot of fun and new experiences. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterials Research Cement AlternativesConcrete 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?
Claudia L 4/24/2019 5:45 PMI think cars are one everyday material that has a large carbon footprint, especially the large SUVs. I also have read that clothes and running shoes have a large carbon footprint because of what it takes to make them. It uses up a lot of water to grow the cotton used to make clothes and other products made of cotton. I think the best way to find out more about which everyday materials have a large carbon footprint is to use online carbon footprint calculators and read more books and articles like DRAWDOWN. -
Claudia L 4/24/2019 4:27 PMI think this 21 day challenge was fun and I learned a lot! I hope more people will take an interest in doing something about carbon emissions and learning how their actions everyday affect climate change.
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Claudia L 4/23/2019 6:00 PMPalm Oil is a big contributor to deforestation and is in so many products that most people buy. If you want to prevent deforestation, start reading product ingredients on labels and DO NOT PURCHASE ones that list PALM OIL as an ingredient. Palm oil can be found in Skippy and Jif peanut butter, butter spreads, snacks (crackers), and cookies (like Oreos!). By not buying products with palm oil, you can stop deforestation. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Generation Learn More about Wave and Tidal EnergyWhat did you learn about wave and tidal energy? Were you surprised by the information you found?
Claudia L 4/23/2019 5:31 PMI learned that wave and tidal energy is the most expensive of all the renewable energy options. If underwater technologies can be developed to use wave and tidal energy, it was make a huge impact on the world's carbon footprint. I was very surprised to learn that wave and tidal energy could provide electricity for 25% of the United States. That's a huge amount. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
Claudia L 4/23/2019 2:48 PMMy diet is positively impacting the environment and doesn’t support deforestation because I took the challenge to avoid palm oil and cocoa. Also, I don’t drink coffee. Another huge way I have been making a huge impact is by going vegan and only eating organic foods. By going vegan and eating organic, I’m not supporting animal cruelty, deforestation, and monoculture crop farms that rely on pesticides and fertilizers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Generation Learn More about BiomassHad you ever heard of biomass techonology before you took this challenge? What did you learn that surprised you? Share this with your friends!
Claudia L 4/22/2019 1:12 PMI had never heard of biomass technology before doing this challenge. I was surprised to learn that garbage can be burned to produce biomass energy with a net zero carbon effect. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Generation Support Companies Leading in Green EnergyEvery dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?
Claudia L 4/21/2019 6:15 PMMicrosoft and Apple invest in green energy. Microsoft is the number one leading company and this makes me want to buy their products even more. I’m also happy to see Starbucks and H&M being in the top 100 investing in green energy. I think the biggest way to support them is to buy their products and stock. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransport Test Drive an Electric BikeHalf of all trips made in the US are three miles or less; 72% of them are driven. Private vehicles account for 60% of trips of a mile or less. Do you often drive short distances instead of biking or walking? If so, how might incorporating an electric bike into your lifestyle help you make more climate-friendly choices?
Claudia L 4/18/2019 10:30 AMI often use a car to go short distances. I think it would be a lot easier to use a scooter to get around town. I could use one to go to local stores and restaurants. They’re also a lot cheaper than using a car and easier to park on college campuses too. I think incorporating one into my lifestyle will help reduce pollution, avoid gasoline, and I can use an electric bike to go short distances. If I had an electric bike, it would motivate me to stay local so I could use my electric bike instead of a car. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterials Eliminate Toxic PlasticsWhat single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Claudia L 4/15/2019 1:35 PMThe main plastic that I have used on a regular basis has been produce bags at Whole Foods, but I don’t eat out a lot and that helps avoid having to use single use containers and straws. I avoid single use plastics by using glass containers and reusable straws.