EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Emily Puthoff

SUNY New Paltz

"saving the bees through the arts"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
618 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

231

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

5.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

35

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

18

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

390

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

2.0

people

helped
UP TO

85

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Emily's actions

Buildings and Cities

Upgrade My Windows

#31 Insulation

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Express My Support

#54 Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Restore Wetlands

#52 Coastal Wetlands

I will volunteer 2 hours with a wetland restoration project in my region.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

UNCOMPLETED
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 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 50 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 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 2 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Install a Toilet Bank

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water per day by installing a toilet tank bank.

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
Women and Girls Give a Microloan

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. Why do you think that is?

Emily Puthoff 4/22/2019 4:59 AM

Women have typically been the caretakers of the family and the home and thus purchase food and other necessities for the family. As a caretaker, one is inherently aware of the how the community and family are supported or impacted by one another. Care and investment in the community translates into familial care and self-care.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Support Local Food Systems

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?

Emily Puthoff 4/18/2019 4:47 AM

It is important to me that I know where my food is grown and that it is grown in a healthy and sustainable way. Enjoying organic, local food supports my biome as well as the pollinators, the ecosystem, and the local economy. On average, one dollar spent in a community passes through 7 hands before it leaves the community. When I buy food at a big box store, that dollar typically immediately leaves the country. I am most inspired by knowing the farmers in my community

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Upgrade My Windows

How does improving your home's energy efficiency help you better live out your values?

Emily Puthoff 4/10/2019 7:58 AM

I value leaving the planet in better shape for future generations, so improving my home's energy efficiency helps me save money, drawdown CO2, and conserve natural resources for the future.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Choose LED Bulbs

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?

Emily Puthoff 4/10/2019 7:54 AM

Researching/installing renewable energy heating/hotwater systems.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Emily Puthoff 4/10/2019 7:52 AM

I have noticed on my daily walks areas where the storm drains have been blocked and picked up bottles headed for storm drains. The Promenade on the Rondout is most enjoyable with spring birds singing and the Rondout Creek ebbing and flowing. To make the walk more enjoyable, the city could install more recycling containers along pathways and biodegradable dog bag/waste stations.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Eliminate Toxic Plastics

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Emily Puthoff 4/05/2019 8:02 AM

Here's what I use instead: re-useable stainless steel straw, non-disposable coffee cups, beeswax wrap/recycled paper bags/or no wrappign at all for veggies, and reusable bags.

Read More
Emily Puthoff 4/03/2019 6:53 AM

Wow, I just learned about toilet banks. I used to put a brick in the toilet tank to save water, but the $4 toilet bank bag is much cleaner, efficient solution.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Install a Toilet Bank

How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

Emily Puthoff 4/03/2019 6:51 AM

Kingston, NY has an old sewer system with combined sewer over-flows. So when it rains heavily, excrement flows into the Rondout Creek and then into the Hudson. 6 other cities get their water from the Hudson- Gross! Kingston citizens could advocate for water infrastructure to replace the old system. Awareness of where our waste goes when we flush or shower during a rainstorm is a first step. Simple actions household actions like installing a toilet bank, a low-flow toilet, and flushing less are easy first steps. Rain barrels on households could be installed to catch storm water before it enters the sewer system. Water can be used to water garden.

Read More