EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Tina Soo Hoo

ARROWSTREET EAST & SOUTH

"Reduction and Reuse is a practice that should be always. It is not temporary and not a trend. "

Points Total

0 Today
0 This Week
1,650 Total

Participant Impact

up to

528

miles

traveled by bus
up to

528

miles

not traveled by car
up to

483

pounds of CO2

have been saved
up to

880

minutes

spent learning
up to

20

lightbulbs

replaced
up to

36

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
up to

4

public officials or leaders

contacted
up to

1

trees

planted

Tina's Actions

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.

Completed
One-Time Action

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

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 18
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

All Buildings and Cities Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.

Completed
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

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 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

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

Research Retrofitting Incentives

#80 Retrofitting

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out if my city, region, or state offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

Completed
One-Time Action

Action Track: Social Justice

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

Completed
One-Time Action

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

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

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).

Completed
One-Time Action

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 20 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

Completed
One-Time Action

Transport

Use Public Transit

#37 Mass Transit

I will use public transit 24 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 8.76 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

Completed
One-Time Action

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

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will spend 30 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Feed

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 7:55 PM

Check out these local green roof consultants and installer s and they provide tours of green roofs. Apex Green Roofs and Recover Green Roofs.

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Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 7:37 PM

Another great article by Bill Gates: https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/We-should-discuss-soil-as-much-as-coal

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Reflection Question
Action Track: Social Justice Express My Support

How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 4:07 PM

https://www.governing.com/columns/assessments/gov-walkable-cities-chicago-brattleboro.html

Read More
Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 1:30 PM

This article was written by Bill Gates but it is written very well and break down in simple terms where the problems are with CO2, and where we should focus to reduce CO2 emissions. It was written in October 2018 but still a great article:
https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/My-plan-for-fighting-climate-change

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Reflection Question
Transport Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 10:43 AM

A combination of cost and speed, and where it will take me. I love the idea of traveling by train in the US but the cost seems just as high or higher than a flight, and an airplane will get me there quicker. So I feel if the train is going to take an extra 1 or 2 for me to get there, I should not pay as much as a flight, right? Or I just need to be ok with the cost but feel good that I'm making the better / best choice for the earth.

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Reflection Question
Transport Stay on the Ground

What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 10:40 AM

I found that more carefully planning is required especially with children. There are more logistics to driving and taking trains/ buses depending on where the final destination may be. We planned a road for summer vacation this year and looking forward to it and I hope the kids will enjoy it. My only challenge is getting the kids to look out the window more vs. staring at their screens in the car.
https://www.mymundaneandmiraculouslife.com/how-to-survive-a-screen-free-road-trip-with-kids/

https://blog.birde.co/index.php/survive-road-trip-young-kids-without-resorting-screens/

https://www.wral.com/road-trip-strategies-10-screen-free-ideas-for-happier-road-trips-with-kids/14682813/

I'm all ears if you have any recommendations, suggestions, and tips / tricks!

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Reflection Question
Transport Use Public Transit

How has your access to various kinds of transporation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 10:25 AM

Love having a fairly good system in the Boston and Metro West area of Massachusetts. Sometimes we curse because it breaks down but out cars break down too. Maintenance and upgrades are important and the government or organization that runs the transportation should have better systems to maintain and care for the equipment, fleet, etc.

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Reflection Question
Buildings and Cities Research Heat Pumps

Why is taking action on climate change important to you? Why do you care?

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 8:52 AM

Climate change affects everyone (every single one of us) and all things living on this planet. We should care and care a lot. If humans are going to be selfish, they should realize that our actions are affecting how will be able live and breath on earth.

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Reflection Question
Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 8:50 AM

This is so helpful to know that I don't have to throw out food that is still good to consume. Currently food pantries do no take foods that are pass the use by, sell by or best by dates, but they should really consider that those foods don't need to go into the trash. Families should be educated on these dates and be confident that they could still eat these foods.

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Reflection Question
Transport Use Muscle Power

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

Tina Soo Hoo 4/24/2019 8:48 AM

I enjoy walking or biking way more than being in the car. Taking public transportation is more interesting to people watch and I liked be chauffeured around town.

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