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April 3 - April 24, 2019

Wallkill Senior High School Feed

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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 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?

    Samrat  Pathania's avatar
    Samrat Pathania 4/24/2019 5:57 AM
    Being a high school teacher, I try to bring the best climate solutions to my classrooms. Geothermal is definitely one of them. Also, in my conscious raising work in our community, I try to help (new) people network with those who are already using geothermal systems in their homes. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Support Companies Leading in Green Energy
    Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?

    Samrat  Pathania's avatar
    Samrat Pathania 4/24/2019 5:53 AM
    There is a growing movement among large corporations to move away from fossil fuels. The RE100 is one such group that is committed to switching to 100% renewable electricity by 2050 the latest. I try to only do business with those companies that have the strongest pledges as part of the RE100 campaign.
    http://there100.org/companies
    On a local level, I try to support those businesses that are conscious of their carbon footprint and are making a concerted effort to shift to renewable sources of electricity and heating. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transport Explore Other Transport Solutions
    What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

    Samrat  Pathania's avatar
    Samrat Pathania 4/20/2019 7:26 AM
    I noticed that in the assumptions made in the transportation sector, the projected EV share for 2050 is merely 16%. Global sales of plug in vehicles has already crossed 5 million in 2018. This was a 2.1% market share of new car sales in 2018. Some studies have  forecasted that sales of electric vehicles will hit 41 million by 2040, representing 35% of new light duty vehicle sales . I think that even that is conservative. I believe that as EV adoption follows an S curve, EVs will become a top 10 drawdown solution. 
  • 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?

    Samrat  Pathania's avatar
    Samrat Pathania 4/20/2019 7:07 AM
    I am lucky that I live in a town where nice trails are accessible. Walking is very much a part of the culture of our town. It made me wonder though as to how different would life be if I lived in a place where access to walking paths, especially in nature, was not common.
  • 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?

    Samrat  Pathania's avatar
    Samrat Pathania 4/10/2019 7:59 AM
     Our city is a small one and the tallest building has 10-11 floors. I can envision a  turbine on top of it. 
    We have many small farms in our region and I believe that they would make good candidates for micro-turbine systems. We already have many community solar projects coming into our part of NY. I wonder how they would compete/complement each other.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions
    What is the most exciting solution you explored? Why is it exciting to you?

    Brigid Hickey's avatar
    Brigid Hickey 4/09/2019 10:32 AM
    The most exciting solution still has to be nuclear energy. Perhaps I'm just biased, but I've always been fascinated that we can split atoms to produce energy. 

    Curiosity, the mars rover, currently has a plutonium reactor on board to power it. This shows how nuclear can be used in relation to space travel. And its a small bit of plutonium too.

    Not only that, but nuclear is used in some medical treatments and x rays, so it's a multipurpose tool

  • Brigid Hickey's avatar
    Brigid Hickey 4/08/2019 7:49 AM
    Here are my trash, recycling, and compost logs for the week. I counted tissues, which made everything seem like a lot more. This is only my waste and not my family's

  • Samrat  Pathania's avatar
    Samrat Pathania 4/08/2019 5:25 AM
    Hi Wallkill. We are in week 2 of the challenge and I must say that you all are doing very well. Let's continue making small changes in our lives and watch the incremental power of these changes. Do not lose heart looking at teams with higher scores. Remember, we all live on the same planet. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 2
    How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

    Samrat  Pathania's avatar
    Samrat Pathania 4/08/2019 5:22 AM
    I found that I could have a big impact with necessarily making big changes to my diet but instead focusing on the sourcing of my food. Of course, I have the luxury of living in a place where that is easy to do. I am wondering how can we make it easier for many other people who may not have access to food sources that have low environmental impact?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Plant Trees
    How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

    Arthur Thompson's avatar
    Arthur Thompson 4/07/2019 11:46 AM
    I transplanted a couple trees in my yard for my own interests. I also helped out with a workday at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, in which we planted and transplanted natural and local trees and plants. Since hurricane Michael devastated the area, it wiped away much of the local, vital and beautiful flora. In my own yard, because my family enjoys landscaping, we planted a couple of trees that hopefully will take off with the help of a caring hand. The refuge received the "ok" to plant and transplant many new trees and plants in hopes of recovering the coastline area. Only about 13 trees were planted, we mainly focused on tons of vital, yet smaller, plants that promote protection, soil anchoring, pollination, animal attraction and bring back beauty to the area. Physically, it's hard work out in the Florida sun, but the payoff is huge. Not only do we get a sense of accomplishment that we are helping to bring back and preserve the refuge, we also get to watch new life emerge. As the new flora grows, it will make the area look beautiful again and will restore tranquillity... at least until the next hurricane comes. Nonetheless, once we get to see the product of hard work in real action, we will be ecstatic and happy. Many of the restored trails will be pleasant to walk again, especially in springtime, as flowers emerge and animals of all kinds are attracted. Along with increasing the beauty, the trails and coastlines will all help hold the soil in place and protect our refuge.