EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Tim Zhu

H. H. Angus & Associates

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
621 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

90

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

70

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Tim's actions

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support

#59 Bike Infrastructure

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 15 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 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

UNCOMPLETED
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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 5 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

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
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?

Tim Zhu 4/23/2019 6:06 PM

In Toronto, there is a wind turbine by the lake. Given the height of the new condo towers going up, installing micro turbines on the roof seems to make sense. These condos are high enough that people at street level would not see them or be impacted by the shadows they cast.

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?

Tim Zhu 4/23/2019 6:00 PM

On my walks, what I enjoy the most is being away from screens. What would make the walks more enjoyable is more green spaces away from concrete.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Smaller Portions

Fun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of eating smaller portions?

Tim Zhu 4/23/2019 5:51 PM

Eating smaller portions helps with controlling one's weight. Being overweight and obese has been linked to all kinds of negative health effects. These negative health effects do end up adding up and affect society as a whole.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Tim Zhu 4/23/2019 5:44 PM

Our society is based on consumption. However, it has gone well beyond the point of being sustainable.

My vision of a sustainable community is not only one that only focuses on environmentally-friendly technologies, but also one where each member only use what they need, and take pride in doing more with less.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

What do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?

Tim Zhu 4/22/2019 7:10 AM

What i like the most about biking in the city is being able to get exercise and fresh air as part of my commute instead of specifically trying to make time for it.

I would like improved cycling infrastructure and also better driver education in how to share the road with cyclists.

Read More
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?

Tim Zhu 4/19/2019 6:36 AM

I am a bit surprised that Canada is not pursuing energy extraction from tidal range since the Bay of Fundy has the world's highest tides.

However, before sticking more machines into the oceans, environmental impacts should be assessed on what to do when they eventually break down and what the impact is on local wildlife.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Research Heat Pumps

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

Tim Zhu 4/19/2019 4:49 AM

As our environment become more hostile due to climate change, it has become apparent that action is needed by everyone in order to keep our planet habitable in the future.

If individuals to not care, why would corporations and government care? Effective action starts at the individual level.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Express My Support

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

Tim Zhu 4/16/2019 2:05 PM

Walking encourages people to go out and engage with the local community rather than driving to places that are further away. The slowness of walking also enables one to see more and gives greater opportunities for interaction.

Walking infrastructure improves safety of pedestrians. The benefits of above is pretty much completely negated if one is struck by a motorized vehicle. Even if one is not run over by cars, a perception risk greatly reduces people's eagerness to walk.

Read More
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?

Tim Zhu 4/11/2019 3:32 PM

Walking and cycling allows me to see the surrounding community in much greater detail including the dangers that motorized vehicles pose to those without armored cages to protect them.

Read More
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?

Tim Zhu 4/11/2019 3:24 PM

Silvopastures can improve the productivity of the land and can improve the biodiversity as well

Read More