April 3 - April 24, 2019

Andrea Stephens

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught. Baba Dioum "

Points Total

0 Today
0 This Week
1,451 Total

Participant Impact

up to

840

minutes

spent learning
up to

100

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
up to

1

public officials or leaders

contacted
up to

2

trees

planted
up to

42

zero-waste meals

consumed

Andrea's Actions

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

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

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

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 90 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

Completed
One-Time Action

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 90 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

Completed
One-Time Action

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 90 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

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.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

Completed
One-Time Action

Food

Zero-waste Cooking

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 90 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

Completed
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.

Completed
One-Time Action

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 90 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

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Become A Master Recycler/Composter

#55 Household Recycling

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

Completed
One-Time Action

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 90 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

Completed
One-Time Action

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 90 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

Completed
One-Time Action

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

Completed
One-Time Action

Feed

Reflection Question
Electricity Generation Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? Were you surprised by the information you found?

Andrea Stephens 4/24/2019 8:59 PM

Yes! Solution #29 on the Drawdown top 100 is a great opportunity for our country which sits between three oceans - "from sea to shining sea!"
🌱❤️🌎

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Reflection Question
Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 2

How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

Andrea Stephens 4/24/2019 8:44 PM

We were already on board with Palm Oil, but didn't realize it was disguised by companies by having so many different names! Thankful to Crafty Cat for teaching us more about Chocolate 🍫 and the wide reach of the unethically sourced Cadbury company - Thanks Zoë!

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Reflection Question
Land Use Choose Better Wood Products

Beyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?

Andrea Stephens 4/24/2019 8:38 PM

The beauty of connecting with Nature! 🌱❤️🌎
We are fortunate to live in the heart of the city, yet beside a big park, home to not only a playground, baseball diamond & big tobogganing Hill, but also a long bubbling brook & large forested area - a perfect t place to walk our kids to school!
🌱🌳🌲Thankful to the Eco Challenge for providing great resources to learn more about how to better support our forest, our planet & ourselves! (;

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Reflection Question
Electricity Generation Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro turbines can be placed on large structures to take advantage of stronger, steadier breezes. The Eiffel Tower now sports vertical axis turbines that produce electricity for use on site. Where could micro turbines potentially be installed in your city?

Andrea Stephens 4/24/2019 6:20 PM

Didn't get a chance to do this research - added to my to-do list!

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Reflection Question
Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

Andrea Stephens 4/24/2019 5:28 PM

I'm been good for a while on checking for palm oil in products, but never for chocolate! This is our new mission - which we started this past weekend for Easter - no more Cadbury, which actually owns many other companies like Fry's Cocoa - which we PREVIOUSLY used for our baking & homemade Hot Chocolate - No More!!
🍫☕️🌱

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- Milithza Silva 4/24/2019 8:54 PM
  
  Good for you. By supporting those companies, we continue to perpetuate the undesired practices. Since money talks, the support of the alternative companies with greener practices we all do our part in changing the mindset and slowly changing the business practices.
  
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Reflection Question
Food Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Andrea Stephens 4/24/2019 9:42 AM

I only learned about Silvopasture after buying the Drawdown book - a wealth of possibility! I think the biggest advantage lies in the shift of mindset that comes from embracing more symbiotic living practices - in this case with Nature & the planet itself! The scalability potential around the world is there, and it will hopefully lead to the adoption of other regenerative ideas like permaculture & Food Forestry!
🌱❤️🌎

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Reflection Question
Food Zero-waste Cooking

How are environmental issues like black carbon and other emissions from cooking fires or rudimentary cookstoves also human health and social justice issues? Why do these issues matter to you?

Andrea Stephens 4/23/2019 2:25 PM

The relationship between our human health and the health of the environment & the planetary systems which support all life on Earth are intrinsically linked. Those of us in the Western parts of the planet live with privileges that many around the world do not. We need to acknowledge that we often live in areas with what's been termed "insulated indifference" & we need to look to the bigger picture and understand the consequences of our daily choices.
I really appreciated the video on "How not to waste all your vegetables parts - excellent ideas on how to place appropriate value on the food we buy & consume. Waste not, Want not, seems now to have more meaning...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QoDfMZFHKl0
🌱❤️🌎

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Reflection Question
Food Keep Track of Wasted Food

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?

Andrea Stephens 4/22/2019 5:43 PM

I would rather use that money to buy better quality food, more organic & ethically sourced options and to set up a larger vegetable garden in my backyard!

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Reflection Question
Electricity Generation Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. In what ways (i.e. with money, time, advocacy) can you invest in geothermal energy?

Andrea Stephens 4/22/2019 5:38 PM

I am fortunate that a new neighbour on my street has built a new home Eco House last year using a geothermal system. We went for a tour of my neighbour's house to learn more about the way the system works and to see their large vegetable farm up one the third story roof garden - simply amazing what is possible in the heart of the city.
Will explore more with research on what might work in my own future home addition!

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Reflection Question
Materials Research Cement Alternatives

Concrete 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?

Andrea Stephens 4/22/2019 1:51 PM

Plastics, through fossil fuels for not only the packaging itself, but also the energy used to create them. It's great that new innovations & technologies are guiding the way to new options &opportunities for these global industries to reduce emissions and choose Impactful alternatives. For more info on new innovations in cement production, please watch the following:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EGR2BNbeaBs
🌱🌎❤️

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