Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Gus Daniello

Asheville High School

"I want to be more educated on how to make more sustainable choices for the enviroment."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
442 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

sustainable seafood meal

consumed
UP TO

18

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

18

miles

traveled by carpool
UP TO

2.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

51

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

5.0

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

90

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted
UP TO

2.0

educational videos

watched
UP TO

250

minutes

spent learning

Gus's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Cook With Sustainable Seafood

Improved Fisheries

Using the Seafood Watch guide, I will feature a sustainable seafood ingredient in a new recipe.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 90 minutes learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Watch Drawdown's Climate Solutions 101 Series

Family Planning and Education

I will watch Drawdown’s Climate Solutions 101 and share what I learned with others.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Try Carpooling

Carpooling

I will commute by carpool 10 miles per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 60 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 69 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost or worm bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

More Fruits And Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Plan to Insulate

Insulation

I will spend 20 minutes finding out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Express My Support For Walkable Cities

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

Transportation

Explore Other Transportation Solutions

All Transportation Solutions

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Telepresence, High-Speed Rail

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

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Cattle Farming

Improved Cattle Feed; Improved Manure Management

I will spend 10 minutes researching cattle feed and manure management, or visiting a dairy farm to learn about their farming practices.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Use Muscle Power

Multiple Transportation Solutions

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 3
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
Transportation

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
Gus Daniello 10/31/2023 6:37 AM
it does because i can meet new people while walking and talk to them

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

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?
Gus Daniello 10/25/2023 7:53 AM
Some ways you can invest in geothermal energy are dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

How does eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat positively affect yourself, other people, and our planet?
Gus Daniello 10/25/2023 5:49 AM
it affects me by giving me more energy, and other people by reducing stress on the forest where they might live. Lastly, it helps our planet by producing less carbon emission.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What did you learn about the climate impact of refrigerants? How do supermarkets contribute to this impact?
Gus Daniello 10/25/2023 5:37 AM
Refrigerants contribute to holes in the ozone. Supermarkets add to this impact when their huge refrigerators leak greenhouse gases.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Gus Daniello 10/19/2023 10:06 AM
For me, more side walks and walking trails would be nice to see.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

List some of the places you frequent often (work, grocery store, natural areas). Could you choose one or two days a week to schedule driving with a friend, neighbor or co-worker to these places?
Gus Daniello 10/19/2023 8:08 AM
school and the grocery store

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education

What was an inspiring thing you learned in Drawdown's Climate Solutions 101 Series?
Gus Daniello 10/18/2023 12:23 PM
One thing that was inspiring to me was the fact that we have the power to reverse the effects of climate change.

Read More
- Jeanne Poirier 10/18/2023 7:21 PM
  Yes indeed - can we change the political, corporate and personal choices from where we are now is really the question. I agree with you Gus and with you Mary.
  
  Read More
- Mary Hanks 10/18/2023 12:26 PM
  If only more people would take this seriously! We need to face the fact that almost all of us need to make some lifestyle adjustments. I have a relative who own his own plane, and at least twice a month he and his buddies, each in a separate plane, fly to a nearby city for lunch. It just makes me shake my head....
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

What did you cook and how did it turn out? Can you share a recipe on the feed for others to try?
Gus Daniello 10/18/2023 12:18 PM
I cooked shrimp and Couscous with vegetables.

Melt the butter in a 10- to 12-cup Dutch oven or large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add the onion, zucchini, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Sauté until the onion and zucchini soften and the zucchini is just beginning to turn golden brown in spots, about 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the garlic and couscous. Cook, stirring, until the couscous is toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the wine and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the wine evaporates, about 1 minute. Stir in the broth and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil.

While the broth comes to a boil, sprinkle the shrimp with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and toss. Lay the seasoned shrimp over the top of the couscous, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to low. Cook until the couscous absorbs most of the liquid and is tender and the shrimp is cooked through and bright pink, about 15 minutes.

Remove the lid and increase the heat to medium. Simmer until any remaining liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

Whisk together the lemon zest and juice, orange juice, olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir the vinaigrette into the couscous until combined. Stir in the tomatoes and herbs. Divide among 4 serving bowls and garnish with Parmesan.
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

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?
Gus Daniello 10/06/2023 7:32 AM
They could be installed on large buildings or other tall structures.

Read More