EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Mike Yates

WSP USA

"To become more aware of everyday choices that impact the environment."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,375 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

3.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

330

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

280

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

13

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Mike's 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 19
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 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

#30 Methane Digesters (large), #64 Methane Digesters (small)

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

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

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

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

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Fund Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 15 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
Women and Girls

What did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!
Mike Yates 4/24/2019 9:03 AM
This has always been a touchy subject. There is the need to control population so the earth can sustain it against the religious feelings (Catholic) about no birth control. I believe there has to be a balance - we cannot continue to grow the population, especially since the average life span is increasing, without considering how do we support that population.

Read More
Mike Yates 4/24/2019 6:32 AM
Last day so i will reflect on the challenge. This is my 1st time. I signed up for too many daily activities so I did not always reach my daily goals. I learned a lot through the one time challenges. Mostly I did the research ones. As far as the team goes There were a lot of people that took part. I think we as a team could have done more just by logging in on the weekends and doing the daily challenges. Overall good job by all and most importantly the plant is a wee bit better from all that was accomplished

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- Meghan Jones 4/24/2019 1:52 PM
  Thanks for all your posts and encouragement throughout the challenge, Mike! I learned a lot through your sharing what you learned.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
Mike Yates 4/23/2019 2:30 PM
I think we, as Americans, drive almost everywhere we go. Even to the corner store. This was a little easier for me because CVS is 1/2 mile away from the apartment and other stores are about a mile or so. I found the walking enjoyable but there are some streets that the way they are laid out are ungenerous at times to try and get across. i did not complete this activity everyday as there were times I did not need to go anywhere. I think communities can make it more appealing to walk to the stores if they keep sidewalks repaired and crosswalks lined and safe.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

In your opinion, what contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other countries? What does this say about North American values and ways of living?
Mike Yates 4/23/2019 2:26 PM
i think North Americans eat more meat because of the culture and the availability. Fast food is a way of life for most and there are very few options that are not meat based. Also we have been raised (at least i was) on meat and potatoes were the average meal - yes fish on some days but not nearly as often as should be. I believe there has to be a shift in culture and mind set towards more meals without meat to make this a common occurrence.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
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?
Mike Yates 4/23/2019 2:23 PM
I found this one rather interesting for me. i am currently working away from the family so I am buying an preparing for one most of the time. It hs been an adjustment in not only how much I buy but what I buy as well. Was pretty bad with stuff going bad to start but now it is much better. Buy groceries for the week and plan out the week in what I am going to have.

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Mike Yates 4/23/2019 2:19 PM
Tomorrow is last day - time to double check any reflections we can do

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Mike Yates 4/22/2019 6:47 AM
Last week - time to finish any research and all reflection questions

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Mike Yates 4/21/2019 12:13 PM
Happy Easter to all. Only a few days left in the challenge

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Mike Yates 4/20/2019 1:00 PM
Happy Saturday all - lets get checked in every day and check off those daily challenges

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials

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?
Mike Yates 4/19/2019 9:27 AM
I was not aware that cement had emissions at all. Actually learned they are from the mostly from the making on the cement. Cement accounts for roughly 5 to 6% of emissions. While that seams a low number in one article I read, "The average global rate of clinker substitution could realistically reach 40 percent and avoid up to 440 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually" Now that is a big number. I now wonder what other common use materials have an emission footprint that I am unaware of.

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