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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
Kathleen Norris's avatar

Kathleen Norris

WSP USA

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,088 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    4.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    32
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    504
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    5.0
    trees
    planted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    conversation
    with a person
  • UP TO
    9.1
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    10
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed

Kathleen's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 10 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 5 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Choose Better Wood Products

#38 Forest Protection

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 2 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 1 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Fix Leaky Faucets

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

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 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 4 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Buildings and Cities

Replace Manual Thermostats

#57 Smart Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

COMPLETED
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

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

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
    Buildings and Cities
    Why is taking action on climate change important to you? Why do you care?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/24/2019 7:55 AM
    I have two children and eight nieces and nephews. I want to make sure they and future generations have a good planet to live on - one that can sustain them and provide a good life. Not one that will cause undue hardship and catastrophe.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/23/2019 5:52 AM
    I would plan to shop at more Re-Use stores (Goodwill, Plato's Closet, consignment shops, etc.) or yard sales before buying something new. I would also think twice about making a purchase and make sure it will be used more than once or could be shared or passed on to another person. I plan to "shop at home" to see if I already have an item that could be used for another purpose before buying something new. It makes me feel good to know that I would be decreasing the need for new production of something.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings and Cities
    How do you anticipate replacing your thermostats for smart ones will positively impact your life?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/23/2019 5:48 AM

    The heat or A/C won't run unnecessarily from us forgetting to adjust the temperature and we will be more comfortable in our house.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings and Cities
    Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/23/2019 5:44 AM
    I may switch to rechargeable batteries. I'm not sure what else I can do at this time. 


    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials
    What are other easy and low-cost ways to reduce your water usage at home?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/23/2019 5:42 AM
    Only use the washing machine and dishwasher when a full load can be done. Do not let water run while brushing teeth and washing dishes.  Grow plants and grass that don't need lots of water, stick to native plants, collect and use rainwater to water gardens.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/23/2019 5:38 AM

    I think that eating meat causes some deforestation in that trees are cut down to allow animals to graze.  I can increase the amount of grains and fruits/vegetables that I eat and decrease the amount of meat since animals are a large contributor of CO2, water pollution, and water usage and require large amounts of corn/grain as food.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    Beyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/18/2019 5:19 AM
    I hike in a nearby forest (Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center) year round for exercise, to breathe in the smells of the earth, and watch the seasons change. I gain better health and reduce my stress by spending time outside.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/05/2019 10:25 AM
    I have seen bamboo toothbrushes at a local store after purchasing them on Amazon. I will look for other bamboo alternatives in my community to see what else I can use in my daily life.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/05/2019 10:22 AM
    It will help me reduce food waste. I can encourage my family to use what we have before buying more. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings and Cities
    What are some of the benefits of making your home more energy efficient?
    Kathleen Norris's avatar
    Kathleen Norris 4/05/2019 10:17 AM
    I will save money and use less energy to heat and cool my home.
    Read More