April 3 - April 24, 2019

Dan Leahy

Comox Valley Unitarians, Comox United Church & Friends

"To walk the talk when it comes to my carbon footprint as wholeheartedly as possible and to continue to talk the talk when I am conversing with anyone, anywhere, anytime. My photo is my inspiration :-)"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
771 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

140

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

34

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Dan's actions

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.

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

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 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Rooftop Solar Consultation

#10 Rooftop Solar

After researching the incentives at the federal, state, utility, and local levels, I will contact a local installer/distributor for a solar panel installation consultation on my house.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 10 friends, family and/or colleagues.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

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?

Dan Leahy 4/23/2019 2:31 PM
We have made some small changes and will make larger changes in the near to medium future. Ie heat pump, EV or PHEV, going to a diet closer to Vegan, and most of all, sharing the happiness with others that taking action can do to help lift yourself out of climate caused existential angst. :-)

Read More
- Celia Laval 4/23/2019 9:54 PM
  That's so inspiring. Positivity can be so contagious!
  
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Dan Leahy 4/23/2019 2:28 PM
The Drawdown is drawing down folks. This has been an eye opener for me and I sincerely hope our fellowship does this again in the fall.

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- Kasia Stepien 4/23/2019 8:51 PM
  This has challenge has been for of revelations for me too. I didn't know it was happening again in the fall... I agree we should do it again!
  
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Dan Leahy 4/22/2019 10:29 AM
As this challenge winds down I am looking forward to the next challenge in the fall. When I say "winds down" I am referring to the ecochallenge not to us participants my hope is we have been wound up for the great challenge we face together as a community of caring souls :-)

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- Kasia Stepien 4/23/2019 8:52 PM
  It's so much better working together, the weight feels a little less heavy.
  
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Dan Leahy 4/09/2019 12:29 PM
You don't have to write down every little item you throw in the compost. Just dump out the little bucket at the end of the day and you can see what is waste and what is not. Avocado seeds and banana peels are not edible so don't count as waste. Apple peels and the peeling from your organic carrots are edible and they count as waste. We still peel the carrots sometimes but give the dogs the peels so I don't think that counts as waste ;-)

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- Kasia Stepien 4/15/2019 8:55 AM
  Great tip Dan! I realized I lost steam a little bit and have been forgetting to record my food waste.
  
  Noticing things like carrot peels, etc., is really neat. A long time ago I just stopped peeling things like carrots and potatoes, and just give them a good scrub. Now I'm noticing other items I could potentially find a solution for thanks to this challenge.
  
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Dan Leahy 4/08/2019 4:11 PM
I am getting the impression that just performing the act of recording one's wasted food will reduce food waste drastically.

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- Kasia Stepien 4/08/2019 9:54 PM
  I am finding the same thing already! I usually compost the ends of my carrots and celery, and cut much smaller bits off than usual, and ate some bits that I would normally discard because they don't look as nice. No harm done, I'm still here!
  
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Dan Leahy 3/28/2019 8:31 AM
It is hard to even begin to put down all my thoughts about this, the state of this planet is on my mind way too often. I am hoping that this challenge will be a way to lessen the existential/psychological burden many of us share by taking some positive action and doing so within a community of caring people. We will try a little positive excitement as an antidote to depression. I think this will be a great way for many people to start their journey as caretakers of our children’s futures, or for those already on that journey to refresh and invigorate themselves. Please sign up. If you don’t want to sign up for the team I am on, pick another or start one of your own. There are no size limits small or large.

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- Shirley Buchan 4/06/2019 1:06 PM
  I too am seeing this challenge as a way to lessen existential angst and would appreciate a time to talk with you, Juliana and Kasia about how you manage despair. Shirley Buchan
  
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- Kasia Stepien 4/03/2019 11:35 AM
  Dan, I am also using this as an antidote to the existential and psychological burden these times and these issues are stirring. And as a way to get my motor revved up and swing into action in a meaningful way, with the support of community.
  
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